Herald Optimism Purpose Everyday Hope-- heralding the energy of hope is the core to human essence and survival. Without hope, the spirit—the sense of ones’ purpose—diminishes and eventually dwindles and dies. Without hope, one cannot see the promise of the...
Healing
Playing the Hand You’re Dealt by Rev. George Baum
“Fear not! For I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Context: Isa 41: 8-10 – The prophet Isaiah speaks words of encouragement to God’s people who are...
Scratch Beneath the Surface
“Don’t judge a book by its cover!” We all like to spout this cliché, but few of us truly adhere to it, myself included. We live in a diverse, complicated world. We rely on our senses to navigate it—sight being one. We make assessments based on the images and...
2014–New Year, New Chapter, in Unwritten Book Called the Rest of Your Life
Roll up the Holly, and toss out the tree. Not to mention that still unwrapped fruitcake sitting on the dining room table that is now stiff as a brick. Xmas is over as is the previous year and for many, ne’er a moment too soon. It’s time to pop those Champagne corks...
Healing with Acronyms: MISFIT
Manifest Inner Strength Find Individual Truth Remember the “island of misfit toys” in Rudolph? The winter wonderland where all the oddball toys huddled in the cold with tear-streamed faces lamenting how once again Santa left them behind and they’d...
Healing with Acronyms: FOOL
Forget Others’ Opinions Laugh Even Shakespeare’s darkest tragedies infuse comic relief. Can we say Macbeth and the Porter in unison everyone. The town fool supplying tension-breaking buffoonery is a staple in all great drama. Laughter at follies, and...
Embracing the Power of Love by Jesus Nebot
INTRODUCTION This report is a summary of the main ideas I shared at the last National Conference On Race and Ethnicity in New York City where I was invited to make a presentation on the topic “Beyond Tolerance”. After leading the participants into a discussion about...
Healing with Acronmys: QUIT
Quickly Uncover Inspiration Triumph We’ve all faced it—the desire to give up and quit. Sometimes the mountain seems too steep, the path too detoured with road blocks, the outcome while firmly in view just a tad out of reach. We’ve all been there...
Healing with Acronmys: PAST
Pull All Stuff Together And put it in a box. Can’t change the past. The past will come back to haunt you. Stop living in the past as the present is all we get that’s why it’s called the present for it’s the gift of today. We’ve all heard...
Reflections from the Pond–Integrity and the Blank Canvas by Betsy Lohrer Hall
A well-trained Olympic diver neatly parts the water as she enters it—she barely makes a ripple. Thinking or acting with integrity is much like this. It is clear and direct, and it may seem effortless. But it is not easy; it takes practice. So today, I practice. I...