The powerful question of 'should?' is one that is most needed in life. In fact, that one question when applied to life enables us to understand what we believe in, what we think, what we feel, and what we do, in profound ways. We share in the podcast that asking this question, and applying it to life does three things: It helps us to focus upon the moments that we live in order to slow down and see where we are heading in life. It helps us to create the life we seek to live through being a model for others. It leaves a legacy for others to follow the path that we lead because we have applied this great question to our lives. Though there are probably many more reasons why this question of 'should?' is needed for our lives, these three help us to focus upon building a life that is founded upon walking in beauty.

‘Whatever your principles, whatever beliefs, whatever vision, know them well - add your heart and your mind to the search for truth, and you will never be far from the legacy of any great people or any great effort that came before you.’ Those are the words of my friend and the guest on the podcast this week. Joe Palmer is a teacher of history, and he does what many people say that we all should do:  he learns from the past.  It has been said time and again, that  those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. We are augmenting that for today's dialogue to say:  those who want wisdom, learn from what has taken place. When we apply stories from the past to our todays, and let them guide our tomorrows, we are bound to live greater lives of depth and understanding. We begin with a story from the American Revolution.  From that story we learn a truth of life that ‘we achieve great things when our backs are against a river.’  Listen for that insight as it will lead into a great discussion of the power of ‘Why’ in our lives.  So we are entitling this: ‘Put your back against the river and fight -  when Why is all you have.’ As always, the intention is that this will inspire, educate, and transform your life, and bring you into realization of those great ideas of Wonder, Wisdom, and the Wild of life that are eternal. 

We continue our dialogue entitled, ‘Living Out the Wild Within,’ This second part is subtitled, ‘You are that.’  In the dialogue we take a look at some creative aspects as we deal with a subject and a created work about the implications and truths about what would it mean if you could literally be alive forever -   would that be something appealing?  Some may say, ‘Of course it does,’ especially if you happen to be someone who believes in eternal life.  However, the point that our friend, Tony Burge, wishes to raise with us is something that is interesting. He imagines a world in the future in which we have discovered a drug that enables us to live forever.  Yet, there are choices that confront.  Some, even a lot, choose to not take the drug because there is something in their minds and thoughts that realize that beauty, goodness, truth, even life itself, means the most when we understand that one day it will end.  It's a great thought; it's a perplexing thought; it's one that involves a lot of thinking, heartfelt reasoning, and application to life.  

When was the last time you ever felt truly alive?  When was the last time you were fully engaged with life, running ‘with all of your burners’, accomplishing that which charges the mind, the soul, and the body, with everything that is good, true, beautiful, and courageous?  These are great questions.  My colleague and friend Tyler Grubbs and I are joined by Tony Burge.  Tony is a friend, former student, runner, writer, philosopher, father, and husband who reminds us of how to become fully engulfed in life.  We are titling this: ‘Living out the Wild Within.’  Part One is subtitled, ‘Cherishing the Struggle’ and Part Two takes as its theme, ‘You Are That.’  The dialogues may be listened to back-to-back, but to get the full force of the time we are splitting them to allow them to gel with our thoughts even more deeply.  As always, we come seeking to be inspired, educated, and transformed through Wonder, Wisdom, and the Wild.  That is certainly the focus here. Make it beautiful. 

Let’s start with the question: ‘How many times has life changed for you?’ If you are like a lot of people, the answer to that question is often.  However, the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus would say that life changes constantly.  In fact, not only does life change constantly, the whole universe changes from the highest realms of the universe to the most intimate parts of our thoughts.  We are constantly and ever changing, and in fact, that change is what life is all about. His disciples were fond of saying ‘you cannot step into the same river twice.’  It's an interesting thought, but if we are honest change actually causes us much concern and we don't like it. Transitions are not good.  So we come today with this great thought: is there a way that we can take on the idea of change or call it transitions, and embrace them for what they teach? Our dialogue partner today, Nick Burge, and I talk about this very idea.  As he and I discuss this topic, we touch upon what it feels like to be in transition constantly, and question if there is anything that remains constant.  We also talk about some principles of philosophical and spiritual interest. It's a great time to be alive and it's a great time to be here today. No matter what you are going through, this dialogue is for you. It will inspire you, it will educate and transform, and that's a wonderful thing.  As always, make it beautiful.

What if you had the chance to have more things or to have more time, which would you choose? Many may say that they want more time. But what if you did not have a choice and your ‘time’ is up? That is what my former student, colleague, and friend, Alan Brown, the guest today talks about. Alan is a musician and a profound thinker of life. He shares with us perspective of life from the vantage point of one who almost passed away from repercussions of the Covid virus that caused his body to shut down completely. What we find is a story filled with wisdom that leads to aspects and understandings of what the great life entails. This is a dialogue to listen to and participate in with an active mind and open heart… As Alan will say, all he wanted was more time - What he was given are insights that are timeless. Enjoy the dialogue, and as always, make it beautiful.

It is always good to question. Of course, that isn’t a statement a lot of people embrace. Questioning to some seems like you are doubting, cynical, and trying to leave a person hopeless with answers that they need. Of course, that is an aspect, but it only one aspect of it. Questioning can have a beautiful meaning especially when thinking about life. If you question to dismantle that is one thing, but if you question in order to build up because you are curious, inquiring, and filled with that great source of wisdom called wonder, the questioning becomes the most captivating thing you can do. By design or choice, we are used to quick answers from screens of phones, computers, or talking heads on screens who speak a lot louder than our thoughts can’t even keep up with. But when life hits us with the most heart-rendering situations, then all of the sounds and noises coming from screens give little to no help. It is then that we must go back into ourselves and question what our life is all about. That is when the questioning becomes essential and life-giving. And that is the type of questioning that we talk about in today’s dialogue. Today we talk about this questioning from the vantage point when facing life at its personally altering points. That type of questioning may not bring every answer, but it can give us direction in the way that we should live. Regarding and answering how we should live we does two things: it makes those who love us proud, and it makes us proud of ourselves, or gives us a confidence that we have a glimpse of what we are doing with our lives. Wherever this finds you in all of your questioning about what takes place in your life, know that that questioning will bring you to great things as it always has to every person that has ever considered life and how we should live it. Come into the dialogue as we talk about how that questioning itself can take a person to the deepest questions of life and inspire to become a great example of how life should be lived.

Today's dialogue is about the philosophical life. That sort of life sounds odd, but it isn't in the least. It asks a fundamental question: 'What kind of person do I want to be?' It involves several important aspects of what it means to be human, and whatever aspects those are, we seek to be guided by 'Wisdom'. That life is the prize of the philosophical, whoever they are. As lovers of wisdom, we want Wisdom to manifest in ways of life, decisions, relationships, and anything and everything else we long to be in the lives we lead.

Great thinkers and spiritual leaders have seen in The Wild and in Nature that which is profoundly spiritual.  For some, the Divine is experienced while gazing at a sky of stars, sitting  beneath an oak tree,  watching a hawk fly,  or hearing the music of the wind.  Countless and stalwart thinkers, artists, philosophers, theologians see a power in Nature that reminds us that we are part of this beautiful aspect I call 'The Wild' and should seek to honor that relationship.  There is so much that needs to be said here, but the hope is that this ignites you to a greater awareness of being alive, filled with compassion for all that lives, and that you will be filled with Wonder that is the beginning of Wisdom.  

Pathos, Logos, and Ethos are three concepts important for life. All three comprise Aristotle’s triumvirate that every individual needs, especially in speaking, leading, and living, and all three have their respective emphases. Pathos, is passion, which represents the fire within us, or what we are moved by. Logos, reason, is the notion that whatever is stated makes sense or has a reasonability. Ethos, ethics and habits of life, represents the way life is lived out and the decisions are made. However, moving beyond simple concepts or ideas involves moving into a practical way of living, and that is what we are about in the 'Dialogues'. We discuss the role of pathos, ethos, and logos in terms of their meaning in every day life, especially for those who would lead lives of difference. We touch upon the connection of these three with what we stand for in, 'Wonder, Wisdom, and the Wild' and connect with these three great ideals. Of course, we need all three in our lives, but their application is beyond what we might see in just an individual life, for they are even sources of strength in making a difference through our lives in our giving, and standing against those who would take the power of wonder, wisdom, and the wild away from us. At those times it takes courage but it is at those times that we find our way to live truly.