One of the great lessons cancer taught me was the importance of getting my thought-life in order.
There are way too many things in this world that could go wrong. If we allow ourselves to think whatever thought pops into our heads, we risk being dragged into a black hole of despair.
But how do we replace those negative thoughts with something ... Read More
“Whoa! People work this early in the morning?”
That was my first-grade son’s reaction as we passed a garbage truck recently at 5:30 a.m.
We were heading out on a family vacation. The men in the truck were hustling in the rain to pick up bin after bin of trash.
“Yes. And I’m grateful they do. How about you?” I responded.
That led to ... Read More
Every once in awhile, Saul and I play “Who would you most like to have dinner with?”
Jimmy Buffett is high on Saul’s list. Mother Teresa is high on mine. I imagine we’re both out of luck.
A little boy in Fargo will long remember a recent meal he got to share thanks to a side helping of kindness. His grandfather, Harvey ... Read More
Twenty years ago this month, people along the Red River in Minnesota, North Dakota and Southern Manitoba experienced the worst flood of the area since 1826.
Homes and businesses were destroyed. Lives were swept up in a torrent of emotional and financial ruin. An entire geographic area was collectively exhausted.
Yet, when the river finally returned to its banks, along with a ... Read More
My mom is an amazing woman. I get to talk about kindness and reconciliation and God’s great power to redeem because my mom allows me to share her story as part of my story.
Tom Hodson, the host of Spectrum Podcast and Director WOUB Public Media invited me to be on his show to talk about how my childhood opened the ... Read More
At this very moment, if all has gone well, I am on an airplane with my three children heading back to Fargo.
It was the kindness of an event planner who first gave the idea wings, and the kindness of many other community members who made it take flight.
Saul and I lived in Fargo for 10 years before moving to Ohio, ... Read More
The kids have been putting together a list of all the things they want to see while we’re in Fargo: our old house, the ferris wheel at Scheels (it’s a sporting goods store), West Acres Mall, and all their favorite old parks.
The list is about two football fields long. I keep reminding them that this is a “working vacation” for ... Read More
I was at a Weight Watchers meeting this morning. Don’t ask. The wheels fall off the bus pretty quickly when you live in a family who loves to celebrate track meets, baseball games and good grades with ice cream. Easter baskets don’t seem to help the problem either.
Anyway, I was sitting in the meeting listening to the celebrations and challenges ... Read More
I am like a dog with a bone when I get an idea in my head. My mind focuses in on something I want to do, and I’m off– a high-speed train coming straight at you.
That’s awesome when it comes to things like kindness. It’s what gives me the jolt to quickly go and do something kind before I stop ... Read More
If I get butterflies before speaking in front of one audience, you should see what happens to my stomach when I think about speaking in front of eight audiences. And two radio programs. And one live morning TV show.
I’m prepping for a return visit to Fargo at the end of April. It started out as one invitation to speak about ... Read More
