Peace at any price is no peace at all. As the middle child in my family for the first eight years of my life, I got pretty adept at peacekeeping---I simply stayed out of the fights between my older and younger siblings. Very typical for middle children; they are often considered the more quiet, passive, low-profile kids. Sometimes, my mother called me a "peacemaker." So, I beamed when my Sunday School teachers quoted Christ's Beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called ... VIEW POST
On a Peacekeeping Mission? Get Out!
Don’t Be Blind to the Double Bind!
Caution: Manipulative maneuvers ahead! Consider the following interpersonal verbal and/or nonverbal scenarios between two individuals: Now, consider the following scenarios within a group (for example, among friends, co-workers, or ward members). Again, these can be verbal or nonverbal messages: In my last post, I discussed the Double Bind theory, and how we consciously or unconsciously engage in it. Sometimes we play the role of ... VIEW POST
Breaking the Binds of the Double Bind
Are others tying you in knots? Can you solve the following dilemma taught by Zen Buddhists? Be aware that logic will not solve this problem. Zen philosophy often emphasizes "enlightenment" over logic: You are a student of the Zen Master. He invites you to his house for a cup of tea. As you pick up your cup of tea, the Zen Master pulls out a large stick he has hidden under the table. He says, 'This is your lesson for today. If you pick up the cup of tea, I will hit you with this ... VIEW POST
Our Difference Is Not a Negative
Feeling like a square peg in a round hole? I confess. I used to make fun of evangelical preachers on television. I don't anymore. Obviously, they want our money, and many are very wealthy. I've decided that how they spend their funds is their business. And who am I to judge because I give 10% of my income to my church. I've also come to value the spiritual insights of evangelical ministers. Last year, while doing some late night channel surfing, I came across evangelist preacher Mike ... VIEW POST
Escape Velocity
Are you free-falling? I'm kind of an anxious flyer. If I was a drinker, I'd probably be fairly soused by the time I boarded a plane. Regardless, I marvel at the miracle of flight. When flying, I often think about the trajectory of the airplane from take-off to landing. I'm no physicist, but I do have some understanding of the concept of trajectory or trajection as the curved path or arc of some object hurtling through air or space---such as a cannon ball from the moment it's shot from a ... VIEW POST
Part 2: Overcoming the Snow White Syndrome
Who is the fairest of them all? In my last post I wrote about my impressions of the movie Snow White and the Huntsman and its themes regarding the poisonous symptoms and effects of envy in our relationships. Envy affects every human on the planet regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social status, or culture. I titled this post, "The Snow White Syndrome" after Betsy Cohen's book of the same name. In this post I'll discuss the anecdotes to envy's poison. Again, I use my article entitled ... VIEW POST
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"The Ten Virgins" by John Melhuish Strudwick