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Recently published in the paper of record were two letters that caught my attention – “we need to take a serious look at this very sobering report from the world’s climate experts - there is no longer any meaningful debate about the effects of human activity on our climate”; and “just when the need for stronger actions to mitigate the dangers of global warming are becoming more urgent, we have an administration that at best will do nothing" …and hasten "the looming disaster”.

While the dialogue may at times change when convenient from a hard-core climate denial to a more nuanced “uncertainty” about the extent to which human activity impacts the change that is occurring, in the end isn’t the result the same and our options precious few no matter who or what is to blame?

Below, I’ve juxtaposed recent headlines from this paper of record with the lyrics from “Blind to the Truth” a song written by Dan Fogelberg, words as relevant today as when first written nearly 30 years ago. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

Over the summer and now continuing into fall, I find myself praying more – more frequently, more intentionally and more deeply. ‘Why’ is not really all that important - it can be simply explained by an overwhelming sense that the world seems to just need it right now, or perhaps it’s that things in the world are such that I feel I need it right now! Either way, it got me thinking a lot about the nature of prayer. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

I have previously written here about churches and sacred spaces. I have always had a reverence for these places, their sacredness, their mysteries and in the case of actual buildings, the incredible commitment of resources and talents it took to conceive and construct them, even the most modest. It’s understandable that such undertakings are driven by strong faith, commitment and long-term vison. Upon entering these buildings one immediately experiences them as sacred spaces and a portal to a spiritual realm. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

We are frequently asked two questions: “why do you limit yourselves by only selling to practitioners and independent stores?” and “why don’t you just promote and advertise your products to the enormous consumer market via the web and get a larger piece of that $39 billion pie?” (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

It was one of those evenings – good company, good food, good wine, great conversation. After dinner, the six of us who have known each other for nearly twenty years piled into a van and with the moon roof opened to a chilly, clear night began the drive back to the hotel. A classic vintage song cued up, a song instantly recognizable and one we collectively must have listened to a thousand times over the last four decades. The volume was cranked up by some random arm that reached across to the dashboard and grabbed at the knob. Singing the song in my head, I then declared “this next line is one of the best lines ever written in a rock and roll song”. I was stunned by the near unanimous response - “who listens to the lyrics?” And all the more perplexing, three of the passengers considered themselves musicians, or at least they play an instrument with some skill. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

It’s an interesting process when you commit to create and share articles like this on a
regular basis, ones with real publication deadlines. You can only hold out for an inspirational
thought for so long. That inspiration can come from anywhere, and often does, when you
least expect it. Rarely is it packaged complete. So, when you read something that resonates
with your own beliefs and is so well presented and interesting, you just know there is
nothing you should do to change it. So it was for me when one morning over coffee my wife
introduced me to a presentation entitled We Came to Dance by Tasha Blank, a renowned DJ.
I encourage you to watch the video, as it is set to rhythmic music and the most wonderful
images of people dancing. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYD1UkN_KGI) (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

The young waitress with the beautiful skin and gorgeous green eyes – she was make-up free
and didn’t need it - approached the table and asked if she could bring the check.
“Yes, please” I said, to which she responded “awesome”. I couldn’t let it go, and said aloud
the words as they were forming in my head: “no it’s not”. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

What is it about the vaunted Midwestern work ethic that is so exceptional and so revered? I have an idea based on more-than-casual observations over the years, and I think that even though it’s not a perfect model, there is a truth lying in here. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

A simple search for a video of a baby’s or a child’s laugh on a popular website will result in tens of thousands of clips, some with over 20 million hits. A child’s laugh is captivating, infectious and it makes us laugh. And when we do, it feels good. Children, or at least most of them thank goodness, laugh freely, easily and genuinely. The kind of raw laugh that comes deep from the gut, one you could not stop even if you so wanted. The kind of laugh that is not yet restrained by the self-conscious attempts of its producer to reduce the conspicuous - ness of it, a “skill” learned only later in life. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)

Last week I walked into The Outpost Natural Food Coop, my new favorite place to eat lunch in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (called ‘Tosa by the locals). Desiring something different as a beverage, I reached for a Root Beer. Sitting down to enjoy my lunch, the label on the soda bottle caught my eye. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)