I learned about the impending capture of Dzhokar Tsarnaev, “Boston Bombing Suspect 2,” as my mother described the event to me on the telephone. “He is in a boat stored in the backyard of a home just three houses down…
Category: Mercy
“Even When We Don’t Want to” (A 70-second read on pressing into courage, selflessness and forgiveness.)
This blog post was prompted by a thought I posted on Facebook this morning: I’m considering the beauty of Maundy Thursday, Christ’s final hours in His human experience. The Last Supper, the Passover meal. Washing of the feet. Communion. “Final”…
“Let’s Climb Out of the Bucket” (My reflections on ‘Kony 2012’)
My dad often tells a story about what it means to be a crabber (someone who catches crabs). The crabbers place their catches, one by one, into a bucket. Eventually, the bucket is full enough for some crabs to have…
I answer the Q: What does “compassion without borders” mean to me?
Below is an essay that won a competition in celebration of a visit to my university by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. It was printed in a booklet, and gifted to His Holiness. We had been challenged to answer (in…
4 Things I’m Glad I Don’t Know for Sure
For years, on the last page of the ‘O’ magazine, Oprah Winfrey has written a column she calls: “What I know for sure.” Today, I’m doing just the opposite. In a reading for my “Spirituality and Health” class, I highlighted this phrase: “Prior…
Don’t just do something, stand there. (A 1-minute reading.)
One of my first kids was initially brought to AidChild covered in wounds—the beating kind. Nearly every inch of his little body had been abused. We don’t know his date of birth, but he must have been six or seven…
“Is Sad Bad?” A discussion of the impact of sadness on human development
When our emotions are picked and fastened together in a bunch—into our life-bouquet—each bloom emanates its own aroma resulting in the special perfume which is us. Most people want to have beautiful, happy bouquets, but our collections of emotions sometimes…
“Thank you for that courage!” (A 45-second reading.)
One day, many years ago at home in Uganda, I had the opportunity to give an employee some positive feedback. He looked at me with a big smile and said, “Thank you for that courage!” While I assumed that perhaps…
