Think About It

If my family has a legacy, it is probably education. My grandparents were educators, my father was a minister (in other words a spiritual teacher), and some of my cousins are teachers. Interspersed in the latest generation are people who are working in education. Throughout my careers even I have been involved in education in a variety of ways. I say all that to say this – back to school time is special for me. Unfortunately, the beginning of this school year is filled with so much drama and chaos that it has been too easy lose focus on what education is all about. Political, health, safety and sanitation issues have overshadowed the opportunity for teachers to teach and students to learn. I hope that we get all this figured out soon or else we might really lose the focus of the value and purpose of education. As much of the nation begins the start of a new school year, let’s keep the ultimate goal of education in mind. Several years ago, an advertising agency captured a corner...

I have been watching the Little League World Series this week. I think I got drawn into the tournament because there are two teams from areas where we used to live (South Dakota and Abilene, Texas); but it has been the game that has made me stay. I have always loved the game of baseball, but have gotten a bit soured on it with some of the things that have transpired at the Major League level. The Little Leaguers have reminded me of how much fun the game can be when it is played at its purest level. These youngsters are very talented and when you combine that with a genuine interest in the game and the lack of self-serving “prima donnas”, it is just fun to watch. As I thought about Little League, it got me to thinking about Christianity. I believe that, too often, we get so caught up in what people perceive to be “advanced” religion that we lose sight of true, pure Christianity. Sure, it is great to read the latest book written by an intellectual or listen to the inspiring words ...

I have been pretty open about my frustration with modern communication and social media; however, I have to give it the credit it deserves. Through things like Facebook and email, I have been able to get to know people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Several of the people I have never personally met or have only seen a few times continue to inspire me. Last week I had another one of those nuggets dropped into my “Inbox” when I received an email that stated, “Long before Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus, the tree was planted to meet his need.”. Many of us are familiar with the story of the Zacchaeus, the shorter man who found himself swallowed up in a crowd who had come to see Jesus. Not to be deterred, “… he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.” (Luke 19:4). Jesus recognized this man’s dedication by inviting Himself to enjoy Zacchaeus’ hospitality. While the story of Zacchaeus reminds us that salvation is avai...

Have you heard about “Imposter Syndrome”? Imposter syndrome describes someone who doubts their skills, talents or accomplishments (often attributing their success to luck); then often takes it to another level – fearing being found out and labeled a fraud. It’s almost like low self-esteem on steroids. Not only do these folks lack confidence, but they also have the constant nagging fear that someone will discover they aren’t as good as they have been portrayed to be and their world will come down in a humiliating collapse. I am still processing through my thoughts on where I believe this should fall on the psychological scale of diagnosis, but I can see how some people struggle with this. They are probably also the ones who are hard to compliment because they deflect accolades and internally dismiss praise. While this may or may not be a clinical condition, I do believe it exists; so what can we do about low self esteem or lacking self-confidence (whether we call it “Imposter Syn...

Have you thought much about what governs our actions these days? Maybe it has always been this way, but it seems like more than ever we are being judged by where we fall on a social scale. Are you conservative or liberal? Are you traditional or progressive? Do you believe in global outreach or isolationism? While all of these can produce interesting discussions, are these really the core principles that make us who we are – or should be? The other day I went back and looked up the word “morality” and here is what I found: principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Did you notice that morals aren’t based upon how we register on a voter registration card, whether we are vaccinated or not or even if we keep our lawn mowed. It is about right and wrong … good and bad. By acknowledging that a foundation for “right and wrong” can be established, when we work together to establish a higher plane for morality we are going to raise the st...

During the latter part of the 20th Century, school-aged children were familiar with masks – but, it wasn’t the kind that they wear in school today. During those days, there was a “masked man” who wore a cover over his face to obscure his identity. The man, John Reid (better known as the Lone Ranger), rode the trails of Texas doing good, but striving for anonymity during his actions. While many people benefited from his kindness, few knew his identity. I don’t know that the tales of the Lone Ranger would meet the modern scrutiny of heroism (or even social correctness), but as I thought about him recently, something stood out. Here was a man out there doing good – not for the notoriety, but just because it was the right thing to do. In fact, he went out of his way to avoid being known despite the good he did. Now, let’s shift to the 21st Century. Why do we do good? Is it merely to do good or do we have an ulterior motive in mind? Do we do good to leave a legacy, to make a name ...

I feel like I have been stricken with the Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde syndrome. At one part of the day I will visit with people who are suffering from some type of ailment and I will start to feel like I have the same things bothering me. Whether it is a sore throat, stuffy nose or just a general malaise – I got it, too. Then I will go to the gym and hang around with people who are working out and feeling good. They are excited about what they have been able to accomplish and are riding the high that comes with extra endorphins. I realize I may not look as good as they do or can run as far as they can, but I just feel better than I did before I got to the gym. Interestingly, in just a matter of a few minutes, I can be up or down depending on my perspective. One of the interesting things about being Jekyll or Hyde is that more often than not I am the one who chooses the persona I display. For me, it is less about actual physical health than it is about attitude. My focus determines my ...