In my last entry, I referred to my present health and career crisis as a storm. I considered and then wrote about how it built up and finally blew up. In explaining this to my present clients, I even drew a picture of a mushroom cloud as an illustration of my job situation. 44 The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. 5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god . . . Since then, I

I don’t always learn by teaching. Sometimes, I learn by conjuring up some humility, reminding myself that I’m not an expert in – well – anything, and finding someone who IS, and then submitting to their instruction. On this point, for the past several years I have been studying mediation and more specifically, conciliation, methods. This is done in a quest to be able to help people who are tangled up in the chains of conflict to escape with their valued relationships in tact.

The high point of my African experience was the people. I saw wild baboons on a hillside, vervet monkeys on roofs, and hyenas up close and personal, but they did not lift my soul as did the people. I ate goat meat, seasoned raw beef (didn’t know beforehand), and some of the best sambusa and fuul anywhere, but that didn’t rekindle hope like the people did. They blessed me. And not accidentally or casually, but intentionally and deliberately. This post is coming slowly because

After walking the dusty, rocky streets with no names among the chat (old books spell it khat) sellers, vegetable vendors, and small herds of street goats, we returned to the home of my host where I was oh so graciously served a lunch of misir wat, gomen, and beef tibs. Misir wat is a dish of lentils with tomatoes, onion, garlic and salt. Gomen is ethiopian cooked greens, and beef tibs are bits of beef cooked with peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic and rosemary. Misir wat ends u

There are so many types of “forcing it.” I have addressed several already, in the precursors to this post: 1, 2, 3, and 4. I have suggested that as a general rule, subject to some exceptions of course, we should focus our attention on ourselves when forcing things (i.e. self-discipline) and we should not impose our wills and standards on others – “forcing it” on those unwilling. I attempted to show that God Himself set the example on this point, subject to some exceptions, an

Right, then. Obviously, by the title, this is installment 4 in a series of some unspecified number of posts.  Ironic maybe that I’m not naming the denominator in my own fractions, but whatever. I would suggest reading 1, 2, & 3 in order to help this one make more sense. What if we look at less appealing common denominators? It’s not so hard or even offensive to compare ourselves to rockstars, writers, or revolutionaries, but what if we start comparing the revolutionaries to t

Unless you’re fairly young, haven’t studied much history at all, or haven’t cared enough about it to remember when you did hear the stories, you’ve heard of Selma, Alabama. Sadly, it is not famous so much as infamous, like Salem, Massachusetts – its anagram. The common denominator between the two is fierce bravery met with ignorant cruelty. Selma is where Bloody Sunday happened on March 7, 1965, and last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending Brown’s Chapel AME Church, where

I look forward to this trip every year, for the dual reasons of working with youth at our church camp in Florida and the motorcycle trip down. I pick a different route to the same location every year, and this year I chose to travel a northern route through these southern states, stopping in Oxford,  Tupelo, and Columbus, Mississippi, and then Selma, Alabama on my way south, and then after a week in Panama City Beach, stopping in Orange Beach, Alabama, New Orleans, Louisiana,

Anyway, I am in Florida for my annual youth church camp trip (Florida17). This time, I made it all the way down with no mishaps. Lib’s fuel gauge is acting a little quirky, but that’s no biggie compared to a busted tire, destroyed phone, or burning jacket. This year I made a few stops along the way to see some interesting things to make an interesting – or not, you be the judge, point. But back to the math: It is my understanding that to find the sum or difference of two frac

If blessings are a joy, and curses tear down or build strength, depending on the receiver, apathy allows rot. Blessings are good for the soul, and curses can be blessings in disguise, but apathy – indifference – even God doesn’t tolerate it. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 Let’s do it this way: If you ask

Balance is challenging but essential. This is not just an abstract, new agey concept, but a very practical one. Without balance we topple, or at least we wobble. “But with some of those one side should win,” you say. I hear you, so let me clear something up: Balance isn’t necessarily symmetry. Put several light weights on one side of the scale, and one heavy weight on the other, and it won’t look balanced, but it may still be. Only the one bearing the weight can say when the

Today is my oldest son’s birthday. He is 17. He seems to be ok. Not sure how many times I’ve wondered if he or I would make it even this far but today I have realistic hope that he will be a functioning, responsible adult. Someday. Still have miles to go, but I think he’s going to make it. He will need a car to drive, so I’m selling him my toyota landcruiser at half-price. That leaves me looking for a replacement vehicle to be an off-road-worthy, reliable daily driver for som

Shuffling about and mumbling but often arriving early, his presence is consuming dark, brooding and burly. Even for those prepared he shows up unexpected, smearing salt into the wounds of relationships neglected. Suspicious shadows precede him and linger long after; allow a smile nearby and he’ll make guilt out of laughter. In the cloudiest or best of days he attracts a solemn crowd. In spite of his equity, Death should be not proud. #death #shadows #dark #poetry #peace #poem

I’m no Jimmy Buffet. I already know there’s no woman to blame for my troubles, if I’m honest about it, though sometimes I blame her anyway. I’ve tried a rum drink in the Caribbean and couldn’t tolerate it. I’m not a fan of sand in places where it grinds off skin, and I won’t wear flip flops long enough to blow one out on a pop top. The rest of my group were floating around face down, looking at fishies and coral and getting odd shaped sunburns on their backs. Back on shore, w

Upped my lexapro. How it works I don’t know. World was dim hard to go out, like my head was full of phlegm. stumbling around in the dark for a key to a door that’s already open.* Upped my lexapro and I wake up hearing the morning trill of the birds flitting about in the morning chill I would have never guessed the world could be so different because of a little pill. *old Police lyric #work #dark #zen #poetry #anxiety #peace #poem #nature #Depression #panic

In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Mr. Pirsig relates a story of some pilgrims climbing a holy mountain. Though I read it years ago, the story struck a chord with me. I paraphrase by memory: One particular climber was trudging up the mountain, his pack seemingly becoming heavier and heavier with each step. As he slowed his pace he noticed that other pilgrims were passing him on the narrow trail, even though they didn’t look any more fit or well trained than he was.

I Must Decrease. As far as I can tell, many religions will agree on this axiom. Whether meditating in accordance with teachings of the Buddha or the Christ, the spiritual disciple must decrease. His will, his credit, his appetites, his self-interest, and his self-image must decrease. The ascetic life is difficult, though, regardless of its depth. More so than most of us would like to admit, if we’ve even ever actually tried. For some, this reduction is a step toward selflessn

My journal of 2007 & 8 is titled “Lessons on Humility & Wisdom” because I was seeking to glean from daily life what I could of those two characteristics as I wrote. I was trying desperately to use my journal to filter these values out of the normalcy of each day. I’ve written recently about God’s presence outside of the time spectrum, and that I think this has everything to do with how we perceive unanswered or ignored prayers. I haven’t finished my thinking on that yet, but

An Effort at Empathy: How long can I hide my incompetence? They will surely see through the veil today.          (professional) I hear him coming – he and his belt Will mom let him again? I was just trying to play.           (girl in closet) So many attack even friends viciously betray Why should helping the people be this way?        (politician) I need to be me Stop calling that a sin! You be you, and they are they Try to understand what it is to be born this way.        (L

Evocative times we occupy at present. Lack of decorum evokes inflammation of emotion. Inflamed emotions erode sound reason. Reason is required in international and personal relations. Relations are crucial for a nation to be One. Word choice, or Language, is a window to the heart and mind. Undignified language exposes an undignified heart. Undignified hearts breed racism, pride, prejudice, thus danger. Danger impenetrable by bullets, missiles, or warheads, as it comes from wi