One of the struggles that most people have to deal with is the struggle we have between pride and humility. Thus the oxymoron: “I’m humbled by and yet proud of my achievement.” or; “I am so proud of my humility.” On the one hand we are encouraged to be industrious, to maximize our talents and…
Tag: Life
On Physical and Spiritual Survival
I have donated my blood every couple of months, most of my adult life. My type O blood is the kind that is suitable for use in stabilizing babies and small children as well as adults. Blood is an amazing liquid. It is the elixir of life without which there is no life, at all….
On Donating Life
Most of us still living, seldom think of those who are dead, We mourn them for a while and then, only on the date of their birth, the day of their death and/or Memorial Day, do we think of them and maybe shed a tear for our loss. Other times when we see a picture…
On Reflections
During the Second World War, German paratroopers invaded the island of Crete. When they landed at Maleme, the islanders met them, bearing nothing other than kitchen knives and hay scythes. The consequences of resistance were devastating. The residents of entire villages were lined up and shot. Overlooking the airstrip today is an institute for peace…
On What I Believe I Have Learned About Life
Over the years I have heard statements by various people expressing what they thought they had learned either from an experience in their life or from life itself. I, too, have learned a few things over my eighty five years on earth. The expectation is that as a person ages their experiences in life should…
On Reaching Beyond the Norm
Years ago, Joseph Worthen, then a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told the following story. A young man sought a wiseman to find out what he would have to do to be successful. The sage held his head under water until he was close to being drowned. Then he told…
On Failing to Do Our Duty
Some years ago, when I was a very young man, I was called by our Ward Bishop to serve as the Deacon Quorum Advisor. As is the norm, when a person is called by church leadership, local, stake or by some other authorized church leader, they almost always respond in an affirmative way. And so…
An Organization that has Done a Lot of Good
Both my wife’s father and my father were alcoholics at one time in their lives. It is a difficult thing to watch a person you love struggle with an addiction such as that. They both grew up during the age of ‘prohibition’. An exciting time between law enforcement and the cunning of men to meet…
On A Purposeful Life
Life has a purpose, to be able to find and to understand that purpose is man’s greatest quest. Some will ask, “What is the supreme- all inclusive goal of life? Is it wealth, power, knowledge, overcoming evil, heaven?” Someone has said that the goal, or purpose, of life is to be found within life itself….
On Separating the Things of Earth From the Things of Heaven
I remember a story (joke) I heard many years ago. “It seems there was a very rich man who had been diagnosed with a terminal disease. As he lay on his bed close to death he called for his wife. He instructed her to go down to the bank and withdraw all of his money…