This past weekend I had the joy of watching our oldest granddaughter, Isabella, graduate from high school. How could she be that old????…sigh… During the ceremony, a graduate of her school gave a brief but excellent commencement address. Here is some background on him from his website: Former MLB player turned artist, Micah Johnson, is...Read More

Like so many Americans, this past month, I got caught up in the phenomenon of women’s collegiate basketball. The energy, passion and drive of great players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso drew me in. I was a fan! Actually, I am a fan of anyone who lives from a sense of calling...Read More

What is your number one “ick” about people? I’m not a big fan of slang, but I like “ick”. Ick is that feeling of dislike you get about a person because of something they said or did that turned you off. While you think of your “ick”, I’ll tell you mine. You’re having coffee with...Read More

In my last newsletter and blog post I suggested that there are five predominant reasons you get out of bed in the morning and go do what you do. Here’s my take on work motives from worst to best: “I’ve got a gun to my head.” “Because I said I would.” “It’s just what I...Read More

A few days ago, I had a terribly unnerving experience. While on a Target run, I noticed a young man with a camera walking around the store videotaping people. It was odd and discomforting. As I turned the corner at the end of an aisle, I was confronted by another young man who said, “I...Read More

I once worked for a leader who had zero empathy. For instance, he regularly brought his dog to work. I told him I was allergic to some animals and might struggle if I had to enter his office. His solution?  “Well, you don’t need to come into my office.” Another time, in one of my...Read More

Human beings matter to me. They always have. Since the fall of 1972, much of my life has been focused on helping and guiding other human beings.  That was when the pastor of my church pulled me aside and encouraged me (twisted my arm?) to form a group of teenagers into a choir to perform...Read More

3 weeks ago, I asked these questions in my newsletter and blog post: Why are you here? What is it that gives your life meaning? What generates your sense of purpose? What voice nags at you to contribute to humanity or to the world? These are essential questions here at the two-year mark of this...Read More

One of the catalysts in the Big Quit, the recent flood of resignations hitting businesses these days, is the dream of having a job that provides more personal meaning. This is a good thing if the end result…the new job… allows an individual to contribute in significant ways to the world. Certainly, the world needs...Read More

It is what it is. Ugh…I can’t stand that phrase. Probably because it sounds too superficial to me. But as glib as it sounds, that expression does capture the shoulder-shrugging reality of the ambiguous losses we’re all facing these days. I’ve been thinking about the lack of resolution imposed upon us by the waves of...Read More