Tag: Perspective

  • 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…

  • The Art of Perspective: Lessons from a Mural

    The Art of Perspective: Lessons from a Mural

    I drive by it every day on my way to work. It’s a group of cows painted on a building, standing behind a fence. At least that’s what it looks like from the highway. However, today I parked right in front of it, and discovered a different perspective. It’s challenging to make out what these animals…

  • The Shoes to Put on

    The Shoes to Put on

    A friend of mine, who’s a U.S. Army chaplain, talks about the challenges of ministering to young soldiers. Many of these fledgling “green suits” are sent to him for counsel, after they get in trouble for not abiding by Army values. Regularly the conversation goes something like this: I know it looks bad for me,…

  • Life Lessons, from a Box of Chocolates

    Life Lessons, from a Box of Chocolates

    Every month, after my wife and I sang at Twin Oaks Assisted Living, our friend Kathleen insisted that we follow her back to her room. Once inside, there was always something special she wanted to show us. First there was her bridal veil, from when she married her husband, Denzel, in 1947, also some dried…

  • Shadows of Joy- Revisited

    Shadows of Joy- Revisited

    Something amazing happened at our house two days ago. We opened the blinds on our front door to let some sunshine in. No, that’s not the amazing part, though we are rarely home during the day to do this. I’m sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a mid-morning cup of coffee when Nancy says, “Sweetheart,…