On the way to work one day last week, I heard a news report that disturbed me.  When I arrived at the office, I looked up the text of the report to confirm that what I thought I heard was accurate.  The reporter said that “higher percentages of voters say they’d be disappointed if a…Read more »

  The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics is today.  What an exciting time for athletes from around the world!  Many of those athletes, however, struggle against prejudice.  With the support of family and friends, folks face all kinds of bias.  If you’re watching the Olympics, you’ll probably see the following ad a lot.  While…Read more »

The Super Bowl is over, but Stories of Joy has one more football story for you to finish off this season.  Danny had one dream.  To be a Rebel!  Since he was a little boy, he dreamed of playing on the Moose Lake High School Football Team.  How do you stop a kid from dreaming…Read more »

You may have seen Ryan and Rebecca Holets at last week’s State of the Union Address. They, along with their baby named Hope, were guests in the First Lady’s box. Ryan is a police officer in Albuquerque. While on duty last fall, he encountered Crystal Champ, a homeless drug addict. That may be a regular…Read more »

Sometimes joy is found in the darkest moments that life presents.  It can serve us, carry us, and even offer us a moment of rescue when there seems to be no other reason to smile.  This story is an example of joy breaking through darkness, and it exemplifies the unbending power it can offer each…Read more »

Before we close the books on January, let’s look at an interesting statistic from 2017.  There were more organ donations last year than any year yet.  The organs of 10,000 people were donated to save the lives of others.  Victoria Arias and her family gave one of those gifts.  The Atencio family is incredibly grateful…Read more »

This story could be one that is happening in your own city.  It is important that we find community, a place to belong, others to share our struggles and celebrations with.   This restaurant owner recognizes that…”As different as we are, we are a family.” This couple and the business they started is making a difference in the…Read more »

As parents of a baby boy who spent his entire, short life in the NICU, it is so encouraging to know that there are people willing to love on the babies and their families during such a difficult and uncertain time. It may seem small to some, but this 83 year old grandpa brings joy…Read more »

This is a beautiful example of the power of music and how it can change the lives of people…taking them from hopelessness to hope-filled, joyful people.  All it takes is someone to believe in them.  That support can make an incredible difference. Turn up the volume and click the link to hear them sing! From…Read more »

I was meeting a colleague at a coffee shop to discuss an upcoming project. We were sitting at a table close to the door, and I was facing the door. At the table immediately behind us was a young man who appeared to be a busy college student studying and listening to music on his laptop. There…Read more »