Podcast - Songs & Stories From Home

Some of the most familiar words in the English language are from the New Testament. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

I have come to trust the idea that we can live a meaningful life if we live that life with an attitude of gratitude – if we are willing to offer grace and accept it from others as well as ourselves – and if we have the grit to keep going even in and through our darkest times.

As I continue to talk about family secrets and share experiences of facing my deepest fears and learning to love myself, I want to take a moment and say how much I love my folks and my brothers. My dad was and remains one of my lifelong heroes.

Beginning in 2011 I shared the story of my life and career around 49 virtual campfires. The 49th campfire was “lit” in front of family and friends at a concert at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle in May of 2017.

At its best among the gifts that higher learning affords us is the time and the chance – in a safe and challenging environment – to grapple with essential existential questions: who are we – why are we here – what are we meant to do with our lives-

After lots of singing and talking we arrive at the moment of receiving my diploma. It was my good fortune and delight to be presented the degree by two of my favorite people, Jody Nyquist and David Domke.

Threshold moments are important to the human experience. They can be sacred or secular. We celebrate births and deaths. There are marriage rituals. Before their first birthdays my two grandsons were welcomed into their church with ceremonies involving baptism, confirmation, and communion.

In this section I’m getting ready to receive my college degree 50 years after I might have graduated. I describe issues we were confronting half a century ago that we continue to deal with to this day.

We are a culture that values action and doing. Too often we define or measure ourselves by things we accomplish and how those things “stack up” against others.