What a year: a pandemic. Shortages of toilet paper, milk, meat—people began pretending it was all a crazy bingo game, and with each new revelation, another meme comes out: “Okay, who had ‘Murder Hornets’ for 2020?” And there have been many: a COIN shortage; warnings about hungry rats because there is no restaurant garbage; aContinue reading “2020 Bingo.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Thirst.
Have you ever been insane with thirst? Parched? Famished? So thirsty you daydream about water, lemonade, tea, and snow cones? We never experience that kind of thirst because there is water everywhere. But it would only take two days in the desert or the wilderness and water would become the only thing on your mind—yourContinue reading “Thirst.”
Leadership.
Leadership is difficult. A leader must inspire confidence—and that can’t be taught. A second challenge is constant conflict; many hate conflict. But the hardest part of leadership may be knowing what needs to be done. This is where black-and-white thinking will let you down. A leader must develop a nimble and flexible mind, able toContinue reading “Leadership.”
God Loves You in Your Infinite Smallness.
A journey across the country can make you realize how small your life is. Your home, your city, even your state can seem small after driving to destinations a thousand miles away, places with entirely different altitude, weather, and plant life. Perhaps you have stared into a night sky filled with countless stars and discoveredContinue reading “God Loves You in Your Infinite Smallness.”
Layers.
Childhood emotions come in single syllables: mad, sad, glad. You laugh, cry, pout, fume. Adulthood is complicated. You feel pensive, ambivalent, bittersweet. Adult emotions have more layers than a wedding cake. David understood. This poet who killed giants, this warrior who was a music therapist, this military tactician who cuddled lambs—David understood complex emotions. ForContinue reading “Layers.”
How to Improve a Bad Day.
Ever had one of those days? Everything’s going wrong and it’s all catching up with you? Here’s a solution that is guaranteed to work. (See Isaiah 55:11.) Consider David’s prayer in Psalm 3. He has just been betrayed by his son Absalom, and he took his 600 men and is running for his life. BecauseContinue reading “How to Improve a Bad Day.”
Non-Toxic Masculinity.
American culture exalts a narrow view of manhood: you gotta be rugged, strong, and unemotional, like pickup trucks banging up and down mountains in TV commercials, chewing up boulders and spitting out gravel. But the ads are fake. If you treat your truck that way you will not only destroy the suspension, you may voidContinue reading “Non-Toxic Masculinity.”
Loyalty.
Are you loyal for a season or for life? Most young people are fair-weather friends, committed to things while it is convenient. But sometimes God will put people in your life who deserve a serious commitment. As you know, your mom and I have friends we have known since childhood, and to whom we remainContinue reading “Loyalty.”
What About Those Alpha Males?
Some are born leaders—their voice and raw physical traits always land them on top. There are those of whom it can be truly said, “he never took a back seat to anyone.” Perhaps such raw leadership works best in more physical fields: battle or sports or law enforcement. George Washington, Billy Graham, and Robert E.Continue reading “What About Those Alpha Males?”
David Lost the Moral High Ground.
Who was David’s greatest enemy? Goliath? King Saul? The Philistines? How about Absalom? David’s own son staged a coup, taking his father’s throne and forcing David and his armies into the streets, running for their lives. His son? What happened? David had children by so many wives that there were half-brothers and half-sisters all overContinue reading “David Lost the Moral High Ground.”
Household Words: 