Teachable moments. A teachable moment is an unplanned, fleeting opportunity in which circumstance and readiness come together in a single experience. Such a moment provides a timely opportunity for a new insight to emerge. Effective teachers and parents recognize them. So do effective bosses and supervisors. These moments of insight and growth rarely present themselves […]
Three chances to remember my mother
I have had three moments to remember my mother in the past couple of days, a mixed bag of sadness, gratitude, and the kind of feeling you get when your mother hugs you. She has been dead for 14 years, and I cherish those moments when I have not just thoughts, but experiences of her. […]
Argumentum ad hominem
“Canada does not believe that ad hominem attacks are a particularly appropriate or useful way to conduct our relations with other countries.” -Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Huh? This was the Canadian response to President Trump’s advisers following their criticism of the Prime Minister after the G7 meetings. The response was clear and direct, yet subtle […]
Time to grow up
Paige Patterson has been relieved of his duties as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth. Good move, SWBTS board of trustees. The seminary wants to “move in the direction of new leadership.” Good cover, SWBTS board of directors. But don’t worry. Patterson will be living in splendid style on campus as the […]
A tribute to Ray
Ray Boehmer was my friend. He died suddenly two weeks ago. Judy and I made a hastily arranged trip to Illinois to be with his wife and son. She asked that I speak and “officiate” at the memorial celebration, a gathering of friend, neighbors, and colleagues at Riggs Brewing Company. The place was packed. The […]
Remembering my Mom
Yesterday was my mother’s birthday. She would have been 92. Throughout her life she retained her New England grace, and she coupled it with an acquired Southern charm. She was a high school athlete, an accomplished musician, a loving pastor’s wife, and a damned good mother even without prior training. Any social capabilities I have, […]
Victims of any trauma deserve to be heard
Now that we have heard from the children, will we be the adults? I was impressed, humbled, and inspired by the teenagers who participated in the March for Our Lives. The speakers stood in front of hundreds of thousands of marchers, knowing also that millions more were watching them on television, and still they spoke […]
Lent: Getting the ego to sit down
To quote the previous post, “A big part of wisdom is figuring out which problems are mine to solve and which ones to let go.” Typically when I think about things that need to be solved or things I need to “get some control over,” I start by looking around me. I identify people or […]
Lent: Fret not
My son, Austin, has been one of my best teachers lately, particularly in the area of “the wisdom to know the difference.” He has been attending AA and NA meetings regularly for many months. In each of those meetings the Serenity Prayer is plastered on the wall, it is recited as a group, and it […]
Lent: Examining what doesn’t fit
I have some old t-shirts in a box under my bed. Several of those shirts are for running 10K races back in the 80s. Some I bought at memorable concerts. Others declare my membership with some group from years gone by. All are waaaay too small now. What I once wore with pride and pleasure […]