Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
On May 18, 2026 Ray Levias, a Seattle Prep classmate of mine, passed away. He was, for all who knew him, a truly unforgettable human being. At Prep, he was an exceptional student-athlete, a cornerstone of the back-to-back undefeated state championship football teams in 1965 and 1966. Ray was known for his electric speed, instinctive play making, and quiet intensity. He was inducted into the Seattle … Continue reading Remembering Ray Levias
If ever the world needed an understanding of leadership beyond the one embodied by many contemporary leaders perhaps we need look no farther than the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu. The author of the Tao Te Ching. Lao Tzu by many accounts was a contemporary of Confucius. There’s one record of a young Confucius traveling to the capital of Luoyang to consult … Continue reading Humility
It is easy to be grateful for the good things that come to us. But can we be like Job, who says in the midst of his losses: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” Of course the answer is no. When life … Continue reading Gratitude (by Joe Nagy)
On Grand Avenue, not far from where we live, there is a bluff from which you can see a wide swath of Puget Sound, from Admiralty Inlet across to Whidbey Island, then beyond to the Olympic Mountain range. You can stand on the very spot where in 1793 Captain Vancouver stood and examined his vessel, the HMS Discovery, in the harbor. It was, is … Continue reading Farewell to a Seagull
Hu“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe I am reminded by this passage of the necessity of regularly drinking from the wellspring that stirs my soul and fills my life with happiness, beauty, joy. I am constantly … Continue reading A Visit to my Wellspring