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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes, 3.1

An ancient philosopher once said that just as a carpenter works with wood and a sculptor works with copper, each one of us is an artist whose material is his or her own life. What is your vision of a beautiful, fulfilling existence? What gives you strength to deal with hardship? What inspires you and from whom do you choose to learn?

Reflections

Joshua 1:1 in the Aleppo Codex.

Ecclesiastes

The Old Testament’s jewel, Ecclesiastes, is a series of prophetic reflections on the fleeting character of life. Ecclesiastes’ somber yet beautiful aphorisms speak eloquently about time and chance, wisdom and folly, power and injustice, the futility of human ambitions and accomplishments,

Laughing at Tiger Creek

Striving or letting go?

The ancient Chinese sage Confucius taught that a life worth living consists of tireless cultivation of virtue and self-discipline. The ideal life is structured and well-ordered, guided by rituals and propriety. The self, like a gemstone, requires cutting, filing, and

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There is More to Life than Being Happy

Is active pursuit of happiness self-defeating? What is the relationship between happiness and a meaningful  life? A recent article notes that “nearly a quarter of Americans do not have a strong sense of what makes their lives meaningful.” According to Viktor Frankl, the

Buddha statue

The Life of the Buddha

Siddhārtha Gautama was an Indian prince whose father showered his beloved son with all imaginable pleasures and luxuries.  But there came a time when the young prince encountered the realities of suffering, aging, and death.  He left the palace and