When have you found unexpected courage? It’s one of the questions we asked students last week during our residency at the Honors College at Rutgers University.  As the students explored our American Stories exhibit, they met some of the more challenging stories with wonder. “I don’t think I could have done that,” one young man said when he read the story of how Bud Welch forgave his daughter’s killer. “That seems almost impossible,” another said about Deanna Thompson reckoning with […]

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It’s either the most ridiculous or the most brilliant thing we’ve ever planned. It’s Karen’s idea (Karen is my wife, if you’re just starting to follow), but it didn’t take me long to agree. 2019 was a busy year. I slept somewhere other than my own bed roughly 160 nights, so Karen and I were apart more than we cared to be. It’s all a part of growing A Peace of My Mind as it continues to evolve in new […]

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In the autumn of 1990, Karen and I were in Europe. It was a three month no-frills backpacking tour and most of our entertainment consisted of wandering the streets and countryside and people watching. Tickets to just about anything were out of our budget. But in Prague, we made an exception. There was an evening concert by an Iranian folk ensemble. At the time, the United States was still reeling from the hostage crisis. The 52 American hostages in Tehran […]

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Some things are hard to measure. Many of the best things in life are difficult to quantify. Happiness. A sense of belonging. Faith. Love. We try. We measure things in dollars and followers and statistics. But when it comes to things of intrinsic value, those numbers often fall short. In my 2010 interview with Marion Vance for my first book, she explained that we need a better measuring stick. “The tendency is to try to put a number on everything, and […]

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I am revisiting this interview with Harry Williams, Jr. from February 19, 2010. Harry was and is the Laird Bell Professor of History at Carleton College. Among the courses he teaches are “African American History,” “Black Atlantic History,” which focuses on the relationship between Ghana and the United States, and “U.S. History from 1865-1945.” Harry views the world from what he calls a “tragic conception of history and a tragic conception of life, ” which means -— in his words […]

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Sometimes life moves so quickly that we don’t have time to adequately process the events of the day. I’m reminded of wading into rough surf to try to bob in the waves. It’s all fun and games until you find yourself off balance. Before you can even regain your footing another wave washes over you and suddenly it’s all you can do to keep your head above water. This fall has been a little like that. So many good things, […]

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Brandon Bright works at MPACT- DFW in Fort Worth, Texas, an organization that educates and offers services around HIV and sexual health for men of color in the community. Brandon was diagnosed with HIV in 2009 and he has used his experience to help connect others to services that can help demystify issues around HIV and provide resources that can lead to a long and healthy life. “Every day in some shape, form or fashion, I’m reminded of where I […]

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Earlier this month I got to visit HopeWorks Station in Everett, Washington.  An innovative housing project in Snohomish County, it holds the possibility of a permanent solution for some of the people experiencing homelessness in the area. A few interesting facts about HopeWorks Station: -65 affordable housing units from 300-453 square feet -focused on serving veterans, youth and families -all units face inward to a common courtyard to encourage creating community -a building that gives more than it takes… 532 […]

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I was able to spend time with middle school students last week, supporting the school’s efforts to cultivate each individuals sense that they could be a source of strength for themselves and others. I was reminded of Mel Duncan’s quote that “We struggle with a shrunken notion of our own ability. We have the ability to bring substantial change and often we don’t own that. We are afraid of that.” In fact, we can do big things. We can encourage […]

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These trips have a been a whirlwind. Nairobi, Kenya in August. Lima, Peru in September. We’re headed to Bangkok in November. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to partner with Good Deeds Day and to see some of the positive work they encourage and support around the world. To borrow a phrase from their website, “Good Deeds Day is a global day that unites people from 108 countries to do good deeds for the benefit of others and the planet.” Not bad […]

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