Alban at Duke Divinity School

Understanding how to use good friction to your advantage can help you lead. https://alban.org/2026/07/13/good-friction-bad-friction/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alban_facebook

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Alban at Duke Divinity School » Good friction, bad friction Sandeep Singh / Unsplash When you were a kid, did you ever rub two objects together to create static electricity? Did you rub your hair against a balloon to watch your hair cling to it? If you touch a metal doorknob after walking across a carpet, you might feel a small zap in your finger. Science te...

Leaders must sit with failure long enough to see what it has to teach us.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » The right kind of wrong Luis Quintero / Unsplash In case you haven’t noticed, World Cup euphoria is everywhere. Devoted fans are brimming with pride. You can’t miss the colorful flags painted on their faces, the pure joy in their voices as they sing their national anthem and the exuberant roar when the ball hits the ba...

Both work and rest shape us in meaningful ways. Is it time for you to enter a season of rest?

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Reclaim the gift of rest Marius Masalar / Unsplash The book of Ecclesiastes tells us “there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun.” (3:1 NRSVUE). In our fast-paced, task-oriented culture, where we dedicate so much of our lives to our work, Ecclesiastes reminds us there also is an appoint...

Let’s challenge our people to do more than sit back and watch.

Alban at Duke Divinity School » Courageous congregations Piotr Makowski / Unsplash By the end of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” Luke Skywalker has successfully used the Force to save the Rebel base. Princess Leia has presented medals of bravery to Luke, Han Solo and Chewbacca for their heroic role in defeating the Empire. Released three years later, “The ...