Having a mother who is 100% Syrian, and a grandfather who immigrated from Damascus, Syria, I knew there was a high probability my dominant ethnicity would originate from the Arab world. My father, who has a very Italian last name, would certainly contribute some Italian to my DNA makeup too. Well, the verdict is in.Continue reading "I’m a Gracist American"

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up,Continue reading "Teaching & Learning"

The late, great Fred Rogers treated everyone like a neighbor. When Mister Rogers extended the invitation, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” he was genuinely humanizing each of us and modeling the behavior of a loving neighbor. It was the same model of love the Good Samaritan offered in the Bible. This standard of behavior isContinue reading "Won’t You Help Me Grow Neighborly Love?"

And though this world, with devils filled,should threaten to undo us,we will not fear, for God hath willedhis truth to triumph through us.The Prince of Darkness grim,we tremble not for him;his rage we can endure,for lo, his doom is sure;one little word shall fell him.Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," translated by FrederickContinue reading "One Little Word: Forgiveness"

If you're like me, then you've learned attempting to control external circumstances is futile. Even if you kid yourself into believing you're in control, eventually you'll find out you're not. That "eventually" could be a very long time, even years. And that "eventually" could be a big wake-up call. You can figuratively (and perhaps literally)Continue reading "Self-Control is Really the Only Control We Have"

How do you handle silence? Do you like it? Do you crave it? Do you find it so awkward that you're always reaching for your smartphone to distract yourself from it? I cherish it. In fact, I hold silence so dear that I believe it's the greatest gift we have. I am called to teachContinue reading "The Gift of Silence"

Before you make any resolves for the new year, find a why worthy of change. Too many resolutions are lukewarm and bear some ironic resemblance to our dominant problem in life, i.e. our unwillingness to exercise our liberty to gain true freedom, passion, and purpose. In other words, the change we seek to make isContinue reading "Find a Why Worthy of Change"

Let's be real. After all, we're human. We need a turning point, a point at which we're free from our past and free for our future. Freedom from the prisons we've constructed for ourselves that keep us trapped, feeling unhappy, void, and hopeless. Freedom for a future of joy, meaning, and greatness. Freedom to liveContinue reading "Freedom From, Freedom For"

Words mean things. Yet, it seems like many people do not choose their words carefully. That's a shame because the fabric of relationships hinges on what we say to one another. Words either affirm or deny a person's dignity, and dignity is the root of what we all want to feel. What we say isContinue reading "AWM – All Words Matter"