Author, Writer, Editor
With so much pain and suffering in the world, so much hostility and prejudice, so much anger and fear, so much abuse and hatred, so much greed and power-grabbing from every dark corner of every level of society, it is pure Joy to celebrate our Savior’s birth! He alone can … Read more…
Is your son cautious? Bravo! Has your daughter been told she’s shy? Good for her! Society as a whole does not value introverts, even though introverts are variously estimated at 1/3 to ½ the U.S. population, more or less. Everyone is supposed to get out there and do whatever other … Read more…
Now and then every single one of us – man or woman – asks a question that we immediately regret asking. Oh, shoot, why did I say that? Even before the complete thought left our mouth, we suddenly realized with horror how stupid or inappropriate it was. A rather common … Read more…
When someone asks how we’re doing, we frequently answer, “Oh, hangin’ in there.” We can’t go deeper without burdening the sometimes casual questioner. Even when the question is sincere, it usually takes too much of our limited energy to explain what’s going on, especially for an introvert. More so, if … Read more…
It warms your heart to see compassionate responses to disaster, whether it’s an individual’s personal tragedy or a crisis that’s citywide/statewide/nationwide or worldwide. In the beginning, help pours in: People volunteer their time and skills (Angel Flight is one for those who are pilots – scroll to choose your state). … Read more…
People sometimes chide me for expending my writing talents on “worldly” topics instead of on God’s work. That stings a little but I may be the bearer of bad tidings: First, I don’t get paid for blog posts but other than that, writing is how I earn a living. It’s … Read more…
To state the obvious, civility in the nation is rapidly evaporating in the heat of anger, misunderstanding and wrong-headed beliefs. We now have dozens of opportunities daily to teach adults as well as children that human kindness and respect are still alive in the land. But will we do it? … Read more…
Some people go to great lengths to judge others for the sheer sense of accomplishment it engenders (if you’re of a certain mindset). Such folks may have the gall to speak directly to individuals about what they’re “doing wrong,” or even indicate they need details before they can agree the … Read more…
Had I grown up as a privileged child, my empathy for those suffering would have remained dormant, I’m sure. Instead, my siblings and I grew up poor. Furnishings were sparse in our rented housing. The one birthday party we hosted was a nightmare of embarrassment. I also endured the taunts … Read more…
No matter how much the experts split hairs and insist that critiquing something isn’t the same as criticizing it, it doesn’t change the fact that when you write or issue a critique of anything, you’re still criticizing it! Tread softly. Vicious critiques have led to suicide of the victims. Rarely … Read more…