It’s All a Gift

Imagine asking two very accomplished people for the secret of their success. One says, “I’m very gifted.” The other says, “I’ve worked very hard.” To you, which sounds humble and which sounds smug? A few years ago, I read an article which observed how far our...

Flim, Flam, Flooey!

Ever wonder why you do what you do? Human motivation can be a bit murky, even for the experts. Nature or nurture? Hormones or circumstances? Horoscope or stethoscope? Self-esteem problems or unmet needs? Some of us know from experience—talk to 10 different...

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Remember when church buildings had a cemetery right outside? It’s not so common these days, but many churches from a generation or two ago still have an old graveyard out back. When I was in college, I remember visiting an old church in New England one Sunday morning...