The administrator of a large mental health clinic once described what he called the BYMF factor. A BYMF is a Beautiful Young Male or Female. This administrator noted that whenever an attractive-looking young adult entered the clinic, the receptionist immediately gave that person attention and was more detailed than usual in giving directions. In the […]
Leslie Weatherhead tells of a little boy who was admitted to an orphanage after his parents were killed. One of the first items on the agenda was to find a new set of clothes for him. He was given a new pair of pants, a new shirt, and a pair of shiny new shoes. Lastly, […]
In the classic historical drama, Braveheart, William Wallace was the Scottish hero who led the fight against British rule in Scotland. Alongside Wallace stood Robert the Bruce, a Scottish nobleman who betrayed Wallace, but later—after Wallace’s execution—rose up to lead Scotland to freedom and was known as Robert the First, King of Scotland. Before Robert […]
In the Ken Burns PBS series on jazz music, Duke Ellington was asked how it felt to be unable, due to segregation, to stay in the guest rooms of the very hotels where he and his band performed. Duke said, “I took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” I’m a big […]
The new minister was filling in for a boys’ bible class and opened with what he thought was a simple question: “Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?” The boys looked puzzled. One said, “Wasn’t us.” Another chimed in, “We didn’t even know there was a wall.” Later, the preacher brought it up at a […]
