Marry Your Trial with Your Talent to Bring Something New into the World
I made a number of discoveries while writing The Making of Us, one of the most impacting being that the trials of life can release our best gifts into the world. All it takes is some creative merging of those trials with our God-given talents. In this short video I unpack the idea with some
The Hand That Spins the Galaxies Wants You Here. Introducing The Creed
One autumn morning not long ago, I walked to an Oxford cafe, took a window table, and pulled out my journal. I wanted to craft a statement - a creed of sorts - that would pull together what I'd learned while writing my new book The Making of Us. Something that captured what matters most in
How to Deal With Trolls (Hint: Don’t Get Even and Don’t Give In)
The surprising thing about talking publicly about childlessness, is the level of abuse that's come alongside the messages of gratitude. While many have thanked me for bringing it into the open, an equal number have seen fit to get nasty. I could let it get to me, or I could hit back – but I’ve
The One Thing Men Can’t Talk Openly About Yet. But What if We Did?
Last year I took part in a piece for a breakfast TV show. As the cameraman and I were driving to the filming location, he told me a story. "Last night some mates and I were in the pub," he said, "and the conversation turned to depression. It turns out some of the guys are
On Death Row for 28 Years. Here’s How Anthony Ray Hinton Stayed Joyful
In 1985 Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with a double-murder, found guilty by a jury, and sentenced to death. But he was innocent. His sentence was overturned only in 2015—nearly thirty years later. What’s most astounding about Ray’s story is that he faced those 28 gruelling, unfair years with joy. How?
There’s Not a Lot That’s Stable Right Now. Here’s How to Stay Strong (Video)
Almost daily we hear another reason to be alarmed at the state of our world—from war, famine and terror, to our own personal storms. In troubling times like these, some of the world’s greatest leaders have gained strength from one famous speech: the Sermon on the Mount. In this video filmed in Melbourne, I explore
066 My Chat with William Paul Young, Author of The Shack
When William Paul Young sat down to write a story for his children about a man who meets God in a forest shack, little did he know it would become a publishing phenomenon—and now a movie. In 2008 Paul dropped by the Open House show, to chat about the book’s meaning, the personal story behind
A Prayer for Disappointed Olympians (and the Rest of Us)
Like me and probably like you, my friend Clare Chate watched a lot of the Rio Olympics. Moved by the public failures some of these athletes endured, she wrote this post and prayer—which I’m sure will prove helpful for all us non-athletes too
Hate Will Not Have the Final Say. A Note of Hope in a Tragic Week
British MP Jo Cox's murder yesterday sent the nation into shock, halted the EU referendum campaign, and sparked spontaneous vigils last night. It came just days after another history-making tragedy, the Orlando shooting. The loss of a young wife, mother, politician and humanitarian, applauded by all as a woman of astounding compassion, and those lost
To Help a Friend with Depression, Here’s the Best Thing You Can Do
When I was asked to speak on mental health for BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought segment, I consulted my brilliant Facebook community. They shared deeply and with insight on just how we can be more accepting of those who suffer this way. The starting point? See people as bigger than their illness