Deep inside, I have this belief that all humans desire to be the best person they can be; that everyone seeks to flourish in their own lives and that aspiration expands out to those around them. I refuse to release my grip on this conviction even when our current culture attempts to convince me otherwise. …
Category: Spiritual Life
Read the Manual
After years of maintaining a beautiful lawn with a gas-powered mower, a decision is made to venture out and investigate the latest battery-powered mowers, so upon opening the large cardboard box after making the final purchase, my first step was to Read the Manual. Now, there are many items that once purchased, such as a …
Get Better
This pilgrimage to comprehend why some people flourish, even in difficult times, while others, who appear to have an easy path, seem to flounder, is generating more questions than answers. Although days exist when it would be enjoyable to uncover a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating relationships, careers, and life in general, in order to experience …
Sunglasses and Hearing Aids
If you find it impossible to see yourself in any of the content Eggerichs shares in Cracking the Communication Code, such as Michael and Tom’s hunting story, the misunderstanding in the airport terminal, or the hamburger question, then you have NEVER had a genuine conversation with a member of the opposite gender! Laughing out loud …
TransforMissional Leadership
Some people may call it coincidence, but I do not; I choose to believe in Divine Direction which is exactly what occurred when I uprooted the book Fit & Flourish from the bookshelf in my home office on a recent July day. Considering the book has been in my possession since before life changed with …
Fight to Flourish
Since encountering the word flourish in this research over a year ago, the term has repeatedly appeared, almost daily, in my life since; and as I described in the blog post What’s Your Word, the word is becoming foundational to my writing and study. During this same time frame, I have continued to listen to …
Shift the Spiral
Imagine, if you will, these two scenarios: (1) your toddler is throwing a fit in the produce section of your local grocery and the situation is spiraling downward quickly; or (2) your name was accidentally omitted from a document related to reaching a milestone at your employer which results in a few tears being shed. …
Unfinished Misfit
“Hello, my name is Julie, and I am a Misfit.” A blessed and Unfinished Misfit; but still a misfit, at least according to culture’s current standards when contemplating the expected milestones which measure a typical white, middle-class American’s lifespan. In previous seasons of life, I would have irritably snubbed such ridiculous pigeon-holing, but after plunging …
Armor On
There is no way I will make it through this blog post without a reference to one of my favorite movies, Gladiator, so just let me alleviate the anticipation now. (Referenced previously in Face Down in the Arena). If you’ve never seen this epic saga of ancient Rome, I encourage you to view it from …
Bump the Tree
“Let’s say you’re like Mother Teresa (or me, for that matter) and you don’t feel God’s presence often, if at all. What if, somehow, you knew that this would always be the case, for the rest of your life? What if you knew you’d never get the warm feelings others get, you’d never have your …
Flourishing @ Life 