The world is never without chaos. Whether it is current wars in our world, conflicts in relationships, or personal upset in our lives, there are plenty of opportunities for worry and concern.
You might be wondering, “What can I do?” That question really has two layers. The first is: “What can I (little ol’ me) do to make a difference in the ‘big picture’ (globally)?” And the second is…
These past few months have been the time of year when students are graduating. The air was filled with commencement speeches that shared hope and possibilities for them as they faced their next steps. All the tools they have learned to achieve their goals have served them well. They are ready to reap the benefits of their accomplishments.
This reminded me of an old school award our son Jeff received many moons ago. It was an award for “Student of the Month.” The note read…
A Course in Miracles offers us such a simple, healing approach to life, but the problem is that we are often unwilling to lift our vision from the way it has always been to embrace a new experience, a new way. But in those moments, when we do allow the Holy Spirit into our sorrow and problems, we are given a vision of renewal and life that is always around us…
Mother Teresa once made a remark that got my attention. She started by referencing the well-known chapter in the Bible from Matthew where Jesus is quoted as saying, “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you did it to me.” She went on to add that before we go to bed at night, we should ask, “What did I do to Jesus today? For whatever we offered another, we offered to him.” She emphasized this point by saying these five words as she touched the five fingers on her hand…
Do you remember coloring with crayons? Growing up, I loved to color. I delighted in getting a new box of crayons with all the pretty colors, perfectly sharpened and all in a row. So, when I first gave our son a brand-new box of crayons when he was a toddler, I was interested to see his reaction.
I recall how he opened the box carefully and said…
My husband Paul and I try to walk in nature almost every day. To get to our nature trail, we go by the same set of homes, and every day the same dog comes running to a fence to bark at us. His bark always seemed so angry, and it irritated me that he could not get used to seeing us each day. I kept thinking, doesn’t he know us by now?
One day I asked Paul, “What’s wrong with that dog? Why is he…
Iconic singer and “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Tina Turner, died at her home in Switzerland last week at age 83. As a child, Tina had an extraordinary voice, and when she met her husband-to-be, Ike Turner, “a star was born.” Her life was not easy. Although Ike taught Tina the business, he also gave her “the business.” His abusive nature left Tina with physical and mental scars.
Her life was recently recounted in a documentary on HBO, as well as a Broadway musical, and in the 1993 movie, What’s Love Got to Do With It? I remember being so moved by the movie that chronicled her rise to fame, her detour into fear, and her re-emergence as she recognized her worth through love…
A reporter had been invited to India to interview the Dalai Lama, and he was pleasantly surprised to be invited to pray with the monks before his meeting.
As the reporter sat in his peaceful pose and closed his eyes, his stomach began growling. He had forgotten to eat because of the time change and the excitement of mediating with the monks. Now, his stomach was…
Over the years, I’ve occasionally been asked about my feelings about tithing. When I hear that word, I immediately think of my early church experiences in which I was told to give 10% of my income to my church. I don’t think God created that equation or holds anyone to it. I don’t think our entrance fee into Heaven is calculated by the percentage of the money we give on Earth. But I do believe that “tithing” or giving is important. Now, I don’t think tithing or giving has anything to do with money. You can give money, of course, and certainly, we all need money to pay our bills, but what really heals us is not what we give but why and how we give it…
Through our forty-five years of service, we have had the opportunity to take the hands of many brothers, and each one has brought a blessing to Miracle Distribution Center. I have written in previous articles about how my brother, Richard, was the moving force in starting the Center, but I also want to mention the impact that our parents have had on MDC’s growth, for it truly has been a “family affair”…