Raymond E. Foster

Essays

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Character • Leadership • Lived Experience

Books often begin with a single idea. Essays allow those ideas to continue evolving.

The Author's Journal is where I explore the questions that continue to challenge me—questions about leadership, character, Freemasonry, public service, history, and the experiences that shape who we become. Some essays begin with current events. Others emerge from conversations, books, historical research, or moments of quiet reflection. All are written with the belief that understanding is not a destination but a lifelong pursuit.

Some essays are reflective. Others are analytical or historical. Some tell stories. Others ask difficult questions. Together, they examine the principles that influence judgment, responsibility, integrity, and purposeful living.

While my books present more complete explorations of these subjects, these essays capture the ongoing process of thinking, learning, and refining ideas. They are not simply commentary on events, but invitations to pause, reflect, and consider how enduring principles apply to everyday life.

Whether you are interested in leadership, Freemasonry, public service, history, or personal growth, I hope these essays encourage thoughtful reflection and meaningful conversation.

Every essay is another step in a journey that remains unfinished.

Behind the Badge

Stories from a career in policing—leadership, humanity, humor, and the realities of public service.

What's Your Trip, Bitch?

The Dangerous Cat

Officer Down... Sort Of

Leadership & Character

Leadership, ethics, judgment, and the decisions that shape organizations and lives.

Organizational Amnesia

The Lie We Tell Children

The Myth of Standing Still: Leadership and the Principle of Reversibility

  

Reflections on Life

Personal essays on aging, curiosity, resilience, learning, and the human experience.

 I Thought They Said Buzzards

The Great Bobblehead Panic

Intuition: Training the Silent Mind

© Raymond E. Foster 2003-2026