"It" Wins By Making Us Feel Alone

 

I stood beside him on the hill, watching streams of people go by. He looked at me and simply said, “I have never felt more at home. It is as if all of those rejected or left out by society have come together.” In that one small statement, I saw his pain, as he expressed a truth so many battling chronic illness feel.

Content, Whatever Lot I See

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,

Nor ever murmur or repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me.

-from the hymn “He Leadeth Me, Oh Blessed Thought”

 

Silence is Sometimes Golden - Knowing When to be Silent

Life can really knock you around some days. Sometimes while you are still reeling from the first punch, the 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th one come right behind it. You can’t even catch your breath, let alone get back on your feet before you are knocked down again, and just when you think it can get no worse, you get “encouraged” by someone who really should learn the art of silence.

If You Want Me To

I am really beginning to hate the month of June (which is unusual for an educator). Between this month and the month of April, I regularly seem to get news or experience things, I never wanted to. Maybe we can just start skipping this month.

 

The Anniversary I Never Wanted

Life is full of momentous events. We mark dates on the calendar to celebrate happy occasions – weddings, births, graduations – days set aside to celebrate those milestones in life. Today is one of those days for me. It is a day of remembrance of a life changing event. A day reminding me of something that forever changed my future. The “Anniversary” that I never wanted.

We Must Seek To Understand Another's Experience

I sat across from him, just staring in disbelief. Had he really just said that? “Your struggle is just physical, it’s not emotional.” The words played over and over in my head, and I just bit my tongue, because no response at that point would be a good one.

 

Our Blind Spot: Missing Opportunities Right In Front Of You

So many things on my to do list today. I run from one "important" task to another, and just cannot stop. I have dozens of meetings, tasks I need to accomplish, places I need to go, and responsibilities that need my attention. My task list is long, and my day will be even longer, I just don’t have time…