Devotionals

Previously, in my role as a supervisor, I tried to learn the personal goals of my team members.  It was an opportunity to understand them better and, of course, to help me discern how I could help them progress beyond an occasional work evaluation.  On hearing the question, one employee sat thoughtfully for a few moments before sharing that he was only a few [...]

“V-J Day in Times Square” is the name of the famous photograph taken on August 14, 1945, in which a U.S. Navy sailor spontaneously grabbed and kissed a total stranger, a dental assistant, dressed in all white, in New York’s Times Square.  The iconic image captured the nation’s sentiment as America eagerly anticipated President Truman’s announcement of the end of the war with Japan.  [...]

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”  Apparently, a guy from the 12th century named Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is the source of the saying, but I first learned it from my mother.  While not found in the Scripture, it echoes biblical truth.  Put another way, the idea that “it’s the thought that counts” doesn’t cut it with God, which is evident [...]

A key aspect of parenting is teaching the value of delayed gratification.  Instead of buying fully grown flowers, together you can plant seeds.  Instead of a box mix, together you can make a cake from scratch.  Instead of a credit card with a spending limit, you can provide real currency and discuss together the principles of giving, saving and responsible spending. The benefits of [...]

Sir Francis Bacon is credited with coining the phrase “knowledge is power,” intending to highlight the importance of education for personal advancement.  He understood that with greater knowledge comes increased control over a situation.  Unfortunately, it can also be used negatively. I once worked for a police chief who began every budget meeting with an in-depth examination of the overtime expenditures of each section [...]

Last week I watched my favorite NFL team lose a game in the closing seconds by a single point.  Sports analysts described the loss as the worst in team history due to a series of bizarre blunders.  The most egregious of them took place when one of the players broke through the defense for a 72-yard run to score a touchdown—except it didn’t count.  [...]