Day One Hundred Eighty-Three of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Unalienable Rights

On this Independence Day, I ponder something that stirs inspiration at a level deeper than I initially thought. That something? Unalienable Rights. What is the definition of Unalienable Rights? What’s unalienable cannot be taken away or denied. Within the context of the Constitution, these rights are granted by God. From that particular perspective, it seems that […]
Day One Hundred Eighty-Two of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Boldness!

Boldness! Perhaps no other quality is as misunderstood as this one. Very often I believe that we confuse Brashness with Boldness and venerate those who act and speak with insolence. In so doing, we miss the meaning of Boldness. Boldness is not insolence. Boldness is not effrontery. Boldness is not impertinence. Boldness is not bluntness. […]
Day One Hundred Eighty-One of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Presents!

I love Presents! Who doesn’t? Now if you think I’m talking about presents as in Birthday or Christmas, you would be wrong. I’m talking about another kind of Presents. I’m referring to Presents as Moments in Time! Back in 1974 I read a powerful book by C.S. Lewis entitled “The Screwtape Letters.” My favorite quote from […]
Day One Hundred Eighty of 365 – ThingsThat Inspire Me: Breaking Chains

Charles Dickens is credited with the following : “We forge the chains we wear in life.” What a powerful statement! How often when we find ourselves bogged down or held back by chains of doubt, fear, uncertainty or self-loathing do we seek to blame others for our situation? Far too often, I believe. If only […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Nine of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Perseverance

Perseverance! Just the word itself spawns inspiration! Sticking with something despite the odds against success! Maintaining a mindset of positivity despite the appearance of abject negativity. Finishing a task despite the drain on metal, emotional, physical or spiritual resources! All of these define some aspect of perseverance! Today, Vanessa and I were called upon to […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Eight of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: In The Middle of Nowhere!

I’ve read a quote that I believe bears mentioning in this series of posts. It goes something like this: “Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.” I love this quote! It’s funny and profound at the same time. Sometimes we find ourselves lost, […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Seven of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Happenstance!

One Never Knows . . . Back in 1993 when the first edition of Awaken to Good Mourning was published, the publisher arranged for Vanessa and me to have a booth at a grief conference in Houston one weekend. We went to the conference – didn’t sell that many books but had a great time […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Six of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: History!

We are on vacation this week and today we spent a couple of hours in Lincoln, NM. It was a veritable history feast! History inspires me for many ressons; however, today it caught me by surprise. Lincoln County, NM is home to the famous Lincoln County Wars that took place in 1878. Names like Murphy […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Five of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: R & R . . . & R

Today, we began a week of vacation – the first one we’ve taken in six years. Now this is not to say that we have not taken breaks from time to time over the last six years. We have enjoyed long weekends and Holidays; however, taking a planned vacation has been something whe have not […]
Day One Hundred Seventy-Four of 365 – Things That Inspire Me: Work Over Worry!

Work! Don’t Worry! Many years ago when a job for which I was hired – a job that I had already settled into – suddenly became less sure, I was close to scared! (Okay, I admit it! I really WAS scared – scared that the job would be pulled out from under me!) I found […]