In tribute to Elisa’s mother Julia who finished her mortal journey four years ago today, I share today the thoughts I shared at the time. Just as I felt then, I am grateful Julia chose to see my potential and her beautiful oldest daughter continually chooses the same. What’s a mother to do when her first baby girl falls in love with the kid on the other side of the tracks and decides to get married on their second date?…
Elisa’s mother Julia, who finished her mortal journey four years ago tomorrow, loved lighthouses. She had several throughout her home including paintings and figurines. The chorus of one of her most favorite hymns, “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy,” includes the line, “let the lower lights be burning”. Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. I have sung this hymn for years without knowing, until a few…
Navigating to a new place before the days of GPS required a map, a general sense of cardinal directions, and a basic understanding of what one may encounter along the route. With these tools navigating from city to city or even across state lines is a fairly simple process. Except when it isn’t. Despite having great tools, sometimes I would still get lost! It’s so easy to miss a street sign, take a wrong turn, or simply be distracted. Sometimes…
If you have ever found in me a voice of encouragement or hope, I promise you friends it is not… Because my journey has not been hard. Because I figured everything out. Because I have all the answers. Because I am always hopeful. Because I don’t screw up. My journey, maybe much like yours, has been more of a crawl through the briars and thorns of living life along with the soul-destroying muck and mire of poor choices. I am…
Asking what we will do with our One Day is one of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves. Those traveling a journey of healing, especially with addiction, often focus on “One Day At Time” as their mantra for making it through each day. While extremely empowering during the struggle through the muck and mire of life, such a focus on One Day can also be beneficial for the more beautiful times of life. Every day is…
When it comes to “Building A Community… A Business… [and] A Team,” the focus of the Intermountain Growth Summit Elisa and I attended Friday at Utah State University’s Huntsman School of Business, Ashray Cooper said you need to “give what hurts.” Arshay Cooper understands what it means to give what hurts. Raised on the West Side of Chicago by a single mom in a neighborhood surrounded by gangs and drugs, life was anything but easy for Ashray. But a chance…
AN UPDATE TO A MONDAY MORNING BOOST I ORIGINAL WROTE ON APRIL 8, 2013 ARMY TIMES: Medal of Honor recipient, a chaplain who died in captivity, identified among Korean War remains ARMY TIMES: Army chaplain considered for sainthood is buried in Wichita I had never heard of Father Emil Kapaun before yesterday. But after reading of his heroic actions as a chaplain during the Korean War, I will never forget him. This coming Thursday, the nation will officially recognize Kapaun for…
We are great simply because we are great. No title needed. No adornments. No requisites. Simply by being born we are great. Our humanity is enough. We are great just as we are, even with all our natural inherent flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes. Discovering our own greatness at this simple yet crucial level will magnify all of the wonderful opportunities that become part of our lives, including some of the wonderful roles we embrace. I am a better parent, sibling,…
What do you do when you’re on a flight, and you really need to work on a project, but you have an opportunity to engage in an incredible conversation with the person sitting next to you? As for me, I tend to engage in conversation. That’s exactly what happened last night on a flight home from Kansas instead of writing today’s Monday Morning Boost. FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD When Dorothy and Toto realized they, were “not in Kansas anymore,”…
In the frigid temperatures of a Stalag, a pianist with numb fingers composed. Amidst the sweltering rubble of tyranny, a priest came out to pray. Soaring lower than planned on, four strangers plowed millions of dollars into the ground. Across the vast prairies, cached at the base of majestic peaks, a collected diversity of hope created a community connected. And the harmonious silence of heaven commenced. THE QUARTET FOR THE END OF TIME On the eve of the 20th anniversary…