When I was in college, I sang opera. For most of my life, I had sung in choirs of various sizes. I had trained with voice teachers. But nothing could prepare me for the unique experience of performing as a soloist. With choirs, there had always been a certain level of anonymity. An individual voice …
It’s easy to miss it when you’ve won. The road to victory can be so painstaking and difficult that when you finally arrive, all you can think about is taking the next step, going further. Battle has become a habit. Before, the goal was X. But now that you have it, you realize that it …
Have you ever wondered why the new STAR WARS movies were so terrible? After all, they had the same director who made the 1970s/80s originals. George Lucas put together some pretty amazing films. Yet, just a couple of decades later, Lucas came out with a new trilogy that didn’t live up to to the originals. What changed? …
Is there anyone or anything you’d lay down your life for? Seriously. I know we’ve all got our priorities in life. Jobs, friends and family, religious and political ideologies – even the success of our favorite sports team! – can feel like matters of life and death. But are they? What would you actually be willing …
My wife Faith and I live together with two housemates. It’s great having other folks to share our home with, not to mention the gas and electric bill! I’ve always lived in some form of community or another, so it’s hard to even imagine life without anyone else in the house. Right now, though, we’re in …
Read more “What Does Community Mean When People Keep Leaving?”
Gratitude has always seemed like a scam to me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a heightened awareness of what’s wrong in the world. In the 3rd grade on the school bus, I was reading Newsweek, learning about all of the great challenges facing us. All of the wrongs that needed righted. …
When the pressure is on, not everyone responds the same way. Some people buckle under the weight of it. They go along to get along. They quickly submit and get pushed around. They keep their heads down and live to cower another day. Maybe if I just do what’s expected of me, they’ll leave me alone. Others …