Goals are important — they help us think beyond ordinary outcomes. They’re also a burden, because aiming farther requires more of us (and others). Every historical marvel cost time, money, rest, relationships, alternate opportunities, and lives. Stepping back, achieving goals is really about perseverance, which entails strength of character, sacrifice, and encouragement. Not all goals […]
Category: character
7 things I learned about community from a Louis L’Amour Western.
Ninety people in a theatre aren’t a community — they’re strangers sharing an experience. The same is true for passengers on a plane or shoppers in a store. Community is the product of shared ownership and a commitment to the common good. There are many good books on developing community, but the best portrayal I’ve […]
“Greatness Rather Than Promise”
“His third symphony revealed greatness rather than promise.” This was how the concert program introduced Carl August Nielsen, the Danish composer whose symphony we were enjoying. Rigorous aspirations are crucial to growth, but they also take time and repetition to master. It’s why cellists practice, pilots up their skills on simulators, writers rewrite, doctors pursue […]
The value of valuable.
Gemstones fluctuate in value. A breathtaking engagement ring with a large diamond was worth more before synthetic diamonds entered the market. Its significance endures, but it no longer costs two months of wages. Even food, which is essential to life, is devalued by abundance. When we have more than enough, we discard it. If value […]
Adam had it all.
Consider Adam, the very first person. He was perfect, lived in Paradise, and enjoyed limitless opportunity. He had authority, creative freedom, and a face-to-face friendship with the Creator of the universe. Imagine having a face-to-face friendship with God! Going for walks, discussing ideas, and even asking questions about the complexities of Creation. Please explain the science […]
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