Author Archives: Jim Gleason

During this pandemic rules are proliferating. It seems that every governing body has a set of rules. I am really confused. Whose rules have the ultimate authority and how do I know which rules to comply with in each environment I find myself? Religion can be the same way. Each congregation and association can comeContinue reading “Rules Upon Rules”

What is the most awesome thing you have ever seen? Perhaps it is the birth of a child. Maybe it is a glorious sunset at some exotic beach. Could it be that you have seen a snow covered mountain peak covered bathed in the orange morning light? If you are a sports fan, it mayContinue reading “Awesome Deeds”

Every year my sister sends us handmade wooden gifts at Christmas. She downplays this generous and thoughtful act, but they are beautifully painted and carefully crafted items. We received this year’s gifts today. An ornamental sleigh and calendar were included. Did you know that God handcrafted you with a special and unique design? In thatContinue reading “Of What Value”

Snow is lightly falling and the temperatures are freezing. As storms go, this is mild. Additionally, the temperature inside is cozy and we are not threatened very much. Later this winter the storms will be much worse. Life can be like that. Some times a small storm of anxiety or frustration may come. We canContinue reading “Storms Outside and Within”

Last night we saw houses decorated with Christmas lights for the first time this season. Tomorrow night we will go to the botanical gardens for their annual Christmas light display. The lights are beautiful and do a good job of setting the mood for the season. They seem to point the way for the goodContinue reading “Christmas Lights”

We are all aware that there are underdogs in sports. The underdog is the team expected to lose. Sometimes the underdog plays extremely well or a miracle happens allowing the underdog to win. Generally we all root for the underdog. Unfortunately, underdogs exist in life, as well. These people may have grown up in disfunctionalContinue reading “Underdogs”

Our new President will likely appoint many new ambassadors. Their job will be to represent the United States wherever they are assigned. They must accurately reflect the interests of our country. Have you ever thought about the fact that we are each ambassadors. We represent different people and organizations in our various circumstances and environments.Continue reading “Ambassador”

Do you ever feel like you are running really fast but going nowhere. I sure do. I will spend a day or a week hustling all over the place, but then I look back and wonder what I really accomplished. Two things most often hinder my progress. First, I have lost focus on my goal.Continue reading “Running a Race”

We got in the car today, turned on the engine and the tire pressure light went on. No big deal. We just went around the block to a tire dealer and put air into the tires. Pretty mundane stuff. That got me thinking about all the other ingredients that the car needs in order toContinue reading “Right Ingredients”

When we lived in Nepal, I hated the suspension bridges for pedestrians. The heights, wind, and lengths of these bridges scared me. But oftentimes we would have to cross several of these bridges to get where we were going. Several times I would sit and pray before crossing. Prayer gave me a different perspective onContinue reading “Suspension Bridges”