Every Man a Brick

The ancient city of Sparta was one of the most formidable military powers of its day. There’s a story about a Spartan king who boasted about the walls of Sparta to a visiting monarch. He claimed that his city was invincible because its protective walls...

Cornerstones

Cornerstones are thought of as commemorative stones, often containing a time capsule to be opened in a hundred years. The cornerstone is laid in a dedication ceremony at the completion of a building. But originally, a cornerstone had an architectural function. It had...

Rejected by Others

Michelangelo was one of the world’s most magnificent artists. He was an architect, a sculptor and a painter. His famous works include the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and statues of Moses and David. Michelangelo was known for choosing large pieces of marble...

Insisting on Your Rights

Once when I was returning a rental car at the airport, I was first in line with a long line behind me. After the agent took care of me, he said, “Who’s next?” and two men simultaneously said, “I am.” From there it escalated into a heated...

Team Selection

I’ve never been a very good athlete and I remember the youthful pain of team selection in gym classes. You hope and pray you won’t be chosen last. A few times I was chosen as one of the first, not because I was good, but because the person doing the...