Tag: Perseverance

  • From Struggle to Strength: Finding Faith in Healing

    From Struggle to Strength: Finding Faith in Healing

    The young man was standing outside a travel stop near the interstate selling handmade wooden crafts. I recognized he was from a local drug and alcohol rehab that often sets up outside the doors. His high and tight hair cut, chiseled physique, and khaki cargo pants tucked into combat boots said he was ex military,…

  • Finding Patience: Lessons from the Early Morning

    Finding Patience: Lessons from the Early Morning

    Just before sunrise, I stepped off the back porch, coffee cup in hand, and looked for the glow in the Eastern sky. It was a beautiful mix of purplish pink! I also noticed something in the leafless pear tree just across the fence–birds, silhouetted by the coming sunrise. Two cardinals, and two sparrows were perched…

  • Why Choose Leadership?

    Why Choose Leadership?

    Weekends are usually when I decompress from my work week as an assistant principal. Like it or not, I ruminate over decisions I made and difficult conversations I had with both students and adults. Yesterday morning, while accompanying my wife to a local supermarket, I kept thinking, “Why would anyone choose to be a leader?”…

  • Life’s Curveballs: Lessons from a Retired Army First Sergeant

    Life’s Curveballs: Lessons from a Retired Army First Sergeant

    A teacher at my school is a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant (1SG), which is one of the highest enlisted ranks. As you would expect, to make 1SG takes considerable leadership ability. Consequently, I like to glean administrative wisdom from this person whenever I can. During a break at one of our back-to-school meetings, I…

  • The Triple-A Approach to Helping Someone in Need

    The Triple-A Approach to Helping Someone in Need

    After I left full-time ministry, but before I became a teacher, I spent three years in sales with Frito Lay, Inc. I was a Route Sales Rep, which is a front-line position selling salty snacks to grocery and convenience stores. One day, my boss was helping me set up a huge display of potato chips…

  • Just Keep Going

    Just Keep Going

    The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27a (NKJV) It should have been easy-peasy–leading and singing patriotic songs, just before the 4th of July. But I croaked like a frog on the high notes and was hoarse enough to be half my normal volume. One of the nursing home…