This TED talk by Brene Brown is profound, enlightening, and encouraging.  Enjoy and share.

I first read this quote in Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.

"Don’t ask what the world needs.

Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

                                            - Howard Thurman

What if we used the word Christian only as a noun and never as an adjective?

Amy Welborn has a ton of posts about the Pope's passing on her blog open book.

I liked this Pope.

He seemed to be a man of principle.  And a man of courage.  He spoke his mind.  While Reagan was on this side of the iron curtain calling for Mr. Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," the Pope was behind the iron curtain planting the seeds of its destruction. 

He seemed to be a man of peace.  He survived an assassination attempt and the child molesting scandals that came to light on his watch. 

I'm not a Catholic, but I think this man should be honored.

Props to the Hughtrain for the point to Evelyn Rodriguez' blog, Crossroads Dispatches, specifically the post entitled What is Real?

Here's an excerpt - I'd rather be real than great. I have never gained anything I truly wanted from a pure pursuit of greatness. I'm not saying these two are mutually exclusive, but the focus can lead one astray. Nothing kills relationships - personal and professional - quicker than when I stop being real. It's costly in the tangible cash realm too.

Enjoy the read.  And, be sure to read Evelyn's bio here.

This week's Monday Morning Memo from Roy Williams at Wizard Academy is thought provoking.

Here's an excerpt -

"I wandered over to Academy Hall to peep in at a guest lecture in progress. There, on our mammoth projection screen, it read: "What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" An interesting question, it immediately triggered a deeper one: "What would you attempt if you knew nothing you did would ever work out?"

The first question urges you to dream big. The second, to be truly committed."

Read the whole memo by clicking here.

In his periodic social commentary, Mal Fletcher has an interesting post at Next Wave International about a proposed law in Great Britain purportedly designed to deal with religious intolerance.

Read post.

I could go into a long list this Thanksgiving. My wonderful wife, my awesome kids, a grandson on the way, great friends, . . .

But, here’s what I am most grateful for this year – time. Without time, I couldn’t enjoy all the rest of it. I couldn’t learn, grow, work . . .

Even health, without time, is moot.

Thank you, God for time. What I’ve had so far has been great.

For whatever’s left, thanks for that too.