Brief Moments

     I'd like to find the first corporate MBA who thought moving Black Friday to Thanksgiving day, pulling employees away from their families and ask them what they're doing today.  I'm sure it's not at a checkout counter in retail. Like the changing family structure in America our Thanksgiving occurs on three different days:  Last Sunday with one set of in-laws and siblings nearby, today with my other in-laws and Sunday with my father's family in Grand Rapids.  We won't see those in California, Washington, D.C. or Hawaii but have either already spoken with them or will shortly.  All three occasions we'll be missing my oldest son who's working at a homeless shelter in Kalamazoo.      A family member recently said to me that we were going to have a "crappy Christmas" based on cash flow. My response was immediate.  If we're together it will be a wonderful Christmas because that's all that matters. I just don't have mu...

     Most of us have felt rejected at one time or another.  By a potential mate, spouse, friends, jobs we've applied for, coworkers or bosses.  In my case certainly there were times over the decades where my thinking and behavior deserved being fired or turned away. Other occasions though the rejection doesn't have anything to do with us, but the paradigm of those dismissing our opinions or relationship.  Those who've struggled to find meaningful work during the last five years of the current recession know first hand, often applying for hundreds or thousands of jobs with no feedback or even "thank you but we're going in a different direction" after multiple interviews.           If one doesn't have both spiritual and internal fortitude rejection can easily become a self fulfilling prophecy as the attitude and posture exude "I'm not worthy" where we go. I've never met anyone who wasn't worthy as a human ...

This was an assignment for class last week (08/08/2009) to write for seven and nine year old children who has lost their parents.  These were my thoughts (earned an A).   Lisa and Brad; I know this is hard for you. There are a lot of people around right now that you don't really know.  They're here because they loved your mom and dad. Maybe . . . maybe almost as much as you did. And in their own way, each of them loves you very much as well, and would do almost anything to help that you asked them to. There isn't anyone you know, who can fully explain to you why your mom and dad are gone from this life. Some folks would tell you that things just happen to all of us whether we want them to or not. Some folks will tell you that God needed your mom and dad more than you did because He had a job for them in heaven to do. I know that for your mom and dad, you were the most important people in their lives. What I will tell you is that I, my family, and ...