You get to choose what to celebrate.
PART 1 Our current culture celebrates those who are cruel. But you can choose to be kind. Our current culture celebrates those who shout. But you can choose to whisper. Our current culture celebrates those who hate. But you can choose to forgive. Our current culture celebrates those who divide. But you can choose to […]
You only get one vote.
(To be clear, this email is not about elections). THE BAD NEWS You only get one vote for the type of WORLD you live in. Will it be kind or will it be cruel? Each of the 8,200,000,000 humans also get a vote… You only get one vote for the type of COUNTRY you live […]
De-Escalation vs. Nonviolent Resistance
Not many people know this, but I took a “break” from homelessness in 2013. I started an organization that assisted churches who were using nonviolent resistance against dictatorships. I worked primarily in Zimbabwe. The first time I went there I was arrested within an hour of arriving. That sucked. The last time I was there […]
My son asked me to explain my moral code.
My son is 25 years old. He and I had a father-son dinner a few weeks ago at a small Italian restaurant. In between the calamari and the chicken parmesan he asked me to explain my moral code. As a parent, there are a few moments that matter more than others. This felt like one […]
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
For this weekly newsletter, I usually write whatever it is that I need to read. This week, what I need to read was already written by someone else. So, I’ll just share that… “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are […]
A few years ago, I gave up cynicism for Lent.
A few years ago, I gave up “cynicism,” “inaction,” “powerlessness” and “apathy” for Lent. I was tired of feeling helpless in the face of what was happening to our country. I needed to do something more than just complain on social media. For 40 days I called a legislator’s office every day. I gave my […]
Worry is not work.
If I’m not worrying about the world, who will? I take “breaks” from social media and the news. But then I feel guilty. If I’m not worrying about the world, who will? I watch 90’s sitcoms with my wife and for an hour I forget about the plight of the most vulnerable. But then I […]
Homelessness changes time.
“Time Horizon” is the distance into the future that a person plans. For example, if you are 40 years old and you are saving for retirement, you have a time horizon of at least 25 years. Research has discovered many experiences that “shrink” a person’s time horizon: Consider the first item on that list – […]
Kindness heals… but it is asymmetrical
All Souls Have Wounds I have never met a person who didn’t have wounds on their soul. True, some souls have a few faded scars while others are crisscrossed with layers of gangrenous pain. But all souls have wounds. Kindness Heals Forgive my language, but the saying “Time heals all wounds” is bullshit. It is […]
There are no Saints.
There are only two types of people in this world: Type 1: Good People They are kind and patient. They volunteer at homeless shelters. They help little old ladies across the street and find lost cats. They watch documentaries, read the BBC, listen to NPR, drive the speed limit and cross the street at crosswalks. […]
