Shootings, elections, wars, and other unrest can lead to anxiety and fear. The Prayer of the Weaned Child can help you find peace. Many people I work with struggle with restless hearts and anxious minds. At times, we can collaborate and solve problems together. But on other occasions, those difficulties are more than we can solve. In those cases, what they need more than answers is peace. If I were a doctor, I could prescribe medication. But as a behavioral... Read more
It’s hard to trust in what you can’t see, hear, or grasp. Jesus and Lao Tzu demonstrate confidence in the divine mystery. Jesus and Lao Tzu knew that people want to rely on sure things. They also knew that the divine mystery isn’t exactly a sure thing to most people. The author of the New Testament’s book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” How can you be... Read more
God’s people have become experts at traumatizing one another. But two men I met after a trauma conference gave me hope for peace. I’m writing this from a hotel room in La Jolla, California. With a team from work, I have spent the past few days at IVAT’s 29th San Diego Summit on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma Over the Course of a Lifetime. I’ve just learned that Israel has moved its attacks beyond Gaza, to the West Bank. Because of... Read more
August is Overdose Awareness Month, and August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day. How can your church end the stigma and save lives? Image by Лечение Наркомании from Pixabay I am uniquely qualified to write this article. Having pastored multiple churches over twenty-six years, I can appreciate the church’s aversion to addiction. Many devout Christians see addiction as sin. Now, in my second career as a behavioral health specialist, I work primarily with individuals experiencing homelessness. Many of these... Read more
During an opioid epidemic with so many dying of overdose, would Jesus promote harm reduction practices and products? As a professional harm reductionist, I regularly give out harm reduction products like fentanyl test strips, condoms, Narcan, and meth cookers. I counsel people about safer use techniques like using with a friend or smoking versus injecting. And, as a Christian, I’m okay with that. What is Harm Reduction? Simply put, harm reduction is mitigating potential harms caused by risky... Read more
Jesus taught us how to pray like Goldilocks. It’s about seeking balance—not too hard or soft, hot or cold, but a life that’s just right. You might call the Lord’s Prayer Jesus’s “Goldilocks Prayer.” In the story of Goldilocks, the titular character tries out one chair and declares it too big. Then she tests another seat and finds it to be too small. Finally, she settles into a third and says it’s just right. Next, she tries some... Read more
Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. When you allow ego to get in the way, success can be as dangerous as failure. Jesus and Lao Tzu warn against the danger of letting ego run the show. But they don’t just give a warning—they also offer a solution. In the thirteenth verse of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu shows that selfless love overcomes the pitfalls of pride. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Verse 13 JH McDonald... Read more
Those who bring the worst news into our lives can be our most valuable teachers. It’s important not to kill the messenger. We’ve all heard the expression, “Don’t kill the messenger.” Usually, you hear it from someone who is bringing you unwelcome news. They know you’ll be upset, and they don’t want you to take your anger out on them. Of course, this comes from a long tradition of kings doing just that—venting their frustration on couriers bearing difficult news.... Read more
Every four years, many Americans find emotional well-being a challenge. How can you maintain your mental health during election season? Aunt Bertha proclaims, “I just don’t see how anyone could vote (insert political party) and still be a good person!” It’s then that you shrink into the sofa cushions, knowing that if she knew your preferred candidate, she’d probably start praying for your soul. Election season is fraught with mental health challenges. From family reunions to dating, from social media... Read more
The monster FOMO daunts Westerners. Jesus and Lao Tzu defeat Fear of Missing Out by existing in the world, without being manipulated by it. Great spiritual masters understand the difference between living in the world and rooting their lives in material things. Instead of allowing the world to demand their allegiance, they walk in the spirit. In this way, Fear of Missing Out has no place in their lives. Here’s what Lao Tzu has to say in the Tao... Read more
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