Category Archives: Text Posts

What means much to you?

Father never accepted any gift from his students, but when his daughter became a teacher, she never refused any gifts from her students. The father was upset by this practice, so one day he reproached his daughter: “I do not accept any gift because gifts mean nothing to me. It pains me to know thatContinue reading “What means much to you?”

Words That Create Community

This is from Henri Nouwen’s Bread for the Journey and is titled “Words That Create Community.” The word is always a word for others. Words need to be heard. When we give words to what we are living, these words need to be received and responded to. A speaker needs a listener. A writer needsContinue reading “Words That Create Community”

Marriage is like ….

Can als be found at http://www.shelbynews.com/articles/2009/06/27/news/doc4a43debaed39b936699370.txt A phone call in the nightBy Nathan Day Wilson Today is my wedding anniversary. It’s also my wife’s. I’m not going to tell you how many years we’ve been married. Don’t want to mess up the math. Let’s just say that, for me, it seems like our marriage beganContinue reading “Marriage is like ….”

Not Being Distracted

Can You Hear Me? The master of ceremony bragged on the elementary-aged award recipients: their concern for the environment, their vision of a recycling program, their stamina to make the vision a reality. He called their names. Wild applause, some standing, pictures flashing. But only one recipient appeared. When the emcee repeated the second name,Continue reading “Not Being Distracted”

Musicals as communication

I don’t know enough, but since you don’t know that I don’t, I’ll act like I do. I’ve listened to musicals throughout my life, but feeling their power and assessing their quality are new to me. While affinity is finally decided by the temperamental viewer, there are some standards. Quality musicals begin with powerful voices.Continue reading “Musicals as communication”

Good writing

This week I’m at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research to participate in a writer’s conference. It’s my first time to the Institute, though I have long been a fan of its publications and other work. I awoke this morning at 6:00 and walked down a road and across a bridge to theContinue reading “Good writing”

Socializing

What kind of adult?By Nathan Day WilsonPublished: Friday, June 12, 2009 7:13 AM US/easternA woman who attends First Christian Church recently scheduled counseling with me. She wanted to discuss her teenager and seek suggestions. You’ve probably seen the scenario she described: Her teenager can text with phone in pocket, keep up with friends on FacebookContinue reading “Socializing”

Today’s Students Are More Globally Aware, Less Materialistic, Leading Pollster Says

This is from The Chroncile of Higher Education. What do you think? Washington — The generation of young people who are filling college classrooms and becoming junior faculty members today are more globally aware and less concerned about material wealth than were their predecessors, a leading public-opinion pollster told more than 150 college and universityContinue reading “Today’s Students Are More Globally Aware, Less Materialistic, Leading Pollster Says”

What Now baccalaureate 2009

Asking, ‘What now?’ By Nathan Day WilsonPublished: Friday, June 5, 2009 12:43 AM US/eastern Last Saturday, I had the privilege of being this year’s baccalaureate preacher at Shelbyville High School. I was honored to be asked and enjoyed the time very much. The title of my talk was “What Now?” In it, I suggested fourContinue reading “What Now baccalaureate 2009”