Mean Self-Righteousness Can Mask as Kindness
Many years ago, two deacons from a church I was pastoring asked if they could take me to lunch. Was this an act of kindness? An act of thanks for my hard work? There’s always a reason for lunch. There’s the eating part—we all have to eat—and then...
Confessions of a Workaholic
My wife clocked out of her state job for the last time recently. She is now officially retired. It’s good timing, as she’s needed to help her mother care for her father, who is in hospice care. Recently, my wife asked me to work less in 2024. I sat down...
The Power of an Emoji
Recently, I wrote a heartfelt message to a troubled friend and sent it via Messenger. Within a few minutes, an angry-face emoji popped up beside my message. Instantly, I felt a sensation in the pit of my stomach that I recognized as anxiety. I immediately thought,...
When Marriage is Like Two Ships That Pass in the Night
The 1979 Barry Manilow song “Ships” peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Manilow’s beautiful melancholy tone in this song reflects the love of a father and son, best characterized by their geographical distance and emotional pain. They try...