Actions—not intentions or promises—produce results

Three frogs are sitting on a log and one decides to jump in the water. How many frogs are left on the log?  Of course, three frogs are still on the log. Making a decision to jump in the water is not the same as jumping in the water.  Action—the actual ‘doing’, the implementation of…

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Carrying rocks in your pocket adds burden to your journey

It’s just common sense: if you keep adding rocks in your pocket, the extra weight makes walking difficult and sooner or later, something has to give.  You don’t see adults with a pocket full of rocks but yet, quite a few carry the weight of resentments, guilt, remorse or shame as a daily burden. Everyone…

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Difficult people and situations are part of life; whether I see them as villains or opportunities determines their power over me.

Life teaches us that acquiring certain virtues will improve our life; we may develop a sincere desire to be more patient or tolerant; we may seek and pray for these attributes. But the only way to acquire any desirable trait is through encountering people who cause us contention and frustration. Learning patience requires experiencing situations…

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At any moment, life can throw a mud ball at me.

Life happens. We can be enjoying life or just getting by; then, something unexpected hits us. We get bad news; someone rejects us or something totally unfair or unreasonable happens. Do we give situations, events, or other people the power to determine the quality of our day? Of our week? Of our life? If we…

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Happiness and peace are impossible without integrity

INTEGRITY (noun): the quality or condition of being sound; of being un-impaired, undivided, complete, or whole. We are either whole  or we have a hole—an inner void. Many people feel this hole, this inner void, like something is missing.  We try to fill it with answers taught us and sold to us by other less-than-whole…

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I sometimes take the people closest to me for granted

and fail to extend the respect, courtesy, and love I feel for them. I need to treat the people I love and value as well as I treat co-workers, friends, and casual acquaintances. Without attention and awareness, close relationships can suffer from familiarity—that attitude of quiet indifference. We expect people to know that they are…

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A loving God does not cause pain, but alleviates our misery;

Does not test his children, but provides solutions when we are tested by life. Does not make us wander in the wilderness of confusion, but offers clear purpose and direction. Does not willingly afflict his children, but soothes and strengthens us when we are afflicted. Does not take people, he receives them.  Perceptions and expectations…

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