Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around law. (Plato, classical Greek philosopher) Readers Digest used to have a column titled “There Ought to Be a Law” that included common complaints that someone...
As long as I can conceive something better than myself I cannot be easy unless I am striving to bring it into existence. (George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright) Shaw may not have been speaking for everyone, but his comment is certainly a challenge to anyone who is...
I had been actively looking for a new job since early fall of the previous year. Anticipating leaving Chrysler, I signed a six-month lease on a home in Detroit that was up June 30, 1980. It was early February, and nothing was happening. I was getting worried and...
Be real, because a mask only fools people on the outside. (Alex Gaskarth, singer and song writer) He continues, “Pretending to be someone you’re not takes a toll on the real you, and the real you is more important than anyone else.” This comment brings to mind the...
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. (William Arthur Ward, inspirational writer) Some days seem to drag on in a dreary fashion—whether we’re suffering from inclement...
Selfless love always desires the best for others. (Alistair Begg, Scottish pastor in America) Most of what we see and hear about love on television, in the movies, or in modern literature is a pretty emotional, selfish physical attraction. At the slightest provocation...
Education without values makes us into “more clever devils.” (C. S. Lewis, British university professor and author) A current author observes, “The sciences can tell us what is, but not what should be” (Eric Metaxas). He also writes, “Science and technology can’t give...
The long absences from my family during 1979 had created a real strain on my marriage, and the one constant that helped relieve some of the tension was that I called Cynthia every night at exactly 8:00. It was a cold and gloomy November day in Grand Rapids, Michigan,...
“You have such capacity to see today what is not yet reality. You ponder potential as easily as others recount what happened yesterday.” These words were spoken by a father to his adult son, as he counseled him about his role in life. Being able to see potential in...
He who is not angry when he has cause to be, sins. (John Chrysostom, 4th century Church Father) We read a lot today about road rage and other incidents of excessive anger. It has invaded our political scene and just about every other phase of life. So, Chrysostom’s...
Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal, and not wound. This quote is attributed to a character in fiction or mythology, but it includes some helpful advice. Since our days are numbered, and we...
Short as life is, we make it still shorter by the careless waste of time. (Victor Hugo, 19th century poet and novelist) Although life expectancy has increased dramatically in recent years, it is still a relatively short time. So, Hugo’s advice is sound. When there is...