Mark's Blog
Changing the Gun Culture
America is awash in guns. With a little over 4 percent of the world’s population, Americans own 42 percent of the world’s guns. Gun purchases across the country have skyrocketed. Restrictions on the carrying and permitting of firearms have eased in many states;...
Our Framing Stories: How They Can Free Us or – As In the Club Q Shooting, Can Demonize Us
We are framed by stories. Our values, horizons and purpose are shaped by the stories that we have heard, read and absorbed. Some of those stories are constructed – and refracted, to reinforce prejudices and resentments. While we don’t yet know for sure if the...
Election REsults: Stalemate or Opportunity
The mid-term election results are almost all in. The Democrats have a slight majority in the Senate, and it looks as though the Republicans will have a slim majority in the House. Some will say this represents a balance of power; other would argue that it is a...
A Response to the Midterms and Fear
I carried a lot of fear into a recently completed five-day canoe trip in the Florida Everglades. Particularly of alligators and pythons, which reportedly lurked throughout the endless mangrove wilderness. Thankfully, they never showed up. The anticipatory fear...
More Guns: A Manifestation of the ‘I’ Culture
In half the states in America, it is now legal to openly carry a handgun, without getting a permit or receiving any training. The New York Times reported on October 26 that the law in Texas, which went into effect in September, 2021, is making law enforcement...
Surrendering Into a Portal
Last week, while driving on a highway in the pouring rain, my car spun out of control as I took a turn. I went around a couple of times and hit the left side retaining wall with my front end. The collision knocked the car back onto the highway and pointed me...
Invitation to Humility
As our airwaves and platforms are saturated with requests, threats and predictions over the upcoming midterm elections, the unrelenting messaging machines generate visceral reactions, to be sure, but also – maybe, some personal reflection, if not introspection. What...
Scapegoats, Ego, Soul and Mandorla
In the early rituals of Yom Kippur, (which the Jewish family observed last week on October 5) a goat was presented to the high priest in the holy of holies. On the goat’s flanks were written the sins of the community – all sorts of scurrilous and cruel thoughts and...
The Importance of Honest and Vulnerable Stories
Our lives are framed by stories. Stories that we read, hear and see; and stories that we tell – about what we know, what we see, and what we feel. Yet increasingly over the last several years stories have come under intense scrutiny. In more and more cases, stories...