A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight. (Victor Borge, America-Danish comedian) When we read the news or watch TV news coverage, we often don’t find much to smile about. Whether it’s a personal, national, or world news story, it is often...
Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. (Albert Einstein, noted scientist) Ours is a success-oriented society. It’s more than just wanting not to fail. From early childhood we want to be first in everything, and from there to...
Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, 20th century justice of the United States Supreme Court) Before they learn to be deceitful, children are often very blunt, stating the facts as they see them....
Never put the key to happiness in someone else’s pocket. (Author unknown) What is it that makes you happy? Maybe it’s winning at sports? Or, acing an exam. More often, it’s a person—someone you like to be with. Are you, perhaps, the person who someone else is...
Perfectionism can turn us into an unwitting accomplice for the status quo. (Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovator) More: “Improvement is admirable. Perfection is impossible. . . . Our pursuit of an unattainable standard can keep us from getting anywhere near our...
The more teachable we are, the more mature we will become. (David Egner, philanthropist) Teaching is sometimes a difficult task. Either the subject is extremely difficult to understand or the classroom environment is not appropriate. Sometimes we might even think the...
Accountability is hard. It needs to be intentional and honest, not judgmental or condemning. A true friend confronts with truth and love. (Dave Illingworth, businessman and author) A lot is said about accountability these days, but we don’t often see it practiced very...
Our greatest fear in life should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter. (Francis Chan, educator and author) Most of us will go to great lengths to avoid failing. Whether it’s in our social, academic, or personal life, we want...
We are a culture simultaneously addicted to violence yet horrified at the sight and thought of it invading our walls and worlds. (Leonard Sweet, theologian and author) It really doesn’t take a seminary professor to note the rise of acceptable violence in our society....
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. (Suzy Kassem, author and philosopher) When you fall down, you hurry to get back up. When you fail at a task, you try again. But, if you doubt you can fulfill your aspirations, there is little you can do to achieve them....
In other times and places heroes made history. In our time and place they make CDs and touchdowns. (Bill Brown, educator) We do sometimes see “old-fashioned” heroes like the first-responders and volunteers at the Las Vegas shooting or military service personnel, but...
Life. You wear it well. (Clothing store sign) Millions—probably billions—of dollars are spent every year for a new outfit to match the season or some special occasion. But, the old saying isn’t really true that “clothes make the man.” The expression of one’s face, the...