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Focus on the best, instead of the worst

It was a conversation that made me want to crawl under a table and hide, and never come out again. It took place at a meeting I attended last weekend, when everyone was still in shock over the attacks that took place in Paris last Friday. Before the meeting started, several of us were discussing the attacks, each of us contributing additional information and details we had read in the paper or heard on the news. From there our discussion broadened into the subject of [...]

By |November 20th, 2015|Columns, Faith, Values|Comments Off on Focus on the best, instead of the worst

Two steps will get things done – as long as you follow through

A book I am currently reading has a number of inspirational and relevant quotes in the margins. One that I just read, and had never heard before, is an Irish proverb that says, “Pray for potatoes with a hoe in your hand.” A few days after I read this quote, I was at Sunday Mass, where one of the readings – from the Book of James – was about the relationship between faith and works. Specifically, the message is that if you say you have [...]

By |September 18th, 2015|Achieving Dreams and Goals, Coaching, Columns, Faith, Quotes and Sayings, Success, Values|Comments Off on Two steps will get things done – as long as you follow through

Don’t just tolerate – celebrate!

Before last Sunday, I had never been to Lake Elmo. I also had never been to a Lutheran church service. Later in the day, back at home in my own church, I was chatting briefly with one of the deacons about the religious, racial, and cultural differences many of us can find not only in our communities, but among our friends and even within our own extended families. “Our differences shouldn’t just be tolerated,” he said. “They should be celebrated.” His words were music to [...]

By |August 21st, 2015|Columns, Faith, Music/Singing, Respect, Uganda, Values|2 Comments

Powering down leads to powering up

I just returned from the retreat I mentioned a few weeks ago. If you read that column, you know there was a “silent retreat” portion of the weekend that had me a little apprehensive. Not that I didn’t want to honor the silence, or didn’t think I could. I was just afraid I’d forget and start talking to someone – or myself – or that without realizing it, I’d start humming a song that popped into my head for some reason. I’m happy to report [...]

By |July 31st, 2015|Columns, Faith, Values|Comments Off on Powering down leads to powering up

Staying silent might be a problem

Have you ever watched a movie or sitcom in which someone has a loud, emotional outburst in a noisy and crowded restaurant, and then suddenly realizes everyone in the entire place has gotten silent and is staring at him? Or one in which someone is alone, having a lively conversation with himself while engrossed in some mundane chore, and then he looks up to find a room full of people watching and listening to him? Or worse, he sees only one person – the one [...]

By |July 17th, 2015|Columns, Faith, Writing|Comments Off on Staying silent might be a problem

A seven-day challenge leads to a new habit for life

I just completed a 7-day challenge issued by one of my cousins. She had been tagged on Facebook and challenged to post a Bible verse – and to tag and nominate someone else to do the same – for each of the next seven days. I was one of the people she chose. I took on the challenge, although I decided to skip the part about asking others to do the same. Even though I could easily think of seven other people who would probably [...]

By |May 15th, 2015|Columns, Faith|Comments Off on A seven-day challenge leads to a new habit for life

Insights from enemies and friends

“The best way to defeat my enemy is to make him my friend.” Abraham Lincoln said that, and it’s become relevant in my life in a subtle but powerful way. Not that I have any enemies that I’m aware of. But there are people with whom I’ve had arguments, disagreements, and differences of opinion that occasionally got – or threatened to get – rather heated. Not to the point of violence, but to the point of anger, hurt feelings, grudges, or even the end of [...]

By |March 13th, 2015|Accountability, Columns, Faith, Quotes and Sayings|Comments Off on Insights from enemies and friends

It may not be easy, but it’s always worth it

“If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.” That was the standard reply I always heard from a friend of mine whenever one of us – or anyone we knew, for that matter – was dealing with a really difficult problem or an especially challenging issue, in business or in life. And it was a good reminder, not only that it takes hard work, discipline, and perseverance to reach our goals, but that the result will be worth the effort when we get there. [...]

By |February 20th, 2015|Accountability, Columns, Faith|Comments Off on It may not be easy, but it’s always worth it

A weekend workshop shows how we’re Called & Gifted

I spent much of last weekend at the Cathedral of St. Paul. I hadn’t been to the Cathedral since my kids were confirmed, and as I drove into the parking lot on Friday night, I was struck anew with the majesty of the building, especially the way it was lit up at night. So the first thing I did when I got there was a “touristy” thing – I took a few photos before I went inside. I did the same thing when I arrived [...]

By |February 6th, 2015|Buried Treasure, Columns, Faith, Gifts and Talents|Comments Off on A weekend workshop shows how we’re Called & Gifted

Dreaming and exploring can help your life to GROW

What is your dream? That was the theme of the meeting and of my presentation at GROW last week. GROW stands for “God Renewing Our Women,” and it’s a new women’s ministry that was started at my parish last September. Because of my background and experience in helping people achieve their dreams, I was asked last August if I could do a presentation on the subject. I still remember the day I received the request. It came in an email I received while I was [...]

By |January 23rd, 2015|Achieving Dreams and Goals, Coaching, Columns, Faith, Success, Uganda|Comments Off on Dreaming and exploring can help your life to GROW