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Everyone has pioneer ancestry. No matter who you are or where you came from, someone somewhere came before you. Their steps of faith have paved the way for a better life for us and have given us solid ground on which to take our own steps of faith. During the spring of 1864, a small […]
It’s interesting how two people can approach similar circumstances with entirely different outlooks. The optimist tries to look on the bright side, believes that good days are ahead, and holds on to the hope that things will get better. The pessimist sees dark rain clouds even on sunny days and believes that the best has […]
A gray-haired man, a little bent with age, stood as tall as he could with his hand over his heart as his country’s flag passed by. Standing next to him, his grandson noticed a tear run down the old man’s cheek. “Grandpa,” he said, “Are you OK? Why are you crying?” “I’m just fine,” replied […]
The sweet music of love changes everything within us and around us; it opens our hearts in a way that nothing else can. Even in the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties, love fills us with a sense of gratitude, hope, and renewal. It’s like a wonderful song that never ends. When questioned about fame […]
From time to time we hear great artists or athletes described as “Renaissance men.” Society marvels at the variety of their accomplishments—a football player who also excels as a musician or a writer who can also paint. We admire people who can switch hats and shine in more than one arena. But in our quest […]
Nobody makes it through life without making mistakes. Some are harmless, but others can be dangerous. Most often, safety lies in being cautious and wise. We don’t usually get into trouble without disregarding a rule of safety or some code of behavior. Danger lurks on the other side of a warning. Maybe it’s a No […]
More than 2,000 years ago, when readers were few and books were fewer, the Roman philosopher Cicero observed, “A home without books is a body without a soul.”¹ Today, books are much more accessible, and yet they are often shelved away behind booming entertainment centers and forgotten in dusty boxes. Sadly, the love of reading […]
It has been said that “a land without ruins is a land without memories—a land without memories is a land without history.”iEach nation has its stories, its triumphs and tragedies, its battle scars and memorials. Not only do they define our past, they also shape our present and future. Without memories and memorials, we wouldn’t […]
Some of the most recognizable structures in the world are bridges. They connect islands to mainlands; they span rivers, streams, and vast caverns. Bridges, whether new or old, come in all kinds of configurations: a log thrown over a brook, a maze of vines spanning the forest floor, a footpath of rocks, a landmark on […]
An old proverb reminds us to look for the silver lining in every cloud. But are the cloudy periods of our lives really lined with silver? Can something good and hopeful really be found in a setback or disappointment? Sometimes it’s difficult to find those silver linings. It may not be until later, even many […]
Whenever a camera scans a cheering crowd at a ballgame, very often an excited fan will wave and shout, “Hi, Mom!” When a young man holds open a door for an elderly couple, he is likely to be told that his mother obviously raised him well. And countless individuals daily catch themselves repeating Mother’s words: […]
Some see life as a battle, with competitors on every side. They fight for parking spaces and places in lines, for jobs and opportunities, for advancement and recognition. Each day seems to be a fight to stay ahead and win at all costs. Yes, life can be competitive—but it doesn’t have to pit us against […]
Arturo Toscanini, famed music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, was well known for his weekly broadcasts that carried beautiful music into the homes and hearts of millions. One of those was a lonely sheepherder in the desolate mountains of Wyoming. One day Toscanini received a rumpled note from this far-off listener with an […]
Tough economic times can teach us great truths. They give us opportunity to reflect on our values and what’s most important in life. One columnist observed that tough times raise important “questions about our … priorities; our habits of the heart; our measures of success; the values of our families and our children; our spiritual […]
Years ago, a single mother faced what seemed like an overwhelming future. Her children were young, their challenges great. Though our personal trials may be different from hers, we can sympathize with her distress. Who among us has not faced a challenge or difficulty with some uncertainty and misgiving? Are we strong enough, wise enough, […]
Something within us loves light. We need light for life. Both physically and spiritually, we thrive when we see and feel the light. Who doesn’t feel drawn to a window, not just for the view it affords, but especially for the light it invites? The natural world shows how essential light is to life. Delicate […]
Think for a moment of someone who made a difference in your life. Maybe it was a family member, a friend, a coach, a teacher, a neighbor. It may even have happened a long time ago, but you still remember and cherish that person’s influence upon you. A young teenage girl thinks of a basketball […]
A high school senior answered her phone, just hours before she was to address her graduating class as valedictorian. On the other end she heard a voice she recognized. It was Sandy. She and Sandy often vied for the same honors and positions. Sandy usually took second. But that day, Sandy was first in the […]
Every Tuesday for months, writer Mitch Albom met with his old professor Morrie Schwartz to talk about life. Morrie was dying, but he taught his former student profound lessons in living. Considering his physical condition, Morrie could have easily accepted pity, but he didn’t. “Why would I ever take like that?” he said. “Taking only […]
The weather began to change, and a man felt inclined to plant something outside in the cold earth. After a hard winter of dark skies and icy storms, the prospect of digging in the ground warmed his heart. So he did some homework, researched the best tree for his chosen spot, and went to see […]
We all have special aptitudes, skills, or gifts. Some people can sing or play an instrument; some are athletic; others can write or draw. Some are especially friendly; some are good listeners; others can solve problems. Whatever our gifts may be, they are best expressed when we use them to help other people. A Chinese […]
From perfect 10s and world records to stunning athletic accomplishments and heartbreaking defeats, we marvel at the drama of the Olympic games. Something stirs in our souls as we witness the pageantry, the inspiring sportsmanship, and the extraordinary achievements on a world stage. But it may be that the greatest story of the Olympics is […]
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”1 Elizabeth Barrett wrote these now-famous words to her future husband, the esteemed poet Robert Browning, while they were courting. Her love sonnets have since touched the world, but Elizabeth did not show them to Robert during their courtship. He didn’t even know she was writing […]
An evening television news commentator, after delivering story after story of tragic and unhappy events, paused and with a smile on her face and a sound of relief in her voice said, “And now some good news.” She went on to tell of a notable act of service rendered to someone in need. Of course, […]
When acclaimed American artist John Singer Sargent was commissioned to paint the official portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States, he spent several days at the White House, hoping to catch the president in just the right setting. One morning as Roosevelt came down the staircase, Sargent approached and asked when the […]
Sooner or later, most of us begin to realize that time is short and so we better enjoy life a little more and spend time where it really counts. How often have we heard ambitious, hard-working people say, as they look back on their lives, that if they could do it all over again, they […]
The turbulent year of 1968 ended on an inspiring note with the spectacular space flight of Apollo 8. It was the first manned mission to orbit the moon, and as the astronauts looked out of their vessel into space, they suddenly caught sight of the earth rising over the moon’s horizon, “a blue and white […]
There is an old West African tale about a man who, more than anything else, wanted to be rich. He devoted his every thought to that endeavor and became quite successful in his quest to amass a great fortune. Nevertheless, his success came with a heavy price, for when at last he had reached his […]
It has been wisely noted that having one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow is a rather unstable position. The best way to face the future, it seems, is to keep both feet in today. We can’t spend too much time looking back, because too much still lies ahead. And we can’t live […]
This is a season of wonder and awe. It’s a time when we remember a wonderful and awe-inspiring story of shepherds, Wise Men, and angels; of a little town named Bethlehem and a magnificent shining star; of a crowded inn and a lowly manger in a stable. Indeed, this is a special time of the […]