It was fascinating theater to listen to two ESPN analysts debate the latest NBA gambling allegations. One was straining to wrap the alleged actions in the convenient, if tragic, blanket of addiction. The other cut straight through the noise, effectively stating: “It ain’t addiction, it’s just plain stupid.” We all hope the allegations prove false.…
The Corrosion of Discourse
I understand the concept of “hate speech.” Technically, it is defined as abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or similar grounds. However, today I sit contemplating a broader “hateful speech” that seems to be everywhere. From world leaders setting cynical new standards to children…
The Gentle Stream
A happy life neither resembles a rapid torrent, nor a standing pool, but is like a gentle stream, that glides smoothly and silently along. — Epicurus. This powerful metaphor encapsulates the timeless goal of a well-lived life: balance. It’s an image that resonates with me, whether I picture a writer’s cabin nestled by a mountain creek…
The Timelessness of Power:
The Parable of the Persistent Widow begins with the striking description of the antagonist: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought” (Luke 18:2). Stop and consider that person in power—the boss, the politician, the neighbor—who operates with complete and utter impunity. Doesn’t that sound chillingly…
The Constant Paradox
One lesson life continually teaches me is simple, unavoidable, and liberating: wherever you are right now, relish it, for it is already preparing to change. To find peace in this flux, one must learn to seek out the constants. I’ve learned this truth through countless cycles. If I find myself riding a wave of perfect…