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The road ahead
“People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better.” ~Ray Bradbury, Beyond 1984: The People Machines As we age, we map out the course of our own future. We plan for retirement, organize our personal finances, reassess our healthcare plan, and envision how we want to spend the second half of life. At the same time, we consider the bigger picture —…
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What to give up for Lent
“Life is a lot more fragile than we think. So you should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets. Fairly, and if possible, sincerely.” ~Haruki Murakami Lent begins February 18, on Ash Wednesday. Many who practice a religious faith will give up bad habits (like nail biting) or abstain from things they love (like chocolate truffles). Last week, after considering the cruel rhetoric and divisive behavior in our country and around the world, Pope Leo XIV announced a novel idea for the lenten season: He suggested that we “refrain from words that hurt or offend our neighbor.” It’s a tall order, given the current state of things, but…
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Love defined
“Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 *** Please invite your friends to subscribe. Building a larger audience for “Life Lines” will help keep my monthly service costs down — and allow me to keep providing free email subscriptions in 2026. In the meantime, I’ll be posting fewer times a week. Long before the first chocolate truffle was…
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The whole cookie
“Every healthy relationship is a feast of affection and giving for both people; not one receiving crumbs and trying to convince themselves it’s enough.” ~Shannon Thomas It’s nearly impossible to be part of an extended family or any type of social group without experiencing a few relationships that are off-balance in some way. You know you’re in a one-sided relationship if you’re consistently making efforts for another person but getting only “crumbs” in return. Whole, healthy relationships make us feel seen, nurtured, and supported. They’re built on a balanced foundation of giving and taking. As today’s quote suggests, we’ll have more of these relationships if we offer our loving care…
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An everyday love poem
Then all the moments of the past began to line up behind that moment.” — Billy Collins Billy Collins sees art in the ordinary acts of daily life. In “This Much I Do Remember,” Collins recalls a tender moment that most couples can relate to: the leisurely hour at the dinner table after a good meal has been shared. In this poem, Collins is writing about his wife. I fight tears every time I read this piece. It gently underscores the familiar comfort of a long marriage, reminding me of my own. As Collins wisely points out, the simple, everyday moments we share are the foundation of true love. —…
