Sometimes gentleness seems like a beautiful animal, peeking through an open door. Elusive, it darts away quickly at the slightest provocation. But more often the virtue of gentleness in public and private discourse seems like an animal on the way to extinction. Gentleness is a lost art, relegated to the realms of perceived weakness. Yet… Read More The Lost Art of Gentleness

I love this wall of different kinds of hats. It is from a museum in Xinjiang, China I visited last week, and represents many of the 47 different peoples of that region. Yes, I know, it takes a bald man to notice hats! And yes I do have a few of these in my own… Read More Hats Along the Silk Road

Xinjiang is a region in NW China and home to 47 different nationalities, with 13 of them being closely affiliated in language and culture. The largest group are the Uyghurs who follow the Muslim faith.  Many may not know that by the 13th century perhaps 40 percent or more of the Uyghurs were following the… Read More A Richness of History and Culture Along the Silk Road

  In a few days I’ll be traveling to Tajikistan, a land of rich culture and history. But also a  20th century story of suffering under Soviet rule. And even more recently a struggle against Islamist extremism with a location right next to Afghanistan. But how many would know that Tajikistan in 2012 witnessed the first… Read More Mothers of Courage in the Muslim World

Some of the greatest wisdom comes from the proverbs of a nation. I have never been to Sudan, or the more recent nation of South Sudan, but have been invited and hope to get there. Here is a short Sudanese proverb courtesy of a blog I enjoy. Practice this today with me!! Marilyn R. Gardner… Read More Wasted Days