Meaning is a skill, not a reward. Writing & speaking on purpose, identity, and what it means to live well. Dad & husband in Dallas. Newsletter and more ⬇️
Easter, if explained by my garden
From my journal - April 1, 2018
Today I planted my annual garden. New life into soil that (to the casual observer) looks to have been lifeless for a while.
Underneath, in the blessed darkness, life is thriving. Worms chewing up what they’ve been given and creating the elements necessary for life. Secret networks of fungi miles long sending messages of resistance all winter.
Everything in here is made of creation and destruction. The decay of things that used to live is feeding what wants to live now. My garden, like the one you’ve likely read about, has snakes. I held three in my hands just yesterday. There are guardians at the gates and invaders. There are little life-and-death battles happening all over if you look really close.
This whole thing is a grace economy. Grace wins every time. The failures of last year feed this year. The plant doesn’t decide what its elements become after decay. It doesn’t decide if it will give itself away. It just happens. The rain falls (or doesn’t); the sun shines (or doesn’t) - and none of it depends on how perfect the gardener is.
That doesn’t mean attention and care aren’t necessary - too much of this or too little of that, and it’s all over. The difference is that I’m required to listen to the life that’s in the garden and follow its lead - it won’t let me force it, and it always knows what it needs most.
The dark soil beneath us was never dead - it’s the most alive thing in here. Death doesn’t make sense in this economy. It’s all self-giving creation, over and over again.
How lucky I am to bear witness.
The economic disruption from AI is real. But underneath it, something different is building. And I think it's just as dangerous.
We are not prepared for the meaning-making crisis coming.
https://t.co/XZMuItrUAV
Today, a wonderful outing with the Harvard Club of Dallas. I had the joy of visiting the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco to see the intersection of the architecture and religious symbolism of the community. We were welcomed so warmly by the temple’s teachers and members
Seven Harvard Business School students have created a fund for the Class of 2025 called Twenty25 Ventures and raised $1 million thus far to invest in founders from their graduating class over the next 10 years.
@grahamwonlee reports.
https://t.co/aT4KDxUtrG
The world doesn't need more indifference; it needs more courage to face the uncomfortable.
This week, I’m reflecting on how looking away — from suffering, from fear, from our own pain — costs us more than we realize.
I wrote about it here: https://t.co/t5OQhz5DbC
@will_mannon Agreed! Been to the Cellar a bunch in NYC as well. Always tons of fun. Don’t know if you remember this, but we both have lots of overlap in interests in the Transcendentalists as well. Spent a lot of my academic focus and research there
Ever have the thought, “I should be better by now?” This week I’m reflecting on how imperfection and the desire to be better can be my teachers. https://t.co/bq7M5Dd25c
This week, I wrote about a recent adventure with my son Hank that didn't turn out how we had hoped and why I'm grateful for that.
https://t.co/cURvpFz8O5
Growing up, we didn’t have many rituals in my house, but going to the State Fair of Texas was almost a sacrament, especially for my dad. I get to continue that now. Can you tell it was someone’s first time on a rollercoaster? 🤣
My journey back to writing has been about embracing midlife and finding new purpose, diving deep into the "half over" realization. I'm sharing my thoughts on how we make the most of what’s ahead on Substack, and invite you to join me in the https://t.co/OngHErzuB7