Community Archives

Wisdom for a Distracted People

With the new year comes the promise of ever-greater distractions in our fast-moving world. So far, 2025 seems to be the year of over-the-top headlines: devastating fires and frigid arctic storms; a funeral for one president and the anticipated inauguration of another; wars and rumors of wars. All the while, cultural buzzwords like artificial intelligence, algorithms and chatbots occupy greater territory in the national lexicon.

Most of us just try to keep pace these days. But as big news unfolds in this fast-knowledge era, I can’t help wonder, where do any of us find wisdom in the current moment? In an age where disasters—natural and those of the human variety—seem to happen with greater frequency and intensity, what does wisdom even look like? When institutional trust has been fractured in so many ways and the whole of creation seems to be groaning, how do we cultivate and share wisdom with one another?

A Seat at the Table

Ben Pilgreen has a worthy idea. He calls it the wisdom table, and I write about it in my latest piece for The Washington Institute of Faith, Vocation and Culture. In his book, Bring it Out, Pilgreen writes, “Your future is going to be determined by the people seated at your wisdom table.” He continues, “When you pursue a major calling in your life, it really matters who is in it with you.” In other words, who is holding you accountable? Who is whispering in your ear? Who do you look to as a role model?

Proverbs 13:20 reminds us that “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” At the dawn of a new year, who are the best candidates to have a seat at your wisdom table?

I explore this theme in my long-form article, Finding Wisdom in a Distracted World, which I invite you to read and share as you set your own wisdom table for 2025.

Hold On to that Holiday Hygge

Hygge is the sense of well-being we enjoy at Christmas and long for throughout the year

Hang on to your holiday hygge — A Norwegian *koselig* star

When the magic of Christmas fades, it is hard to hold on to that holiday hygge. My Scandinavian kinsfolk use this term—hygge—to describe the warm, cozy feeling you get when you curl up with a good book in front of a crackling fire. Or when you share conversation with friends over steaming cups of cocoa. The Norwegians call this feeling koselig, but the Danish word hygge is more familiar to most of us. Either way, it is the state of mind many of us yearn to hold on to long after the last Christmas decorations have been packed away for the year.

In Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow, author Jamie Erickson writes, “Hygge is simple but sophisticated, warm and inviting, homemade and rustic. Hygge is the opposite of hustle. It eschews over-abundance. It savors. It takes things slow and envelopes you in sanctuary. In a world largely defined by rush, hygge welcomes rest. It invites you to enjoy the simple pleasures of slow living, savored moments, and fostered friendships.”

A deeper holiday hygge

Our desire to hold on to that holiday hygge stems from the ache within each one of us to experience comfort, connection and community. In the grind of daily living, we hunger for contentment and belonging. We are too often weary, and we seek an inviting atmosphere that affords us rest and welcomes us into a space where we are known. Hygge is the secret ingredient that helps create that space.

Join me at The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation and Culture to explore the deeper meaning of hygge. Learn how to tap into its quiet power—not only at Christmastime, but all year long.

C ontinue reading my full article, A Deeper Holiday Hygge here.

The Eye-Rolling Isn’t Working

I dusted off and updated this post from four years ago – sadly, it’s still relevant and even more important today.)

Have you noticed people are really crabby these days? Living in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, I am used to drivers cutting me off on the freeway. And it is not too remarkable to find myself standing in line behind a real grumbler at the post office or grocery store. We all let our irritable natures get the better of us some days. What is alarming, however, is the degree of anger and outrage that seems to be bubbling up in every corner of society.

The vitriol that passes for national discourse in this era of divisive politics, angry social media, and 24/7 news cycles seems to have stripped us of a sense of civility. The constructive sharing of opposing ideas has been preempted not simply by anger, as one might surmise watching cable news or observing Sunday dinner with the relatives. Healthy debate has been usurped by what social scientist Arthur Brooks calls a “culture of contempt.”

A Few F-words for 4th of July

Patriotism has taken a hit in recent years. Especially during the 4th of July. In some circles it’s fashionable to slam the U. S. of A. — to punctuate its flaws and denigrate its virtues. Other camps seem to have confused love of country with an exaggerated sense of purpose. Either way, decorating the porch with red, white and blue bunting feels a little off kilter this year.

I’m old enough to remember the national exuberance during the Bicentennial celebration in 1976. That summer, tall ships filled New York and Boston harbors. Johnny Cash served as Grand Marshall at the U.S. Bicentennial parade in our nation’s capital on the 4th of July. There was an official Bicentennial logo and commemorative postage stamps, coins, license plates and other merchandise.

Disneyland and Disney World hosted America on Parade. Local communities painted benches, fire hydrants, mailboxes and phone booths in patriotic colors. The popular Schoolhouse Rock! series created America Rock to teach youngsters about American history and government. (Throughout the year, I proudly wore the shirt my mom hand embroidered using the Betsy Ross animated character from the series – seen here.)

That summer, the wave of patriotism drenched America from coast to coast. We loved it. It felt refreshing to celebrate our nation on the 4th of July. To acknowledge our history with a sense of accomplishment even as we emerged from some difficult moments including the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

By many accounts, America is having a difficult moment right now, in 2023. We are polarized. We are mean-spirited. We are worried.

Which is precisely why the 4th of July is a good time to pause and ponder the fundamental and enduring values we continue to hold dear. It’s okay to do that even as we acknowledge our shortcomings. And it’s possible to respectfully observe nearly 250 years of achievement from a posture of humility.

Here’s a start. A carefully curated selection of F-words worthy of celebration this 4th of July, from the pages of our own history:

For Ukraine’s disabled, a wheelchair means dignity

Ukraine is a nation of 44 million people. More than 2.5 million of them have disabilities — 200,000 of those are children. Though the government of Ukraine is required by law to provide its people with mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches), few resources are available to meet this need. The result: many citizens live cradle to grave in isolation, segregated from mainstream society and unable to participate in daily activities most of us take for granted. For Ukraine’s disabled, a wheelchair means dignity.

One organization is working to change the status quo. God’s Hidden Treasures (GHT) is a non-profit Christian ministry founded in 1997 by Nita Hanson, a former computer marketing manager from Southern California. “Our mission is to serve the needs of the poor, afflicted, and orphaned of Ukraine and to bring God’s love through personal relationships in the name of Jesus Christ,” says Hanson. Continue reading “For Ukraine’s disabled, a wheelchair means dignity”

A Seat at the Table

A deeper holiday hygge

I invite you to click through to the TWI website and read my full article here:

Rediscovering and Relearning the Bonds of Community.