“There but for the grace of God go I.” Now there’s an expression we’ve all heard, commonly attributed to the 16th century English reformer John Bradford, among others. The message, of course, pertains to situations where we find ourselves better off than those we encounter. Indeed, life produces so many circumstances where we witness the profound suffering […]
This I Believe New England
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This I Believe New England – Against Daunting Odds
It’s no secret that many people struggle in life: job-related problems, relationship challenges, mental health issues, financial uncertainty. The list goes on and on. Yet, some people are remarkably resilient in the face of chronic adversity. Against daunting odds, they manage to flourish amidst nearly overwhelming challenges. In Paradise Lost, John Milton wrote, “Even the demons are encouraged when […]
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This I Believe New England – Seasons
No doubt you have noticed how our lives ebb and flow, much like the seasons. Both literally and figuratively we get to experience the wonder of stunningly beautiful spring days and the bitter assault delivered by the occasional winter blizzard. Such is life. Indeed, seasons seem to be able to teach us so much about […]
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This I Believe New England – Childhood Home
In his novel Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin writes these evocative words: “Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.” This may not be true for all of us, but it is, no doubt, for many of us. Our childhood homes somehow manage to stay with us, not physically, of course, but in our hearts […]
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This I Believe New England – Life Paths
Have you spent some time reflecting on how you found your path in life? Assuming you have one, that is. Was your path linear, the calculated culmination of a 5, 10, or 20-year plan? Or was it more circuitous, perhaps the result of a series of fits and starts, happenstance, or maybe just dumb luck? […]
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This I Believe New England – Paying Attention
Paying attention. Two words. Five syllables. It sounds so simple. But if we’re completely honest with ourselves, how many of us would have a hard time raising our hands claiming that we’re good at paying attention, really paying attention, as we march through our lives? Are we staring at our smartphone screens in lieu of […]
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This I Believe New England – A Larger Neighborhood
For so many of us, pets are at the center of our lives. They have a remarkable capacity to gauge our moods, comfort us, even protect us. And, pets can also take us outside of ourselves, helping us to discover and connect with the rich and complicated world that surrounds us. And that’s what we hear from Don […]
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This I Believe New England – 40 Years Of Service
Being a police officer in today’s environment is challenging, to say the least. Every single shift has the potential to be filled with danger and trauma, amidst the more routine calls for service. Today we have the opportunity to hear unique insights from a police officer who just concluded 40 years of service with the Providence Police […]
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This I Believe New England – Honoring MLK
It’s no secret that we live in a world with deep and wide divides. In matters of politics, race, and religion, we’re surrounded by chasms that many of us wish weren’t there and that many of us yearn to shrink. Fortunately, amidst the omnipresent tensions are lots of inspiring, earnest efforts to reach across the aisle and […]
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This I Believe New England – Shakespeare
Imagine yourself as a high school English teacher trying to inspire your students to grapple with the complex nuances embedded in Shakespearean literature. Not an easy task, you may be thinking. But as many of us have come to know and appreciate, often decades post-high school, Shakespeare is chock full of profound insights and life lessons, if […]
