The bridge
I’d just arrived in the port city of Tampico, Mexico, and I was being shown around the townhouse our volunteer work would be based out of. It is located fairly close to t... »
Personal Accounts
Sand between my toes
The small card fell out of a pile of papers. It was an old photograph, nothing special, a tiny fishing boat crossing a calm ocean underneath a blue sky. I don’t know how... »
The laundry basket
A while back I read some tips on how to get along with people: Speak cheerfully. Smile. Address people by name. Be friendly and helpful. Communicate openly. Be concerned... »
Take me to your master!
Children—and many adults, including this one—love the story of Aladdin. Adventure, magical artifacts, good versus evil, and the ultimate success story of a beggar boy bei... »
The positive mindset
During a recent course I took on counseling, my classmates and I were exploring the topic of negative self-talk, and it quickly became obvious this bad habit had served a... »
Time management tips
When my boss agreed to let me start working from home, I was excited about the prospect and confident that I could do an even better job than working at the office, but h... »
True quietness
Some time ago, I found myself facing a situation that was beyond my ability to resolve. Alone in the stillness of the night, I racked my brain for a solution and finally... »
The winning play
In my junior year at college, I was elected coach of my fraternity’s football team. My first and most important decision was to appoint our quarterback (QB), the player (... »
The stuff heaven is made of
I don’t want to put my father on a pedestal. He wouldn’t have wanted that. He was always self-effacing, and I can't remember him ever seeking honor for himself. When some... »
Always content
The best high-and-low experience I had was when I was living in Uganda and joined a mission to the former child soldiers in Gulu, the same kids you see in the movie, Mach... »
The Bermuda Triangle
I didn’t appreciate it much when I was younger, but looking back now, I realize the influence my father’s faith in God has had on me. I have fond memories of standing nex... »
Beyond sight
Life is full of challenges of many kinds. For some, the most monumental ones present themselves a good ways down the road. In my case, life's main challenge made itself k... »
Lessons from the medley
I was chatting over Skype with a friend while watching the 4x100 m medley swimming relay at the Olympics, when something one of the commentators said stumped me. “What’s... »