By JIM NICHOLS The sound was faint at first. As it became louder, we were able to sense some direction to it. It was coming near to us. Finally, not only could we hear the geese honking, but we could see a large group swooping from our back left to our front left. They were in the classic V formation,
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS One of my favorite movies of recent years is “Hidden Figures.” In this 2016 film, the setting is the early 1960s and the exciting “space race” between the United States and Russia. The movie traces the lives and contributions of three African-American women, each of whom makes brilliant contributions to the eventual NASA launch of John Glenn
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS In my more introspective moments, I consider how I have changed in my life. This is normal, of course, and it can be an instructive activity. Many wonderful people have enriched me and cared for me; indeed, many have sacrificed for me. I have had a blessed life compared to virtually everyone I know. When I consider
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Especially with younger people, one cannot always be sure when they are listening. Their facial expressions and body language may well look distracted, but their ears (and hearts) may be listening well. I was with the 13-year-old and the 15-year-old out for lunch, just the three of us. The conversation was just general chitchat. Speaking to the
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS The two trees are rather like twins in many ways. They stand next to one another, separated by perhaps thirty feet. One of the trees is on the edge of our yard and the other is across our neighbor’s driveway in about the center of their front yard. Judging from the similar ages of our two houses,
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Sometimes it is best just to do what is requested. The request was simple. “I have to move out of my house at 5:30 tomorrow evening. I cannot do it physically by myself; I need some help.” Moving from one house to another is complicated. The fact that there are sometimes positive outcomes might smooth out the
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS A news report recently identified interesting results. A large number of college students (2,700) from five countries—three from Western cultures and two from Eastern cultures—took a common survey. The content of the survey forced the students to narrow down which characteristics they considered most important as they chose a lifetime mate. The survey took a progressive approach
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS It has been said that sometimes you write what you need to read yourself. Here goes. There are two linked pieces to my thinking here. Consideration of them causes me to talk to myself and the conclusions boil down to just a few words. Unfortunately, though this conclusion consists of minimal words, they are functionally difficult for
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS I do not like the idea. I prefer to think and believe that my current self is the result of something within me. I prefer to believe that, as a child, I had a rather central future that, though I did not know about it in detail, simply unfolded as I grew older. Thus, as an adult,
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Spirit Of Abilene 