NOTHING IN THE WAY OF THAT
My friend Sandy shared with me that she often describes our Albuquerque arts communities as a culture not where people come to “make it” but where they can actually make it. Where the focus is on making art more than…
EXTRA SPECIAL SOMETHING
I’ve told you before about my Jar of Good Things. That’s sort of a silly name for what is essentially a basic gratitude practice, but it’s the way I first entered it into my reminder app, how it dings for…
MAKING THE MOST OF IT
Last week I was wrapping up my talk and said something like, “Right now, here we are. Let’s maximize this.” I was about to say, “Let’s make the most of it,” but then stopped myself because I thought that might…
SPOILER ALERT
Growing up Methodist, I was always aware of the special hymns and changing colors associated with the different seasons in the Christian liturgical calendar — Lent, Epiphany, Pentecost, Advent. Christmas, of course. But now, for most of the year, I…
THE GREATER FOOL
When I began leading a weekly service, ten years ago, my very first talk was titled “Fool-fillment.” It happened to land on April 1, so the topic of foolishness seemed timely. It also felt like a decent poke at myself,…
NOW & VENN
I like Venn diagrams. Travis suggested this punny title, “Now and Venn,” about a week ago, and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’m sure you’re familiar with Venn diagrams — intersecting circles illustrating the links or…
TAKE HEART
I just heard about a hotline started by a California art teacher, Jessica Martin, and her elementary school students. Anyone can call and hear pre-recorded messages of encouragement, in English or Spanish, from this group of kids: “Press one if…
FIT AS A FIDDLE
In high school, Travis had a friend named Natalie, an exchange student from Frankfurt, Germany. While she lived here, she did a lot of clothes shopping for family and friends back home — blue jeans and other items that she…
CATCH THE WIND
Springtime feels eager. I like that about it. Things ready to return, coming to life. Even with frustrating stop-starts, temperatures faltering all over the place, still we’re tumbling more or less forward into something frolicsome and fresh. This year feels…
PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE
It’s clear that we affect each other. We shape each other’s lives in big ways and small ways all the time, accidentally and on purpose. Our behaviors, our moods, what we believe, and what we say all exert powerful influences…