Deep Something

A Way Out of No Way: John Lewis and the Moral Will

July 20, 2025 B. John 2441 Views 1 Comment John Lewis, tikkun olam, Bodhisattva, Stoicism, nonviolence, Selma, justice, Epictetus, Heather Cox Richardson, Civil Rights, Marcus Aurelius, moral courage, good trouble, Buddhist, Jewish justice, Abrahamic traditions

“Lewis did not need a theory of justice. He lived one.”
Five years after the death of Congressman John Lewis, his words and witness still call us to the hard, necessary work of moral courage. Drawing from Christian theology, the Black church, and the discipline of nonviolence, Lewis embodied a philosophy of action that mirrors the core of Stoic thought—and resonates just as deeply with the teachings of Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. He did not merely protest injustice. He met it with clarity, hope, and a soul unshaken by cruelty. His legacy extends beyond American history. It is human wisdom.

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Warriors for Justice: A Stoic Response to Robert Reich

July 18, 2025July 16, 2025 B. John 1085 Views 1 Comment methodism, Epictetus, Robert Reich, Pigliucci, Seneca, John Wesley

Your first thought might be: One more warrior is exactly what we do not need in this moment. The world feels overrun with conflict already. But what if the kind of warrior we need now is not one who fights for dominance or control, but one who stands calmly for conscience, who chooses clarity over chaos and courage over comfort? That is the kind of warrior Robert Reich wrote about — a woman on the front lines of immigration defense, who meets injustice not with rage, but with a quiet joy rooted in purpose. Her story holds a lesson as old as the Stoics and as current as the morning’s headlines.

This reflection is part of the ongoing “Stoicism Journey” series, which explores how ancient Stoic principles can offer clarity, strength, and moral direction in today’s world. Each piece connects Stoic thought to real-life challenges, often intersecting with faith, justice, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. In this installment, we respond to a story shared by Robert Reich, considering what it means to be a warrior for justice in dishonorable times.

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James Stockdale: Resilience, Reality, and the Courage to Endure

June 25, 2025June 26, 2025 B. John 1033 Views 1 Comment Epictetus, James Stockdale, Enchiridion, Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain

This past Saturday, June 21, I attended a live performance of Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam. The theme of the show was how perception shapes our choices. It offered seven short insights, each compelling in its own way. But for me, the most powerful came right at the beginning. Vedantam opened with the story of Admiral James Stockdale. Most people remember him as Ross Perot’s running mate in 1992. In the vice-presidential debate, he opened awkwardly with, “Who am I? Why am I here?” That moment became a punchline, though I’m sure he was being his naturally insightful self. What didn’t make the headlines was the life he had already lived. That life included years of study, intense personal discipline, and an unmatched example of inner strength.

Man overlooking a valley in quiet contemplation

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When the Ground Shifts: A Stoic Response to Loss and Uncertainty

June 11, 2025June 11, 2025 B. John 922 Views 0 Comments Hadot, Holiday, Lay-off, Job, Epictetus, Fate

I was warned this day might come—and now it has. The call came. I’ve been laid off. Even this—the disappointment, the uncertainty—can become fuel, not in the sense of revenge or retribution but in the sense of transformation. What has been taken from me can become something I rebuild, redirect, or refine, but only if I stay in motion. “It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.”

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Now That You Know: A Stoic Response to Injustice During Pride Month

June 3, 2025 B. John 965 Views 0 Comments Wilberforce, LGBTQ+. MAGA, Epictetus, Aurelius

“You may choose to look away, but you can never again say you did not know.” —William Wilberforce There are moments in life when we are confronted with a clear, morally unambiguous truth that strips away all our comfortable illusions. Wilberforce’s words aren’t just a condemnation of apathy but an indictment of complicity. Once you’ve seen injustice, silence is no longer neutral. It’s a choice. Ancient Stoics would have understood this. For all their restraint and talk of inner calm, the Stoics were not spectators. They believed in moral clarity and civic virtue. To live a good life was not to retreat from the world but to meet it head-on—with courage, justice, and integrity.