Author Archives: Jim Gleason

What does it mean to empathize with another person’s struggles or problems? Does it mean that we simply listen and understand? Does it mean that we just agree that they are having difficulties? Can we invest in the other person’s life more than that? One dictionary defines “empathize” as to understand and share the feelingsContinue reading “Empathy”

Most of the time I eat healthy. I generally eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I have stayed away from my old habits of eating burgers and fries for years now. However, occasionally the lure of sweets or junk food is just too strong. Then I indulge myself in strawberry sundaes or brownies. FoodContinue reading “Seeing Good Days”

Why do we follow celebrities so closely? Do we expect some of their charm, good looks, riches, or good fortune to rub off onto us? Do we imagine ourselves in their place? Do we compare ourselves to them and think that we deserve what they have? Why do we admire celebrities? Is what they possessContinue reading “Celebrities”

I have been pleasantly surprised lately at how often people are saying “thank you! ” Store clerks, restaurant workers, and service personnel seem to go out of their way to offer thanks. I’ve got to say, that as a patron of these businesses, it makes me feel appreciated and brings a smile to my face.Continue reading “Minimum Sacrifice”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day,and the darkness He called night.” Genesis 1:1, 3-4 Yesterday was cloudy all day and itContinue reading “Glorious Light”

Most every day we have received snow, it seems for weeks now. It makes the trees and landscape beautiful. It makes the roads and parking lots a disaster. Snow turns into a muddy mush where trampled by a number of cars. This mush attaches itself to your vehicle. Most of the cars in this areaContinue reading “Mud Stains”

Walking outside at this time of year can be dangerous. Sometimes I walk in fresh snow thinking that my footing will be secure, only to find ice beneath. The ice is not only slippery but is uneven causing my ankle to turn precariously. Recently I made a step in the snow that half landed onContinue reading “Dangers Beneath”

I walk about 10 miles each morning. Until the weather turned bad the last couple weeks, I was able to vary my route from day to day. Now I have to be content to walk around the shopping center across the street. Their walkways and parking lot are generally plowed. This morning I noticed somethingContinue reading “Footprints in the Snow”

Several years ago a friend and I traveled to a hill village in Nepal. To get to the village, we took a bus a couple hours up the hill until the road became unpassable for the bus. Then we got in the back of a construction truck along with 20 other people. We took theContinue reading “In the Pit”

The television show, American Idol, sought to find and promote the next big musical star. A number of other shows attempt to do the same thing. Other reality shows seek the ultimate survivor, amazing racer, or ninja. If that’s not enough promotional hype, there are the reality shows covering the lives of famous or wannabeContinue reading “American Idol”