A wonder, that a device so small, in existence for less than twenty years, can be so influential in one's daily life. An evolutionary appendage that serves a purpose, but one we can do without. Though, this is contrary to our belief. I forget my keys. My water bottle. The day's lunch sack. I even forget where I am...

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir Yesterday, my daughter (who will graduate from college next week..yay!!!) and I drove in the direction of the Mogollon Rim to cut the family Christmas tree. We purchased a permit from Tonto National Forest and made the day trip to an area just...

The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder. — G.K. Chesterton Each Wednesday, I am responsible for picking up my nephews from school and keeping an eye on them until my brother gets off work. The youngest just turned four, is in pre-school, and is enthralled with any kind of heavy...

I am a worrier. A worrier that comes from a long line of worriers. I’ve spent a significant amount of time worrying, so I am practiced. With all due humility, I’m very good at it. And, in spite of my skill level, the outcome of this investment has been what you might expect, including bouts with anxiety and...

In my career I invested a lot of time in an effort to be good at my job. Perhaps, too much. My sense of identity was closely tied to my work. People knew me as, "Jeff -- the principal at Willis Junior High School." I like to believe that I did my job relatively well, focusing on the things that mattered most--the...

Blessings often come in small packages. Blink, fret too much, or get distracted by the hurry of life and you are likely to miss these little bits of encouragement. An example. This morning, as I was having coffee and reading at my desk, a little Anna's Hummingbird made several trips to the feeder outside my window....

Streets of Port au Prince, Haiti In December I plan on systematically going through my possessions and minimizing as much as possible. Not only do I want to reduce what I own, but I want to be more cognizant about what I spend. Therein lies the rub. How do you distinguish between wants and needs? This...

The real enemies of our lives are the "oughts" and the "ifs." They pull us backward into the unalterable past, or forward into the unpredictable future. But real life takes place in the here and now. - Henri Nouwen I sometimes wonder how much time I've wasted in worry. Lingering on regrets about past decisions or...

Life can be challenging. Stressful. Hectic. Busy. Overwhelming. Our capacity to deal with the world around us varies and is finite. When we reach our limit, we have to accept it. Don't give up. Reduce the load, or do something rejuvenating to increase our capacity. No one can do everything, all the time. Life can be...

Last week I was doing some work in a field of our family’s Christmas tree farm that borders a neighbor. They have quite a menagerie of animals — chickens, goats, sheep, a horse, rabbits, goats, pigeons and greyhounds. In addition, they have a couple Great Pyrenees dogs that keep an eye on the “zoo.” The Pyrenees are...

I'm reading a good fiction book right now (This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger). Inexplicably, I feel a bit guilty because it is my third fiction book in a row. I like to mix in nonfiction to feel like I'm "learning" something. I suspect my compunction about reading for enjoyment is due to years of feeling an...

I'm spending a few days in Kansas, helping my brother on our family Christmas tree farm. The work is physically challenging (dragging, lifting, netting, stacking, and loading Christmas trees), but I finish the day "good tired." Not the same tiredness that comes from stress, busyness, and anxiety. Here are a few...