Editor’s Note: Last week, Walter Mendenhall wrote about his personal woundedness as a child of divorce and how The Crucible Project has been instrumental in his healing. This week, Walter writes from a child’s perspective and offers tips for families who are currently navigating divorce. Throughout my early childhood, I witnessed the erosion of … Continued
What affected me most about my parents’ divorce and all the circumstances surrounding it were the feelings of unworthiness I suffered. Since I was a child — and well into adulthood — I have had to deal with the painful emotion, however misplaced and inaccurate, of being unworthy of love. This led to self-sabotage … Continued
“Attitude reflect leadership … Captain.” That phrase haunts me. The phrase comes from the movie Remember the Titans. The movie is based upon a story of a high school football team in the 1960s in a school that is integrating due to desegregation. The scene is a heated conversation between a senior team … Continued
Aug
31
I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but with all the books out there on leadership, very little surprises me when I pick up the latest best-seller. Seems like every author just rehashes the same old formulas. Happily I’ve been reading a book recently that actually covers some new territory. It’s not that … Continued
Aug
24
In October of 1995, there was a bit of a problem between a U.S. naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland. I came across this actual transcript of a radio conversation: U.S. ship—“Please divert your course .5 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.” Canadian reply—“Recommend you divert your course … Continued
Aug
17
When I began writing this piece, I had fully intended to write about something completely different than the “D” word. But I made a commitment this year to write more openly about a struggle I’ve had for most of my adult life. And more specifically, to write about hope and survival. In 2004, … Continued
Jul
20
Well, I guess I should get started, right? I mean … I’ve got this blog post to write and I should do it. Or, should I? What else “should” I do? Workout? Eat right? Put my dirty underwear in the ‘correct’ place? Stop yelling at my kids? Make that appointment with the financial planner? … Continued
Jun
22
Father Richard Rohr, one of my favorite teachers, pointed to this in one of his daily meditations: “Community is the most neglected and probably the most difficult ingredient for us to hold to in the U.S. context. And for the most obvious of reasons — we have come to worship at the altar of independence, … Continued
Jun
15
As we head into Father’s Day weekend, I’d submit that the best gift isn’t what us fathers or father figures receive … a tie, round of golf or BBQ set. The best gift is what we give our daughters, sons, wives and loved ones. Specifically, a blessing. Here’s the backstory on how I’ve recently come … Continued
When I got “C”s on my report cards, my dad would say, “Did you try your best? Yes? Well then, okay … No problem.” My mom would ground me for a month if I got a B or lower. As I’ve matured, I’ve come to see how supportive and loving my dad was and … Continued