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We live in a competitive world where everyone experiences something of winning and losing. Who has never tasted both sweet victories and bitter defeats? We’ve all had our moments. We tend to pay more attention to the winners, but how we respond to the disappointments and the successes says much of our character. Graceful winning […]
What does it take to jump into something new and come out triumphant? Why do some embark into uncharted territory with ease while others flounder? An answer may be found in studying the expedition of Lewis and Clark, who two centuries ago, with their Shoshone guide Sacajawea and 32 hearty men, set out to chart […]
It’s been said that “harboring resentment is like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die.” Keeping a mental list of those who have offended or hurt us serves no good purpose. When we allow ourselves to be resentful, we only harm ourselves. A middle-aged man learned this much too late in […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
Noise seems to be a constant part of modern life. Everywhere we go, for much of the day, we hear clatter and clamor, jangle and din. Though there are times when we long for peace and quiet, for many noise has become a habit. Perhaps we enter an empty room and turn on the radio […]
Three mothers were sitting together at a school ballgame. Two of them were gushing about their children’s talents and latest achievements. One’s son had just won an athletic scholarship, and another’s daughter had just been chosen as valedictorian. The third mother’s son had no such accomplishments, but she seemed unruffled, even happy about the success […]
As a child in 19th-century England, William Ernest Henley suffered tuberculosis of the bone. Eventually the disease infected him so severely that doctors had to amputate his leg below the knee in order to save his life when he was 25. Despite his disability and continuing illnesses, he led a relatively active and productive life […]
At this very moment, somewhere across the earth, the sun is rising on a new day. And somewhere else, the sun is setting on a day just completed. Dawn to dusk, day to night, we move forward along life’s pathway. Amid change and confusion, life gives us a few things upon which we can depend, […]
I’ll tell you how the sun rose,—A ribbon at a time,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson.1 Like ribbons of beauty and wonder gently unfolding, each morning offers us the gift of another new day. In the silence and splendor of the morning, we can expand our perspective and see more possibilities, more prospects, more chances to […]
On a cold, threatening morning, February 11, 1861, Abraham Lincoln, president-elect of the United States of America, stood on the rear platform of a train that would take him from his home in Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, the nation’s capital. The dreary weather was a fitting preview of what Lincoln would soon face as president—in […]
A recurring theme of poets, prophets, and sages across the generations is that we must never forget the source of our blessings. Moses warned ancient Israel, “Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt.”1 Thousands of years later, at the height of the British Empire, Nobel-prize winning […]
In 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released what is now considered one of the best musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain. This great love story is also a story about adapting to change—it depicts the transition in the 1920s from silent movies to “talkies.” Imagine what a change that must have been! Indeed, the adage is true: […]
It’s a hobby focused on obscure dates and places from hundreds of years ago. Yet it is so popular today it has eclipsed stamp collecting, coin collecting, and even gardening as one of the world’s favorite pastimes. Whether you call it family history or genealogy, the pursuit of finding one’s ancestry has filled libraries with […]
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 […]