I rolled up my sleeve and looked away. The injection of immunoglobulin was going to sting, and I knew it. I knew, however, that it could prevent a battle with Hepatitis A. One of my family members had been exposed to the highly contagious disease—which karate- kicks the liver—and health... read more »

When I joined a popular social media network, it was thrilling to reconnect with friends. We swapped messages and fortified our cyber- connection by joining each other’s causes, comparing quiz results, and exchanging virtual hugs. After a while, I felt the pressure of staying plugged into the... read more »

“Is God green? Did Jesus have anything to say about the environment? What is my role as a Christian in caring for the earth?” These questions caught my attention as I thumbed through the introductory pages of The Green Bible. Just as many versions of the Bible highlight Jesus’ words in red,... read more »

One evening, just before midnight, an automobile slammed into the side of our house. I woke up to what sounded like an explosion, but then I heard the muffled noise of a car radio and the squealing of tires as the driver fled the scene. Satan tried to dismantle Job’s relationship with God (Job... read more »

One Web-based company creates and sells personalized lies. For a few hundred dollars, this company helps job-seekers create phony references for résumés, and then provides telephone operators to verify the bogus information. While most of us would never dream of lying so brazenly, statistics... read more »

I chatted with a close friend while standing in line at a local coffeehouse. But then a sliver of worry pierced the moment. It had been several hours since I left home. I wondered if I had been away too long. I pictured my kids wailing and unhappy. The “what ifs” started rolling. Seconds later,... read more »

My high school trigonometry book was the size and heft of two bricks placed side-by-side. I can still see its cover—cherry red with black lettering. I probably damaged my posture by hunching over that textbook for hours at a time—reviewing concepts late into the night. Still, I struggled to... read more »

My friend Cha-Lisa threw away her to-do list— for good. During the weeks leading up to her decision, she and I had talked about feeling trapped by the never-ending inventory of tasks. Cha-Lisa said, “Get one thing done, and two more things pop up in its place.” I told her, “I feel guilty... read more »

For a $10 donation to the Wildlife Conservation Society, you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after someone you love. This fund-raising event for a New York City zoo targets sweethearts who want to pay tribute to the long-standing nature of their love. The zoo claims that the cockroach... read more »

Firewalkers fascinate me. These people have a special something that allows them to look down at a bed of hot coals, unbuckle their sandals or peel off their socks, and step right in. Some see it as a rite of passage, a way to conquer fear, or a way to uncover some hidden vein of inner strength.... read more »