When I was a kid, if my brother and I were standing beside a lake with a pile of rocks nearby, I’m pretty sure our first instinct would have been simple: pick up a rock and throw it into the water. The bigger the splash, the better. Chances are we were there with my Dad. At some point, he probably picked up one of those nice flat rocks, turned it in his hand and threw it across the surface of the lake. Skip. Skip. Skip. Skip. Now he had our attention. It wouldn’t have taken long … [Read more...]
We Hold These Truths…
Two hundred fifty years ago, a small group of people put words on paper that have echoed across generations. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Those words challenged a nation then. They should still challenge each of us today. As leaders, parents, neighbors, colleagues, and citizens, may we continue striving … [Read more...]
Steady When It Matters Most
A Presidents Day Reflection on Leadership Under Pressure Presidents Day is more than a long weekend. It’s a pause — a reminder that leadership, at its highest level, is rarely tested during calm seasons. It is revealed when the stakes rise and the path forward is uncertain. This isn’t a history lesson. It’s a leadership reflection. Three presidents. Three defining decisions. Different eras. Different temperaments. One common thread: character when it mattered most. George … [Read more...]
At the Turn of the Year: What We Carry Forward
There’s something different about the final days of the year. The holidays are mostly behind us. The new year hasn’t yet begun. And for a brief moment, the noise eases. These final days sit in that quiet space in between. Not days for bold declarations or sweeping resolutions. A couple of days for reflection—for noticing what this year has actually left us with. Before looking ahead, it’s worth asking: What from 2025 truly deserves to come with me into 2026? “We do not … [Read more...]
At Christmas, What Truly Makes Us Whole
Christmas has a way of slowing us down — if we let it. Not because our calendars suddenly clear, but because something inside us asks for pause. Amid the noise, the gatherings, and the expectations, there’s often a quieter invitation: to reflect on faith, on the people who make us whole, and on how we might give beyond ourselves. This season isn’t meant to be measured by what’s on the table or under the tree. It’s measured by presence. By connection. By what we choose to carry forward into … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving 2025 – A Moment of Stillness in a Loud World
There’s a particular kind of noise we’ve all lived through this year. The noise of headlines. The noise of disagreements. The noise of uncertainty—financial, political, global, personal. And even when the room is quiet, the mind often isn’t. Thanksgiving offers something rare: A day where gratitude can soften the sharp edges of the world, and stillness can return, even if just for a moment. As Mary Oliver reminded us: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” That … [Read more...]