Bringing Light to Life
Jesus often spoke in riddles. For instance, what did he mean when asked the following two questions intended to free us from worry: “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). The correct answer, “Yes,” is easy. But it makes no sense if the question is about the many […]
When I open the door for someone at the grocery store, I appreciate a friendly, “Thank you.” Don’t you? I pretty much feel that way about any act of kindness I perform. In fact, it annoys me when I’m denied appreciation. After all, I’m not a doorman hired by the store to greet people. I’m […]
Meism says “Me first.” It stands in opposition to weism that says “Team first.” The threat of meism prompted Jesus to remove it from his team. When the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John, asked Jesus if he would grant her sons positions of authority in his kingdom, Jesus said greatness in his kingdom involved serving not being […]
The great composer Mendelssohn visited a cathedral in Europe that housed the most magnificent organ in the world. The German composer quietly sat in a pew and listened as the cathedral organist prepared for the Sunday mass. When he finished, Mendelssohn approached and asked, “Could I play the organ?” “I’m afraid not,” the elderly man […]
Nobody invites discouragement for dinner. But he needs no invitation. He slips past the door with the silence of a cat. Or, he knocks down the door with the rage of a bull. Once inside our head, like a squatter, he refuses to leave. And how we handle his presence will determine our well-being. […]