Greenhorn
I used to train operating room (OR) nurses who were fresh out of their internship. I had a special affinity for them because I could…
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Simplify, Owl.
Every January our family participates in a Read-Aloud Challenge. Each person is supposed to read aloud for 10 minutes to someone else. If each person…
Antiseptic
No one likes cleaning out a wound with antiseptic. It stings. Little kids learn pretty quickly that they don't love it when grown-ups want to…
JTB
There's an important character in the Bible called John the Baptist. He's not "the Baptist" because be belonged to any Baptist denomination or church. He…
Watchful dragons
Professor and author, C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) grew up in church. During his schooling, he became an atheist. He converted to Christianity at the age of…
Zoom out
Water all over the garage floor. At first I thought it was melted snow from the trash can (one's optimism initially resists the possibility of…
Emotional expectations
Diedra and I went on a three-week study tour of Israel while I was in seminary. It was fascinating--and of lifelong value to a professional…
It’s too hard
I often tell my children, "Nothing worth doing is easy." I also say, "I like it because it's hard" (or fussy, demanding, challenging, technical, etc.).…
Community
Authentic community is a function of relationships. A room full of strangers doesn't cut it. It's not enough for the leader to know everyone in…
Failure and effort
I'm a perfectionist. That means I have an irrational fear of failure. Engage if you're relatively confident you can win--or, at the very least, not…