Beyond the Comma: Life at the Intersection

The Comma is a Simple Mark of Punctuation. It separates all that has come before from whatever is to follow. Likewise, on the journey of life, we encounter "comma times"-some are intricately planned and self-created (a sabbatical, a day of reflection, a solitary prayer); others are imposed, sometimes violently or without warnings, by external forces. This book challenges the reader to be attentive to those moments. They literally give us pause. And, in those times, we are increasingly aware that life consists of multi-layered intersections - some deeply personal; some corporate, even global. As we engage these intersections and explore their interrelationship, we become more whole. Through personal memoires and reflections on public events, the narrative in this book explores these intersections and seeks to offer insights to readers as they navigate the waters of their own lives. In his farewell remarks at Andrews Air Force Base, President Obama reminded us: "This is just a little pit stop. This is not a period. This is a comma in the continuing story of budding America."