“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” — Winston Churchill Aneurin Bevan, also known as Nye Bevan, was a Welsh Labor Party politician who acted as minister of health in Great Britain’s post-war government between 1945 and 1951. During his time as a politician, he became known as a harsh critic of those whom, he believed, “opposed the working man.” Among others, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a primary Continue Reading
Dr. King’s Fight for Justice Sought Unification, Not Division
This week marked the 88th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was reminded during the weekend of celebrations of a book by King in which he wrote about the “gulf between practice and profession.” In this particular passage, he concludes that the principles we say we espouse don’t always align with what we say or how we live. “On the one hand, we proudly profess certain sublime and noble principles, but on the other hand, we sadly practice the very antithesis of these principles. How Continue Reading
Take Inventory Before Planning the New Year {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
My first New Year’s Eve in America was frustrating, at best. As a newlywed, I was excited to spend New Year’s Eve with my new husband, celebrating in style. Originally from Brazil, I was used to the “Réveillon” celebrations, widely famous for parties that last through the morning hours, while beautiful people glamorously dressed in white crowd the beaches to watch magnificent fireworks. As it happened, my husband announced that he had to be in bed by 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. As an Continue Reading
Looking Beyond the Christmas Tree {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
On Dec. 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, two brothers made history that would change the world forever. That was the day Orville and Wilbur Wright were finally successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground for the first time. Their self-propelled, gasoline-powered biplane stayed aloft for 12 seconds, covering 120 feet on its inaugural flight. Excited about their long-awaited accomplishment, Orville rushed to telegraph a message to their sister Katharine: “Success four Continue Reading
Word-Only Religion = Useless, Ineffective, Hypocritical {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
I read a story during my morning devotional this week that brought conviction to my heart. The anecdote touched me even more because it spoke of a subject that I had just been tested on the day before: steadfast kindness. It’s the story of an old man who always carried a small can of oil wherever he went. If he came across a door that squeaked, he would squirt a little oil on the hinges. If he tried to enter a gate that was rusty and hard to open, he would promptly oil the latch. Everywhere Continue Reading
Find Purpose While Sharing God’s Love {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
Not long ago, I had a conversation with a lady in her 70s, who is suffering from depression because one of her daughters is absent from her life. This daughter is alive and well, but she chooses not to participate in her mother’s life, even though she lives close. Almost every time I talk to this mother, the conversation turns to the pain and suffering that she is experiencing with her daughter’s absence. And every single time, my advice to my friend is the same. “You cannot help other Continue Reading
