Morning Briefings

A Final Farewell: How Randy Pausch, a 47-Year-Old College Professor Came to Teach His Family About Love, Courage and Saying Goodbye. Dying of pancreatic cancer, he showed a love of life and an approach to death that people have found inspiring. His lecture has become a reminder that our own futures are similarly — if not drastically — brief. His fate is ours, sped up.

– Jeffrey Zaslow
The Wall Street Journal

Neither Bach nor his contemporaries had any idea that his music would grace the ages. There is the interesting insertion in Bach’s own hand of the letters J.J. at the beginning of each composition and S.D.G. at the end. They are abbreviations for the Latin Jesu Juva (Jesus Help Me) and Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone).

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Glimpses of Christian History

At the heart of working men and women is the longing–though oft forgotten and sadly despaired of–to participate in something greater than themselves, to belong to a cause that is meaningful and to share in a legacy that endures.

– Richard D. Phillips
The Heart of an Executive: Lessons on Leadership from the Life of King David

Jesus knew what he was doing when He said, Do this in memory of me, because He knew the disciples would, even if their future faith were suffering: they’d eat again, they’d at least do that, they’d share a meal again, and when they did, they’d think of Him.

– from Liam Callanan’s
All Saints

We are nearing the end of the year. It may be a good time to get reflective about our past. I pose this question: ‘What is the one experience which alone could justify your life?’ In God’s eyes, our moment could have well been some minor incident. It is possible that your most heroic act was to keep your mouth closed in a time of stress.

– Reverend James O’Leary
I Think I Am Happier Than I Think I Am

I discovered that people are not really afraid of dying; they’re afraid of not having lived, not ever having deeply considered their life’s higher purpose, and not ever having stepped into that purpose and at least tried to make a difference in the world.

– Joseph Jaworski
Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership

We bring our calling to our work every single day, by expressing our gifts, passions and values in a manner that is consistent with the legacy we want to leave.

– Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro
Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life’s Calling