Inspirations

Election season is upon us.  Despite the idea that it is an “off year,” meaning we are not electing the president, senators or congressional leaders, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to cast a ballot in your local election.  Don’t be fooled by the lackluster advertising or the seemingly “it doesn’t really matter” attitudes of some folks. Recognize that real change can happen from […]

Watching others suffer is difficult. Whether it is fellow Americans  in Houston, Louisiana and now Florida facing water and devastation from hurricanes or hearing about others suffering in India from mudslides or Mexico from earthquakes, our hearts are touched and we yearn to give solace. What can we do in times of crisis to lift our lamp and provide refuge? Money and supplies are the first thought […]

Summer! Time to play, take a break, go to the pool, visit the beach, hike that daunting peak. But please remember those who might not have the summer off. Remember those who are refugees just getting started, those who are homeless hoping to get started again, those who are without–wondering where the next meal might come from,  and those who are working hard just to […]

On this special day, this special time of year, let us remember and be grateful for those who have gone before. I am grateful for my many generations back grandfather William who fought for our freedom in the Revolutionary War. He and many others, sacrificed their comfort and risked their lives and their way of life to fight for their idea of real freedom. Their sacrifices bought them […]

I was out in the city the other day. Right about lunch time, I walked by a man who was asking for spare change. That morning I had thrown a couple of granola bars into my bag. I stopped, stepped back, and offered one to him. He was so grateful and thanked me for providing something for him to eat. I commented on his fancy poncho, which was […]

Give me your tired . . . I knew a young mother who was overwhelmed and exhausted.  Her friends and neighbors recognized the signs and came to the rescue.  One took her two children to the park.  One came and swept the floor.  One arrived to fold the laundry.  One stopped by for a friendly visit.  They all brought a meal.  They lifted her burdens […]

One of the many wonderful things about living in the United States of America is the opportunity to obtain a free education. This is a gift for which we should be very grateful. And the best way to  show our gratitude? By taking advantage of this gift: learning as much as we can while we are in school, encouraging our children to do the same and then […]

You hold the light–the beacon to our nation The opportunity for us all to shine forth To share your promise with others Through love and friendship Through understanding and inclusion You encourage us to stand: On our windswept shores Or our warm sandy beaches On our crowded city streets Or our quiet back porches And say, “Come, join us in our land. A land of […]

One of my childhood friends was Tamawa. She had come to America from Japan with her family for her father’s job. She was friends with me and the other girls in the neighborhood who were from many backgrounds very different from hers. She played with us and went to school with us, but she also spent her Saturday mornings at Japanese school. As we played […]

I woke up the other day and flipped on the TV. When I at last figured out the remote, the man on the screen told me we’re going to make America great again. Great, I said, that sounds just, well, great! I mean, who doesn’t want America to be great? And even better, we’re gonna do it again! So to make a long story short, […]