"It was rich to be among them."
What happens when liberals from western Massachusetts get together with coal-country conservatives from Kentucky? More proof that common humanity prevails over political partisanship. This 9 minute podcast from WBUR’s Here and Now tells the story.
When you think about it, it's miraculous how a small seed – like an acorn – contains the full genetic instruction set to become something big, beautiful and life nourishing — like an oak tree. It’s an example of the gift all life forms possess: An encoded ability to reach, under the right conditions, their full potential.
It’s worth reflecting on how this “encoded ability” applies to humans.
Retaliation is a natural human instinct. Hurt me and I’ll want to hurt you back. Not only does this act of revenge give me a short-lived, dopamine-infused jolt of satisfaction, it also, hopefully, convinces you not to hurt me again. It's that hope, however, that often proves unfounded.
I’ll never forget my first “official” Difficult Conversations workshop – the first real test of whether I’d created something of value.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people in general are not good listeners. One reason might be that we stop listening to each other almost the moment a conversation has begun.
I’ve been thinking more about what keeps us from being in dialogue with those we disagree with. One cause that stands out: Self-righteousness.
They may not think of themselves this way, but journalists are storytellers, and the way they tell their stories shapes how you and I see each other and our world. The problem, however, is that journalists usually tell us only half the story – leaving us with a very distorted view of reality. A new approach called Solutions Journalism fills in the picture.
Thinking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine reminded me of a very personal experience I had years ago — one that taught me something about the nature of evil.
We’ve been on a long journey. What have we learned about where we are, who we are, and what we are to do?