The Man in the Seat Next to Me
I was flying Southwest from Houston back to ABQ after a challenging all-day course I presented on the shale-gas revolution to a large Oil and Gas company. Waiting at the departure gate I looked up from my laptop to see an elderly man, tall and very thin, with untidy hair and poorly dressed, who was … More “The Man in the Seat Next to Me”
Treasures of the Southwest: Part 1
Although I have lived in the southwest USA for seven years, I was surprised and spiritually refreshed by some encounters on a recent driving tour with family members.
First of all, at Hanging Lake, close to Glenwood Springs west of Denver, the parking lot was full. We circled the lot a couple times waiting and … More “Treasures of the Southwest: Part 1”
Gloomy Thinking is Contagious, and can Lead to Depression and to Dementia
Every close relationship (eg, romantic; marriage; boss and employee; parent and child) can be described by a positive circle and a negative circle. If the positive circle is larger, the relationship tends to succeed, and vice versa. The success of a relationship can depend on which circle we emphasize. If we emphasize the positive, that … More “Gloomy Thinking is Contagious, and can Lead to Depression and to Dementia”
What it Feels like in a Tornado Shelter
When the tornado sirens began to whine, I was shaving. Stupidly, I made a decision to finish shaving, which took about two minutes. On the last day of May 2013, we watched on TV a line of deadly thunder cells stretched out along a north-east direction. It was crawling eastward toward southeast Kansas where we … More “What it Feels like in a Tornado Shelter”
The Beauty and the Barbecue
She was 18 years old, and had graduated from high school just three weeks ago. We stopped for a dinner of barbecue brisket, at Dinks in the Oklahoma town of Bartlesville. This town used to be one of the richest towns in the USA (oil money from the Bartlesville sandstone discovered in the early 1900’s). … More “The Beauty and the Barbecue”
Captivity – Ten years in a house of horror!
The separate abduction in Cleveland of three young women, aged 14, 16, and 20, who were held captive for almost ten years, has shocked us to the core. First of all, how were they abducted? Furthermore, how were they kept in this one house without being detected by other homeowners along the street? In addition, … More “Captivity – Ten years in a house of horror!”
An Easter story: Cinderella then and now.
Although everyone knows the Cinderella fairy-tale, I discovered some illuminating spiritual aspects that may appeal to you. But first some background. The story exists in a similar form in many cultures and in many countries, including China and Africa. It’s a “modern” story is attributed to Charles Perrault, a Frenchman who wrote it in 1697. … More “An Easter story: Cinderella then and now.”
Two women, two expressions of faith, two awesome results.
Two women, two expressions of faith, two awesome results – Although I have heard the saying “God is never too early, never too late, always on time”, I do not understand it. But here is a fine example, shared by Kimberly McGrath of Independence, Kansas. Kim is the mother of three of my g-kids (ages … More “Two women, two expressions of faith, two awesome results.”
