Thankful for Twenty Things From 2020
This was a difficult year. Many have lost a loved one, or personally battled the virus, or been laid off. Some folks have worked long, exhausting hours to serve others. Small business owners have been hit…
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Christmas Greetings
Merry Christmas from Junkyard Wisdom! Here’s a letter (slightly updated for today) I wrote some time ago. It still seems powerful and has always been one of my favorites. This year, more than ever, it is…
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The Morning Welcome
Each morning when I arrive at work I say hello to the folks who sweep the streets, maintain the landscaping, pick up the garbage, and touch up paint on the curbs. They do the overlooked…
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Community is Not Transactional
A few months ago I had a meeting with a young man with big dreams. It was a get to know each other conversation over bad coffee (do not EVER buy a Starbucks cappuccino ……
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Books to Read or Give This Season
It’s that time of year when my annual list of favorite books is chosen. I do this in part as a suggested reading list, and in part as a gift guide. The year isn’t over…
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A Thanksgiving Prayer
Several years ago I came across this prayer and have posted it every few years on Thanksgiving Day. It strikes me how this year of all years we need to think deeply about those things…
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Hard Comfort
Fred Smith and I have agreed we should never sit next to each other at a conference or in church because we will continually say sarcastic things and get each other laughing. There’s an underlying…
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Awaiting Hunger
St. Augustine wrote, “Christ is the bread, awaiting hunger.” This was in the context of communion, but like a good junkyard project I want to tear it apart and put it back together in a…
