Americanism Redux April 24, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1775 Beneath darkest waters, two giant plates—tectonic plates—lay alongside each other. A seam separates and joins them. Time passes. For a reason known only to them, one of the plates begins to move. Along the dividing and connecting seam, but especially at one point, the other plate … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: April 10, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775
April 10, 2025 by
Americanism Redux April 10, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1775 To continue life and living. To change life and living. Which is it? Can they co-incide? It's 250 years ago for both today and the week's days leading up to today. * * * * * * * (first, in this direction...) Okay, okay, okay. He's heard enough. Yes, it's been … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: March 13, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775
March 13, 2025 by
Americanism Redux March 13, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1775 ('tis the season) Imagine this. You have no clue as to seasons. They're alien to you. Your only existence and consciousness consist of being plopped in the middle of cold and snow and ice. You know nothing else. But, even then, a feeling inside you says something is changing. … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: March 6, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775
March 6, 2025 by
Americanism Redux March 6, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1775 (What??) A surprise is unfolding. You can go along, go along, go along, even in a crisis, and sometimes forget that you can always be surprised. So today, 250 years ago... Surprise. * * * * * * * (those hands) In Boston harbor, inside a British fort on Castle … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: February 6, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775
February 6, 2025 by
Americanism Redux February 6, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1775 Is life visible in all its forms in a few days? Yes, if you look at Virginia, the British colony. * * * * * * * (the site of Sarah's operation) After hearing the words "breast cancer" some weeks back, Sarah Eilbeck started dreading the arrival of today, 250 years ago. … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: January 16, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775
January 16, 2025 by
Americanism Redux January 16, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1775 Let's allow an illusion. You've got your minutes and hours and days down to your own control, that everything you're doing flows into a narrowly formed funnel over and over again. It's fine to think it. Go ahead and live it. Just know that up-top, where time runs, life doesn't care. It's always everywhere, moving in … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: December 26, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
December 26, 2024 by
Americanism Redux December 26, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 Maybe we should be grateful we don't know. Knowing the future could be much more of a burden than a blessing. Two years from now, right now, for you and me and we. Don't tell me. (But how about a quick peek?) * * * * * * * (the seat you're in) Today, 250 … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: December 12, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
December 12, 2024 by
Americanism Redux December 12, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 Time has a way of warping things. You look back on two things in the past. Thing One happened before Thing Two. When you see it from now, Thing Two seems utterly natural, smooth, and free-flowing after Thing One. That's a warp, and usually not a reliable way of moving from … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: December 5, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
December 5, 2024 by
Americanism Redux December 5, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 If you'd told me last year at this time that you, me, and all of us would be where we are now... ...I never would have believed you... ...nope, never would have believed it. * * * * * * * (the logo they will adopt) It's never happened this way before in the colony … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux-November 14, Your Today, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
November 14, 2024 by
Americanism Redux November 14, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 Both a boulder and a ball roll. The similarity ends there. It's 250 years ago—let the bouncing begin. * * * * * * * He was sky-high, up on a cloud in his excitement. It's his time of the year and it's a special year all by itself! Reverend Ebenezer Parkman dates his … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: September 19, Your Today, In 1774
September 19, 2024 by
Americanism Redux September 19, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 (the green hints of first) A campfire brings a rare feeling in the early fall. Before frost and cold and icy breath, a fire of early fall is for warmth, not heat; for whispers and spoken words, not shouts and wild tirades; for support, not survival. Next to a fire of … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: March 28, Your Today, On The Journey To The American Founding, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
March 28, 2024 by
Americanism Redux March 28, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 (together, voluntarily) Do you belong? To a club, a group, some sort of collection of people outside your family? Together, you and they meet each other, see each other, spend a period of time with each other. You, and they, are joined for a while around whatever it is that brings … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: March 7, Your Today, On The Journey To The American Founding, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
March 7, 2024 by
Americanism Redux March 7, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 Husband and wife. Parent and child. Friend and neighbor. Do human relationships get any more basic than these? You don't want them to shake or tremble. You don't want them to crack apart and break down. But across the table, across the room, across the fence, something seems to be … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: February 22, Your Today, On The Journey To The American Founding, 250 Years Ago, In 1774
February 22, 2024 by
Americanism Redux February 22, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1774 "My life is (or is not) my own." Which is it for you? Is the answer one of choice or of compulsion, your freedom or something else's force? A blend of betweens? Think about your day and week up to now. As you begin to separate time into pieces, do you see any hint of things you're … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: September 28, Your Today, On The Journey To The American Founding, 250 Years Ago, In 1773
September 28, 2023 by
Americanism Redux September 28, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1773 The ties that bring us together. They bind. They break. They are a physical presence. They are a metaphysical moment. * * * * * * * The door to her jail cell opens. Hagar, the black woman of unknown age, walks out of her cell, a sheriff from the eastern shore of Maryland leads … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: August 3, Your Today, On The Journey To The American Founding, 250 Years Ago, In 1773
August 3, 2023 by
Americanism Redux August 3, your today, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago, in 1773 Oh my God. He's dead. We're still here but we won't have him any longer. That sweet face and kind eyes. Generous heart and active mind. Gone. Now what? That's the feeling today, 250 years ago, and hour by hour it will flow out of the chamber where the dead man lays. From the chamber … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux: April 13, Today 250 Years Ago, on the journey to the American Founding, in 1773
April 13, 2023 by
Americanism Redux April 13, on the journey to the American Founding, 250 years ago today, in 1773 "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear name-goes-here, Happy Birthday to you..." They finish the crooning. Or maybe shouts of "for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow..." They stretch out that last note. If … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux – January 19 – 250 Years Ago Today – in 1773
January 19, 2023 by
Americanism Redux January 19, 250 years ago today, in 1773 Teaching and education. My life. I teach young people how to think. I teach adults how to worship. God made me to live this life. I've met a person, a parent, actually a step-father for whom I've developed great respect. The step-father respects me, too, I think. Yes, I'm certain he does. That's not bragging. It's a mutually … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux-Today – December 21 – 250 Years Ago-1772
December 21, 2022 by
Americanism Redux December 21, 250 years ago today (1772) On a ship, today, 250 years ago, he looks at the Florida coast. But a lifetime ago he was somewhere else, looking at a moment that would begin to define his life. ******************************************************************************************************* He feels the cave's walls on his body. He clutches a small … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux–250 Years Ago Today–November 23
November 23, 2022 by
Americanism Redux November 23, 250 years ago today Today, 250 years ago, the announcement comes forth in a document read aloud to the people of New Hampshire: "to be religiously observed and kept as a day of public thanksgiving", a day next week will be set aside to express the people's gratitude and gratefulness for their British Monarch, King George III. New Hampshire's royal governor John … [Read more...]
Americanism Redux–Today–October 5–250 Years Ago
October 5, 2022 by
Americanism Redux October 5, 250 years ago today A chance to watch a sporting event? hang out with friends? sip an adult beverage? in one of my favorite towns? Count me in. But hold up, give me a minute. I've got to get my best powdered wig and false teeth. OK, got 'em. I'm ready. Let's get going. (Sound familiar? Well, maybe not all of it. Still, most of it seems like last … [Read more...]
September 20–Today–250 Years Ago
September 20, 2022 by
Americanism Redux September 20, 250 years ago today For now, their lives are apart. Separate and unjoined. They don't know it but Down River—in the future—they will collide in the roaring waters. That day awaits, a lamp moving over a black surface. A 50-year old man writes a letter. Living in Virginia, he encloses a copy of family documents important to the woman who is waiting … [Read more...]
August 19-Today-250 Years Ago
August 19, 2022 by
Americanism Redux August 19, 250 years ago today A dress hangs painfully on her arms and back. It's hard to get comfortable with the fabric rubbing against the scars and bruises. 70-year old Margaret remembers the latest beating. Her second husband, named Savage, hit her with a leather strap. He does it a lot. For today, 250 years ago, she heals. And she'll use today in seeking another … [Read more...]
The Builder-Leader
November 30, 2017 by
Say hello to another type of leader and leadership--the Builder-Leader. I'm working with a private client in my Creative Conversations service. The client came to me with a particular situation. They were in charge of an organization with an impending physical expansion. It would be a major new physical space. My client asked me to think of a historical leader we could follow "Down River", as I … [Read more...]
From Then To Now: George Washington and 18 Days
March 1, 2016 by
I think you'll like this from my individual leadership consulting earlier this morning. A client and I are going down George Washington River together. This morning, I asked a question about 18 days. That was the span of time in 1775 from June 15 to July 3. At the start, on Day 1, Washington accepted the offered position of "General and Commander-in-Chief" of American military forces outside … [Read more...]
