All Things Right. All Things New. Two phrases have interrupted my thoughts this Christmas. For you to try to follow the maze of my thinking would take you on a journey for which you are likely not prepared. Nor am I trying to avoid giving credit to the varied sources that are shaping my thinking be it song, sermon, screen [...]
BENCHMARK thanks Chaplain Erik Alfsen, U.S. Army, for taking the time to share his experiences with us. *The views presented are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components.* Reflections on Resilience-Building Retreats As I reflect back, there are so many stories we could tell and more to tell in future years [...]
I went to Walmart to get a head start of some of the items we’d need in bulk for the Appalachian Trail Outreach. Made my way to the register. The line wasn’t very long. The cashier, whose name is Sondra (correct spelling), looked at the tax exemption card and said “BENCHMARK Adventure Min….” I didn’t think she could read the [...]
Time is money…so some say. No. It is not. If I have all the money in the world, I can’t purchase any more time. For those whose time is calculated in billable hours, there is a monetary connection to your use of time, but time is still not money. The commodities are very different. In college, I wasted time. I [...]
These days are pretty unusual. Our schedules and daily demands are changing. For some, they have increased. For others, it’s slowed way down. Either way, today is a good day to make a choice about how to make the most of the opportunity of a ‘day’... I want to ask you to do something [...]
This Veterans Day, BENCHMARK thanks all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and especially Lieutenant Junior Grade Hollis E. Johnson, USNR, for sharing his perspective with us as summarized in the following post: It was August 1958, 02:40 at a latitude below the southernmost tip of Africa with no horizon in sight. The sky [...]
Recently in a church related round table discussion we were asked to share our favorite Christmas tradition. Most around the table were much more thoughtful than I. I had my mind on the purpose of the informational meeting and those people sitting at my table. And...not much further. I don't always think well on my feet. I gave some yammering, lame [...]
Twenty years ago, just after daylight on a pleasant October morning, I stepped off with great anticipation and 72 miles ahead of me. My wife and 9-month old son drove away. The goal was to backpack the Sheltowee Trace from Pickett State Park, TN to Cumberland Falls State Park, KY in 3 days. A few kind people sponsored that hike [...]
The ALS ice bucket challenge has been amazing to watch and in most cases…fun. I hope that all those dollars will be so very beneficial to find a cure. But I wonder if part of the benefit to those individuals and families enduring ALS is that we are paying attention for just a little while and sharing their life even [...]
