Getting to know yourself can be one of the biggest, most difficult jobs we will ever undertake. But you can’t properly love yourself – or even really like yourself! – if you don’t know who you are. If you don’t know who you are, how will you know what about yourself there is to love? Occassionally take some time to listen to yourself. Sit quietly … Continue reading Know Thine Self
According to infalible me! Ha! I’ve done more writing than reading this week, so this is a bit light, but here goes: How children’s play is being sneakily redefined. I totally agree with this from Alfie Kohn: 1. Play is being redefined to include things that are clearly not free, imaginative play. 2. Younger and older children ought to have the chance to play together. … Continue reading The best of the week . . .
So, one of the great philosophical debates has always been if the nature of man was good or if man is inherently evil. For reasons I have never fully understood, but which may be wrapped up in the joy that philosophers find in arguing with each other, the most obvious answer – both/and – is mostly ignored, although it does find its way into pop … Continue reading Original Sin Gets a Bad Rap
The internet is so awesome. It’s like a really broad-scale demonstration of what it would look like if we took the most prosperous 25% of all humanity and transferred their brains to the “the cloud”. It’s like the internet – the good, the bad, the so bad it’s good and so good it’s making me want to start a meme – is just sitting out … Continue reading You Like Me, You Really, Really Like Me!
So, I have my kids in the local public schools which has real drawbacks and benefits. One of the things I am struggling with is when – if ever – to push back over some the homework issue. Like has happened at a lot of schools, homework has creeped down into earlier and earlier grades. So, my 1st grader has nightly homework and my kindergartener … Continue reading Homework in kindergarten
One of the primary purposes of creation is supposed to be to provide a testimony of who God is. It’s a shame that so many religious people fail to get that. But for anyone who cares to look, the details which emerge are amazing. They are amazing in their own right, but they are also amazing because these details are ones that God put in … Continue reading I Love Evolution! (A Christian’s Perspective)
Learn the Lessons that come your way – one day you may need to rely on all of them in order to survive! If we allow it to, life will teach us the lessons we need in order to live well. When it is hard, it is training for us so that we will be strong and smart enough to find our way through the … Continue reading Life, the Master Teacher
While in college, I volunteered at a near-by juvenile prison. Sometimes a boy would explain his crime to me and the turning point for him would be a moment when he decided that he had two options: commit the crime or suffer some (to him) even worse fate. His lack of any concept of other options that were available to him was always striking to … Continue reading Expand your options!
The moments in my life that have been most sure and which have left me with the most peace and joy have been moments of defiance. The times when, even though no one else would get it, I knew the path I needed to take forward and I took it. These are my reckless moments. Those things that caused offense, consternation, even concern for my … Continue reading Defiance is a Christian Virtue
For some people the problem isn’t tolerating conflict; its learning to avoid conflict that’s the challenge! Conflict is part of life, but its important not to allow unneeded and unproductive conflict to become a regular part of life either. Even when it’s necessary and productive, it’s not fun! As a rule, if the conflict is triggered by your emotional state (I’m crabby) or an emotional … Continue reading Learning to avoid conflict
The Upside Down World 