Previously I reviewed a new book about awe. In this entry I share some of the author’s significant observations. Today: His basic framework to describe this phenomenon. Like most fundamental human emotions, awe presents itself in simple terms. UC Berkeley Professor Dacher Keltner and New York University collaborator Jonathan Haidt define awe as “1the feeling of being in the presence ofMORE...
One of my daily prayers revolves around the hope that I can find practical help in alleviating the anxieties that circle my soul like hungry predators. A new book on the subject of awe seems to be an answer to those prayers. (Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. By Dacher Keltner. Copyright © 2023. New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-9848-7968-4) ProfessorMORE...
When it comes to end-of-life preparations, I think Chris and I have done a good job. (Wills, trusts, insurance policies, powers-of-attorney, memorial worship services, etc.) One vexing task remains, though: What to do about all the aspects of our estate that are primarily digital? Some writers have dubbed this phenomenon “digital inheritance”, a legacy that may present a problem for those whoMORE...
Most of us welcome the conveniences that make our lives more enjoyable—or at least easier to navigate. Although that’s generally true for me, too, convenience is not always a good thing. A story to illustrate: When I was a youngster, my father sometimes used whatever tool was at hand—e.g., a monkeywrench—to pound in nails. When we brothers asked why he didn’t use a hammer, his response wasMORE...
“Can I still persuade or motivate others?” That’s a personal question I think about regularly. This matter is related to my ongoing sense of purpose, or at least my continuing hopes to make a difference. Somewhere, somehow. When I was employed, the answers to that question could be framed by my roles as worker, leader, producer, boss, principal or teacher. In those vocations, I had some relatedMORE...
In my ongoing effort to discover contemporary relevance in Bible stories, I want to devote today’s entry to the story of Isaac’s Blessing of Jacob, which might also be subtitled, “A clever younger brother *fleeces his aging father.” (Genesis 27) You will recall how Jacob (“the Supplanter”) duped his now-blind dad into giving Jacob a powerful blessing actually meant for Esau, Jacob’s brother. TheMORE...
Easter’s multitude of joyful themes starts with *resurrection, but can also expand in many directions. Beyond the comfort and assurances that come from the realization that Death is not the final reality, there are other metaphorical and physically tangible restorations of life that we can rejoice about. The Resurrection of Jesus makes possible other joy-carrying resurrections. As a mindset thatMORE...
Along with Holy Cross Day (September 14), each Good Friday is a good time to contemplate the meaning of the cross in our lives. That reflection includes remembering with both sorrow and gratitude Jesus’ redemptive death by gruesome torture—nails in his wrists, thirst/hunger, exhaustion and his slow death by asphyxiation. In his suffering and dying we are granted forgiveness and salvation—aMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.