Posted in Blog on Aug 14th, 2011
The Law of Unintended Consequences is, by definition, unpredictable. The abject failure of our current economic and political system to provide life’s basic necessities, while lavishing the wealthy with every conceivable bauble and privilege, eventually leads to a shift. We’re in for a doozie. This economic and social shift certainly feels Biblical in scope. By [...]
Posted in Blog on May 20th, 2010
Witnessing the revolution from the front row seat is fascinating, wrenching and requires more courage than I feel that I have. It is heart breaking to see our wonderful country rent by bitter politics and the hateful under current of racism. “Moderate” is an adjective that does’t apply as well as it once did. The [...]
Posted in Blog on Apr 29th, 2010
The bitter, divisive politics that has swept this country threatens our great democracy. When we give into the corrosive, pervasive feelings of fear and scarcity, we sink into despair. We must counteract this trend by rebuilding our country, neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Join the with the millions who are on the case. Get off the couch, put down [...]
Posted in Blog on Jan 27th, 2010
In this grim economy, I cling to glimmers of generosity and optimism like a life raft. This week, two examples of confident children being themselves gave me hope. At church last Sunday, when a three-year old bumped her head, a fifth-grader jumped up, picked up the crying girl and comforted her. It looked as though [...]
Posted in Blog on Nov 17th, 2009
The entire country seems to be having a deer in headlights moment: stunned with fear. With our social fabric rent to shreds, if there ever was a time for a new model, this is it. Cooperative community diners pose an elegant solution that may solve myriad problems on many levels. The diners of my youth [...]
Two couples, one twenty years older than the other, bought a large vintage home on Chicago’s south side, near the University of Chicago, in the 1970′s. Six adults combined resources and made a commitment to live graciously and harmoniously together. Sometimes the harmonious part was a stretch. Over dinner in March 2003, the owners described [...]
Posted in Blog on Apr 5th, 2009
We thrive on healthy human contact, or shrivel for lack of it. Our social connection with each other has deteriorated to the point that, on the street, eye contact with others has become the exception rather than the norm. The eye contact taboo probably began when Ronald Reagan emptied the mental hospitals during his first [...]