Month: September 2002

Life itself is filled with constant learning. At the least-effort end of the scale, we learn something the minute we open our eyes in the morning: the time, the weather, the previous day's news. By law, we must attend school … Read more

Exhortations to "commit" or "to be committed" appear frequently throughout the scriptures. But what do the words really mean? Too often, their meanings are casually interpreted as kinds of half-serious resolutions like people tend to make at New Year's, or … Read more

My grandpa gave chocolate Easter bunnies to my brother and me. I gobbled mine as fast as I could swallow. My two-year-old brother, on the other hand, was still admiring his. Poke! "You don't want to eat broken bunny ears, … Read more

Has someone you love ever judged you with these words: "It's all right to be religious, but you have gone overboard"? During the past winter we had the opportunity to accompany friends on the boat they owned, travelling along the … Read more

Once when the 747 aircraft on which I was a passenger was making its final approach to a busy airport, from my window seat I was idly watching the car traffic on a busy two-lane highway below. For some time … Read more

We are constantly bombarded with images that are contrived to tempt us to think the unthinkable, and they are all around us day and night. It is inescapable. Do not be overcome; it is a part of being a physical … Read more

I work on a university campus, and September is always an interesting but hectic month. The students, fresh from summer vacations or jobs, populate the campus to study in their respective fields. There is a friendly rivalry between various types … Read more

When my daughter was little, she often had nightmares. She would wake up screaming in terror. I was always near when this happened, to hold her briefly in my arms, and to reassure her that everything was as it should … Read more

I was making do with my old plastic travel mug, even though it wasn't the least bit satisfactory. My coffee tasted funny and often it was cold. Finally, I treated myself to a stainless steel travel mug. I don't know … Read more

I used to lead a Cub pack, and one of the things we taught was how to use a compass for direction, so as not to get lost in unfamiliar territory. The magnetic force of the earth always moves the … Read more