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 […]
Category: Influence & leadership
Patrick O’Brian on the storms of life
The tempests of life don’t always surprise us. Some we’ve faced before, and we often see them coming. When that’s the case, it helps to remember the experience. There’s an episode in Patrick O’Brian’s The Wine-Dark Sea that features four common stages of a storm. Though no two trials are identical, these stages rang true for me. […]
Aspiration or Calling
We all feature an aspirational side — the vision to be or achieve something. Aspiration adds lift to any endeavor, and often fuels sacrifice. On the flip side, calling suggests a responsibility to do or become something. You’re holding the baton and it’s up to you. Biblical history overflows with calling. Noah was called to build the ark, which […]
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 […]
The secret of beach glass.
My grandparents collected beach glass. It’s what old people do for lack of purpose, thought my late-twenties self. (Though, to be fair, I did envy their shark’s teeth collection.) Over time, I realized their glass gathering was an evening unwind after their work was finished. They spent their days volunteering, praying for church and family matters, […]
