Beauty All Around--
Thistle, Queen Ann's Lace, Chickory. These are but a few of the beautiful wildflowers growing in the ditchbank beside our mailbox. Delicate white flowers on tall slender stems beckon butterflys to come feast. That would be Queen Ann's Lace. Placed in a jar or bottle they provide beauty on a table.
Thistle shares its beauty in a different way. It lets you know that you will have to use caution when getting too close. The tall, slender barbs that protect the purple flower mean business. Standing beside Queen Ann's Lace, it provides quite the contrast. It has strength. Bees often cover Thistle thus ensuring their future.
Chickory has a lovely light blue flower on several stems. It truly looks like a weed. It grows in the worst soil. Often right beside the road. It is much shorter than the others mentioned. The root of the Chickory can be boiled for tea. These three growing together are an absolute delight.
Many other smaller plants grow alongside these. Altogether they make a beautiful combination of colors, heights and textures. Some have flowers. Some don't. The interesting thing is they all seem to fit perfectly together. Each takes up just enough space to grow. Each comes to maturity in its own time.
Many years ago my dad shared with me that he was seeing all the wildflowers for the first time. During all his working years he never looked right or left. He was too busy making a living. Up early to work the fields or drive off to his job, his mind was on providing for the family. There was no time to look at wildflowers. Often they were mowed down, anyway. They were weeds. Who wants weeds?
After he retired, he saw them for the first time. All those years they had shared their beauty, but he never noticed. He said he was so surprised at the beauty they gave away to the world. He shared that he wished he had taken the time to look instead of driving by on his way to somewhere else. Oh-such lessons from those thoughts.
Camera in hand, I stood in the ditch beside all the gifts of nature and snapped pictures. Their life is short so I needed to have a reminder of what will return again next year. Besides, I may use the pictures in my next book.
Truly seeing takes effort. Racing along a highway with eyes straight ahead-which is probably where they should be-gets us where we are headed. We are all on a journey from here to there. But, what if we decided to take a less traveled road? What if we took our time on a journey from here to there? What if we even stopped our car, got out and walked beside the road? What might we see? What might we feel? What might we experience? Just the simple act of slowing down has the power to free our spirits.
Many wildflowers grow in our gardens. Spring Beauty, Bluebells, Jack in the Pulpit, Bleeding Heart, Trout Lily, Shooting Stars, Trilium, Lily of the Valley to name a few. If we are not watchful, some of them will disappear before we notice their arrival. This spring I taught our youngest grandson how to enjoy the sweet taste of the Bluebell. After that lesson, he feasted on them! Well, not really feasted because the tiny amount of sweet is just right for bees but not for boys.
Yes, I know that life is busy. I understand that time is limited. I realize that people go in circles these days. However, I would like to offer a simple plan. One that is free for all the family. It is this. Set aside thirty minutes to look at nature. Maybe you could identify trees by their leaves. Or walk along a ditchbank and talk about colors and textures. Introduce new words such as delicate or bristly. Pick up rocks and examine their color, shape and weight. How are they alike or different?
I think when we spend time in nature, we grow to appreciate this world and all the people in it. We truly see what surrounds us yet never insists we visit. We realize that we are only one small part of a very large space. And we are awed with the wonder of it all.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Looking Back--
Looking Back--
Heard this on a commercial for a car. "Someday your life will flash before your eyes. Make it worth watching." Wow! That gives me something to think about. And it has nothing to do with the car that I drive. It has to do with a life lived.
Immediately I am thrown into a backward glance. I see missed opportunities. I see mistakes. I see errors in judgement. I remember dumb decisions. I think about times when I could have offered a listening ear yet decided not to be involved. Yes, that backward glance is an ouch.
Then I force myself to move to a more honest backward glance. I stay there and remember so many wonderful life experiences. I remember times when several paths presented themselves to me. I stood looking at each one trying to ascertain which one was best. The good thing about that is there were options. I had choice. Each path was good. A few were better, and one was best. Eventually I was able to make the decision.
Another lesson learned from that backward glance is the knowledge that I was able to learn from mistakes and move forward. We all make mistakes. Had there been no lesson learned, life would be quite different now. We all have the option of learning from mistakes or coninuing to make the same one over and over. It takes strength and perserverance to stay on the new track we set for ourselves. Over time we can move to a new and better place when we learn from our mistakes. Or we can stay locked in the same unending circle going absolutely nowhere. Experiencing the same thing over and over.
Dumb decisions are just that. Dumb. They are usually not lethal. But they make us cringe when we think about what we did or said. We feel so stupid. And we often tell ourselves how dumb we were. Well, lighten up. Those folks who know us know that occasionally goofy things escape from our mouths. They do not represent who we are, or what we truly believe. They are momentary lapses in smarts! So, forgive yourself and others and move on.
The most difficult backward glance for me involves times when I could have stepped forward yet didn't. I am sure at the time there were reasons for staying back. However, stepping forward means there are opportunities to be a blessing to others and to be blessed by others. Who wants to miss out on that? Somewhere between the moves from Arkansas to Tennessee to Kentucky to Oregon to Illinois I learned that we get one chance at many opportunities. And I grabbed that knowledge and ran with it. Because of that, many people have crossed my path. They have enriched my life. They have taught me important lessons. Had I chosen to stay inside the small universe of my life...I can't even imagine what my life would look like. I am grateful and thankful for all those who allowed me to move within their circle, and who felt welcome in mine.
So, while that backward glance made me wince a bit, it also made me smile. It forced me to be honest with who I am and look forward to whom I am becoming. Looking back helps me see how I have grown. All of the experiences of my life brought me to this place. Absolutely--I would love to have avoided a few. Some were very painful. But they are all part of the fabric of a life.
What I really want is for the rest of my life to be worth watching. I bet you do, too!
Heard this on a commercial for a car. "Someday your life will flash before your eyes. Make it worth watching." Wow! That gives me something to think about. And it has nothing to do with the car that I drive. It has to do with a life lived.
Immediately I am thrown into a backward glance. I see missed opportunities. I see mistakes. I see errors in judgement. I remember dumb decisions. I think about times when I could have offered a listening ear yet decided not to be involved. Yes, that backward glance is an ouch.
Then I force myself to move to a more honest backward glance. I stay there and remember so many wonderful life experiences. I remember times when several paths presented themselves to me. I stood looking at each one trying to ascertain which one was best. The good thing about that is there were options. I had choice. Each path was good. A few were better, and one was best. Eventually I was able to make the decision.
Another lesson learned from that backward glance is the knowledge that I was able to learn from mistakes and move forward. We all make mistakes. Had there been no lesson learned, life would be quite different now. We all have the option of learning from mistakes or coninuing to make the same one over and over. It takes strength and perserverance to stay on the new track we set for ourselves. Over time we can move to a new and better place when we learn from our mistakes. Or we can stay locked in the same unending circle going absolutely nowhere. Experiencing the same thing over and over.
Dumb decisions are just that. Dumb. They are usually not lethal. But they make us cringe when we think about what we did or said. We feel so stupid. And we often tell ourselves how dumb we were. Well, lighten up. Those folks who know us know that occasionally goofy things escape from our mouths. They do not represent who we are, or what we truly believe. They are momentary lapses in smarts! So, forgive yourself and others and move on.
The most difficult backward glance for me involves times when I could have stepped forward yet didn't. I am sure at the time there were reasons for staying back. However, stepping forward means there are opportunities to be a blessing to others and to be blessed by others. Who wants to miss out on that? Somewhere between the moves from Arkansas to Tennessee to Kentucky to Oregon to Illinois I learned that we get one chance at many opportunities. And I grabbed that knowledge and ran with it. Because of that, many people have crossed my path. They have enriched my life. They have taught me important lessons. Had I chosen to stay inside the small universe of my life...I can't even imagine what my life would look like. I am grateful and thankful for all those who allowed me to move within their circle, and who felt welcome in mine.
So, while that backward glance made me wince a bit, it also made me smile. It forced me to be honest with who I am and look forward to whom I am becoming. Looking back helps me see how I have grown. All of the experiences of my life brought me to this place. Absolutely--I would love to have avoided a few. Some were very painful. But they are all part of the fabric of a life.
What I really want is for the rest of my life to be worth watching. I bet you do, too!
Monday, July 7, 2014
Wishing Things Were Different
Wishing Things Were Different--
Have you ever commented that you wish things were different? The things you wish were different could be anything. They might include your job/career, personal relationships, weight, hair, residence, attitude. It is possible that you spend time planning how to make things different. Then life happens, and you forget to follow through with the plan.
Wishing things were different is common to the human condition. While there are certain things we are pleased with, there are others that we wish to change. We think about how to make the change happen. We write down our steps to keep us on target. Early in the process we check that plan regularly. Then we check it a little less often. And finally we don't check it at all. We do know where the list is. It is under the pile of correspondence that resides on the desk. The new plan is to revisit it and begin again.
Let's face the truth. Wishing never made anything different. Wishing is noncommital. We express the change we would like to make, but we take no steps forward. Perhaps it is our way of talking about change without actually doing it. We feel part of the group. Everyone has something they wish were different so we have something in common with the rest of the world. But, is that how we really want to live?
It is easier to use the word wish than to take the necessary action that change requires. I can wish to be twenty pounds lighter. I will not be twenty pounds lighter by wishing. I have to change my actions. I have to be deliberate about food choices. If those twenty pounds are important to me, I will make an action plan and follow it. The same goes for all areas of life. Nothing ever changes without changing direction. And there is the challenge.
Change means we move from where we were to a new place. This place could be a place of peace amid chaos. It could be a physical move from one area of the world to another. It could mean cleaning out the clutter in our minds. Everytime we work toward change, we leave something behind. Making the decision about what to leave and what to embrace forces us to think about who we are, and what we want our lives to be. Yes, that is challenging, but it is also invigorating. We feel full of life when we do the hard work of change. Our attitude is lighter and brighter. Everyday annoyances seem less troublesome. We see ourselves through different lens. And we like what we see.
So, why is it so difficult to change from "I wish" to "I will?" Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe we are lazy. Maybe we are just a little unhappy with present circumstances, but not unhappy enough to get off our butts and do the work required for real change to occur. Maybe we believe this is as good as it will ever be, and we need to accept the present situation. Maybe in the past we tried to change something that was troubling us, but we never quite got there. Rather than start over and risk failure again, it is easier to tell ourselves that things aren't so bad. Until the next time we use the word wish.
Yes, I wish certain things were different in my life. Some of those things I wish for are things I can accomplish. Others will probably remain a wish. But one thing is certain. If I remain the same, so will my life. My direction is determined by my decisions about all areas of life. It is up to me to examine the times I use the word wish and see if I am simply joining a conversation or actually putting a plan into action.
Have you ever wished things were different?
Have you ever commented that you wish things were different? The things you wish were different could be anything. They might include your job/career, personal relationships, weight, hair, residence, attitude. It is possible that you spend time planning how to make things different. Then life happens, and you forget to follow through with the plan.
Wishing things were different is common to the human condition. While there are certain things we are pleased with, there are others that we wish to change. We think about how to make the change happen. We write down our steps to keep us on target. Early in the process we check that plan regularly. Then we check it a little less often. And finally we don't check it at all. We do know where the list is. It is under the pile of correspondence that resides on the desk. The new plan is to revisit it and begin again.
Let's face the truth. Wishing never made anything different. Wishing is noncommital. We express the change we would like to make, but we take no steps forward. Perhaps it is our way of talking about change without actually doing it. We feel part of the group. Everyone has something they wish were different so we have something in common with the rest of the world. But, is that how we really want to live?
It is easier to use the word wish than to take the necessary action that change requires. I can wish to be twenty pounds lighter. I will not be twenty pounds lighter by wishing. I have to change my actions. I have to be deliberate about food choices. If those twenty pounds are important to me, I will make an action plan and follow it. The same goes for all areas of life. Nothing ever changes without changing direction. And there is the challenge.
Change means we move from where we were to a new place. This place could be a place of peace amid chaos. It could be a physical move from one area of the world to another. It could mean cleaning out the clutter in our minds. Everytime we work toward change, we leave something behind. Making the decision about what to leave and what to embrace forces us to think about who we are, and what we want our lives to be. Yes, that is challenging, but it is also invigorating. We feel full of life when we do the hard work of change. Our attitude is lighter and brighter. Everyday annoyances seem less troublesome. We see ourselves through different lens. And we like what we see.
So, why is it so difficult to change from "I wish" to "I will?" Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe we are lazy. Maybe we are just a little unhappy with present circumstances, but not unhappy enough to get off our butts and do the work required for real change to occur. Maybe we believe this is as good as it will ever be, and we need to accept the present situation. Maybe in the past we tried to change something that was troubling us, but we never quite got there. Rather than start over and risk failure again, it is easier to tell ourselves that things aren't so bad. Until the next time we use the word wish.
Yes, I wish certain things were different in my life. Some of those things I wish for are things I can accomplish. Others will probably remain a wish. But one thing is certain. If I remain the same, so will my life. My direction is determined by my decisions about all areas of life. It is up to me to examine the times I use the word wish and see if I am simply joining a conversation or actually putting a plan into action.
Have you ever wished things were different?
Sunday, June 29, 2014
How Alive Am I Willing To Be?
How Alive Am I Willing To Be?
Hanging on the wall above my desk is a wax art piece. The colors are tan, brown and black. In the center of the piece is the figure of a human. Growing from the head is a tall branch. Extending from the feet is the same branch only it is growing downward. To the left of the figure are the words "How Alive Am I" and on the right of the figure is the rest of the question"Willing To Be?"
How alive am I willing to be? Everytime I sit down to check emails or bank statements or work on some piece of writing, I read the words on that piece of art. I purchased it from the artist at an art fair on the Oregon Coast in 2006. Her description of it is mixed media on topographical map, wax.
Since I am writing this, I am alive. So are you. We are breathing, living beings. Our hearts are beating. Blood is rushing through our bodies. Our lungs are doing their work. Our brain is busy putting things into categories so we can make sense of our world. We are making plans for tomorrow and next week and next month. Yes, we are alive.
The question asked by the artist is quite different from our physical being. This question moves us beyond the everyday activities of life. It asks us HOW alive we are. Are we a little alive or a bit alive or a lot alive? Do we embrace life with gusto? Do we move through our days with a sense of adventure waiting to see what is around the next moment? Or do we spend our days observing others as they live out their lives? It also asks us about our willingness to embrace life. Are we willing to take a chance? If we have a secret dream, are we willing to take steps toward that dream? Are we willing to forgive others thus freeing ourselves to be more alive? Are we making room in our hearts for new friends? Do we take time each day to open ourselves to the beauty that surrounds us? Can we hear that still, small voice that is knocking on our hearts asking us to move in a new direction? Do we want to hear that voice? Or is the only voice we hear our own?
That group of seven words asks a powerful question. For me the key word is willling. In other words, it is our choice as to how alive we want to be. We get to make the decisions about what our life will look like. If we take the time to examine our life and find areas that are less than alive, we get to change that. That is, if we want to. We can move from feeling a deadness in spirit to experiencing a joyous spirit. Usually that comes when we think of others more than we think of ourselves. This is true for me. When I am less than alive, it is always because I am focusing on me. Once I recognize what is happening, I am able to move beyond the small world of me and into the gigantic world of others. The joy of being returns to my soul and spirit. It is a lesson learned over and over.
How alive am I willing to be? I want to be like the figure in the piece of art. That means I want to be rooted in those values that are important in my life, and I want to be reaching upward for newness. Always growing. Always open to new ideas and people. Always searching for a new truth or idea to push my thinking. Loving the moments spent with friends both old and new. I want to be willing to listen without judgement. To understand that we all walk our own walk. None of us are carbon copies. I cannot tell you how to live your life. I can only be willing to walk a few steps with you when you need or want my company.
I know how alive I am willing to be. Do you?
Hanging on the wall above my desk is a wax art piece. The colors are tan, brown and black. In the center of the piece is the figure of a human. Growing from the head is a tall branch. Extending from the feet is the same branch only it is growing downward. To the left of the figure are the words "How Alive Am I" and on the right of the figure is the rest of the question"Willing To Be?"
How alive am I willing to be? Everytime I sit down to check emails or bank statements or work on some piece of writing, I read the words on that piece of art. I purchased it from the artist at an art fair on the Oregon Coast in 2006. Her description of it is mixed media on topographical map, wax.
Since I am writing this, I am alive. So are you. We are breathing, living beings. Our hearts are beating. Blood is rushing through our bodies. Our lungs are doing their work. Our brain is busy putting things into categories so we can make sense of our world. We are making plans for tomorrow and next week and next month. Yes, we are alive.
The question asked by the artist is quite different from our physical being. This question moves us beyond the everyday activities of life. It asks us HOW alive we are. Are we a little alive or a bit alive or a lot alive? Do we embrace life with gusto? Do we move through our days with a sense of adventure waiting to see what is around the next moment? Or do we spend our days observing others as they live out their lives? It also asks us about our willingness to embrace life. Are we willing to take a chance? If we have a secret dream, are we willing to take steps toward that dream? Are we willing to forgive others thus freeing ourselves to be more alive? Are we making room in our hearts for new friends? Do we take time each day to open ourselves to the beauty that surrounds us? Can we hear that still, small voice that is knocking on our hearts asking us to move in a new direction? Do we want to hear that voice? Or is the only voice we hear our own?
That group of seven words asks a powerful question. For me the key word is willling. In other words, it is our choice as to how alive we want to be. We get to make the decisions about what our life will look like. If we take the time to examine our life and find areas that are less than alive, we get to change that. That is, if we want to. We can move from feeling a deadness in spirit to experiencing a joyous spirit. Usually that comes when we think of others more than we think of ourselves. This is true for me. When I am less than alive, it is always because I am focusing on me. Once I recognize what is happening, I am able to move beyond the small world of me and into the gigantic world of others. The joy of being returns to my soul and spirit. It is a lesson learned over and over.
How alive am I willing to be? I want to be like the figure in the piece of art. That means I want to be rooted in those values that are important in my life, and I want to be reaching upward for newness. Always growing. Always open to new ideas and people. Always searching for a new truth or idea to push my thinking. Loving the moments spent with friends both old and new. I want to be willing to listen without judgement. To understand that we all walk our own walk. None of us are carbon copies. I cannot tell you how to live your life. I can only be willing to walk a few steps with you when you need or want my company.
I know how alive I am willing to be. Do you?
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Rhythm-Hearts and Life
Rhythm-Hearts and Life
Our heart beats at a certain rhythm. When we walk fast, our heart beats a little faster. When we rest, it slows down. It keeps the rhythm of our lives. It moves us through our days and nights without a hitch. Unless there is a challenge, we hardly ever think about what is happening inside our body. We assume things are in perfect working order.
Then one day we get that wake-up call none of us want to receive. Something is wrong with our heart. That part of us that keeps us moving and living has developed a glitch. We are surprised, shocked and dismayed. What was once so perfect is now sick. It needs repair. That repair might be medicine, or it might be surgery. Almost always it means a change of lifestyle. What we hardly ever thought about is now on our minds daily.
Could our heart be a picture of our life? Maybe it is.
We move through our lives with certain rhythms. Sometimes the rhythms look one way on the outside and another way on the inside. We move through our lives as if all is well. Actually, we move through life putting up fronts. We know what we want our lives to show so we act in that way. We have a picture of what best represents a good life, a life well lived. That is the life we portray to others. It is painful to face the truth about what our life actually is. There might be a deep and wide chasm that only we know exists.
Should the day arrive when we acknowledge that the rhythms are not smooth, we are face to face with decisions. Decisions are challenging. What should we do with this knowledge? Where can we turn for help? What about all the self doubt that seeps into our being? The questions are endless. But, they force us to think about what the best rhythm is for us.
We remember when the rhythm was perfect. Life was good. At some point we begin to do a reality check of ourselves. Are we moving through life but not really living it? Are we caught in a situation that does not bring the best to us or others? Is there a way to medicate the rhythm so that it returns to its former healthy state? Is surgery necessary? Exactly what are the options when life has lost its rhythm?
All lives have bumps. All lives have challenges. All lives have stress. Yet, it is possible to live with all of those elements if the rhythm of our lives is constant and strong. That might mean our primary relationships are essential to our well being. It might mean that we need to make some changes to live a better life. For each of us, it means something different. What is not different for all of us is the need to love and be loved. That is the one element of life that must be constant. It must have a rhythm. It must present itself as a constant in our lives.
Human relationships possess a rhythm. Each one causes us to move to the rhythm unique to it. If one of those relationships upsets our sense of balance, we should study the why and decide what should be done. Sometimes medicine works. We can seek professional help in understanding ourselves. We can seek to change those elements that need change within our own lives. Sometimes surgery is necessary. Surgery means we are eleminating something that is hurting us. We are removing it from our presense. We are freeing ourselves of the pain it brings to us. This is the most radical way to find the new rhythm. The truth is after all the thinking and talking, surgery maybe the only way to find yourself.
All of this came to my mind today as I listened to a person on the radio speaking about the heart and its rhythm. I want my heart to beat steady and strong for many years to come. And I want my life to show love and care for others through the rhythm of my life.
Our heart beats at a certain rhythm. When we walk fast, our heart beats a little faster. When we rest, it slows down. It keeps the rhythm of our lives. It moves us through our days and nights without a hitch. Unless there is a challenge, we hardly ever think about what is happening inside our body. We assume things are in perfect working order.
Then one day we get that wake-up call none of us want to receive. Something is wrong with our heart. That part of us that keeps us moving and living has developed a glitch. We are surprised, shocked and dismayed. What was once so perfect is now sick. It needs repair. That repair might be medicine, or it might be surgery. Almost always it means a change of lifestyle. What we hardly ever thought about is now on our minds daily.
Could our heart be a picture of our life? Maybe it is.
We move through our lives with certain rhythms. Sometimes the rhythms look one way on the outside and another way on the inside. We move through our lives as if all is well. Actually, we move through life putting up fronts. We know what we want our lives to show so we act in that way. We have a picture of what best represents a good life, a life well lived. That is the life we portray to others. It is painful to face the truth about what our life actually is. There might be a deep and wide chasm that only we know exists.
Should the day arrive when we acknowledge that the rhythms are not smooth, we are face to face with decisions. Decisions are challenging. What should we do with this knowledge? Where can we turn for help? What about all the self doubt that seeps into our being? The questions are endless. But, they force us to think about what the best rhythm is for us.
We remember when the rhythm was perfect. Life was good. At some point we begin to do a reality check of ourselves. Are we moving through life but not really living it? Are we caught in a situation that does not bring the best to us or others? Is there a way to medicate the rhythm so that it returns to its former healthy state? Is surgery necessary? Exactly what are the options when life has lost its rhythm?
All lives have bumps. All lives have challenges. All lives have stress. Yet, it is possible to live with all of those elements if the rhythm of our lives is constant and strong. That might mean our primary relationships are essential to our well being. It might mean that we need to make some changes to live a better life. For each of us, it means something different. What is not different for all of us is the need to love and be loved. That is the one element of life that must be constant. It must have a rhythm. It must present itself as a constant in our lives.
Human relationships possess a rhythm. Each one causes us to move to the rhythm unique to it. If one of those relationships upsets our sense of balance, we should study the why and decide what should be done. Sometimes medicine works. We can seek professional help in understanding ourselves. We can seek to change those elements that need change within our own lives. Sometimes surgery is necessary. Surgery means we are eleminating something that is hurting us. We are removing it from our presense. We are freeing ourselves of the pain it brings to us. This is the most radical way to find the new rhythm. The truth is after all the thinking and talking, surgery maybe the only way to find yourself.
All of this came to my mind today as I listened to a person on the radio speaking about the heart and its rhythm. I want my heart to beat steady and strong for many years to come. And I want my life to show love and care for others through the rhythm of my life.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Random Thoughts
Random Thoughts-
It is never too early or too late to have an icy cold diet drink.
Moving furniture around to different rooms gives a new and fresh look to the house.
Meeting a friend for coffee is always a treat.
How long does it take beautiful red radishes to turn brown? Found a bunch in my fridge today.
Sometimes it is necessary to hide a food you want all to yourself.
Sometimes that food is found.
Procrastination can be a good thing. Gives you time to plan and plan and plan...
Low growing weeds resemble ground cover.
I love chocolate in anything.
Is she really leaving Days of Our Lives?
I wonder what God thinks about the world we have created.
Do you ever wonder who/what God really is?
The new discoveries about the universe leave me speechless.
Are we all there is?
Everyday is a perfect day to tell someone you appreciate them.
Pot holes are holes of mass destruction.
If you have a dream that has been nagging at you, begin making plans to see it become a reality.
Imagine yourself as an angel. What would your job be?
Listen to a friend. Give no advice. Just listen.
One flower in a vase on a table adds beauty to the room.
Sing a new song. One of joy and peace.
Write a letter to someone who is/has been a positive influence on your life.
Enjoy a milkshake.
Wake up with a thankful attitude and a desire to encourage others.
When negative thoughts invade your thinking, replace them with happy songs.
Tell youself that you are growing into the person God intended you to be. Rejoice.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Another School Shooting-Enough!
Another School Shooting-Enough!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear the words "living well" instead of "killed?" Have we become so used to hearing that students in schools, people in malls, folks doing their jobs at work have been killed by some unhappy or unhealthy person that we listen, shake our heads in disbelief, and then go about our day? Are we now expecting to hear about multiple killings in our country on the evening news? And if we are truly expecting this type of news, what does that say about us as a nation?
Again today there was a shooting at another school, and students died. For what? Why? I know there are no easy answers to these questions, but we should be so sick of these slaughters that we are willing to sit down and come to some agreement about mental health and weapons. When do we say enough children and adults have died for no reason? When do we stop worrying about having to give up something for the good of all? I know. These questions will make some readers quite uncomfortable. I don't like to ask them. But, what I like less is knowing that families have to plan funerals and burials way too soon. What I dislike is lives with so much promise ended for absolutely no reason.
Instead of planning final tributes, shouldn't we be working toward helping those who are troubled find a way to live a better life? Shouldn't we be asking our government to make funds available for treatment for those in need? Shouldn't we be demanding that those who make the decisions about funding give up something themselves instead of arguing over who is right and who is wrong? This is not about political parties. It is about the lives of citizens who need help. What difference does it make what political party one identifies with when there is so much need?
One of the challenges facing our society is identifying those who need help coping in our world. It seems that everytime cuts are necessary, the cuts are made in the mental health arena. Looking at our world today, does that make good sense? Identifying and treating those who suffer from mental issues might be the way to start the road to less violence.
Today I listened to the reporting of that shooting in the Northwest. It is the last one in a long list of murders of innocent people. People who had dreams and goals cut down in an instant. People who were making plans to visit with friends, eat dinner with family, plan a summer vacation. Now those things will never happen. Left in their place are bedrooms with closets full of clothes, desks with computers, jewelry boxes, pictures of friends and family. Memories of a life that ended because someone made a decision to kill. And now families and friends are left with huge holes in their hearts and lives that will never be filled. My heart hurts for them.
We can change this pattern. It will take pressure on those in control of our lives to make a difference. I ask that each of us think about what we can do, and then go about doing it. We owe it to those who died on a regular day as they went about their lives.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear the words "living well" instead of "killed?" Have we become so used to hearing that students in schools, people in malls, folks doing their jobs at work have been killed by some unhappy or unhealthy person that we listen, shake our heads in disbelief, and then go about our day? Are we now expecting to hear about multiple killings in our country on the evening news? And if we are truly expecting this type of news, what does that say about us as a nation?
Again today there was a shooting at another school, and students died. For what? Why? I know there are no easy answers to these questions, but we should be so sick of these slaughters that we are willing to sit down and come to some agreement about mental health and weapons. When do we say enough children and adults have died for no reason? When do we stop worrying about having to give up something for the good of all? I know. These questions will make some readers quite uncomfortable. I don't like to ask them. But, what I like less is knowing that families have to plan funerals and burials way too soon. What I dislike is lives with so much promise ended for absolutely no reason.
Instead of planning final tributes, shouldn't we be working toward helping those who are troubled find a way to live a better life? Shouldn't we be asking our government to make funds available for treatment for those in need? Shouldn't we be demanding that those who make the decisions about funding give up something themselves instead of arguing over who is right and who is wrong? This is not about political parties. It is about the lives of citizens who need help. What difference does it make what political party one identifies with when there is so much need?
One of the challenges facing our society is identifying those who need help coping in our world. It seems that everytime cuts are necessary, the cuts are made in the mental health arena. Looking at our world today, does that make good sense? Identifying and treating those who suffer from mental issues might be the way to start the road to less violence.
Today I listened to the reporting of that shooting in the Northwest. It is the last one in a long list of murders of innocent people. People who had dreams and goals cut down in an instant. People who were making plans to visit with friends, eat dinner with family, plan a summer vacation. Now those things will never happen. Left in their place are bedrooms with closets full of clothes, desks with computers, jewelry boxes, pictures of friends and family. Memories of a life that ended because someone made a decision to kill. And now families and friends are left with huge holes in their hearts and lives that will never be filled. My heart hurts for them.
We can change this pattern. It will take pressure on those in control of our lives to make a difference. I ask that each of us think about what we can do, and then go about doing it. We owe it to those who died on a regular day as they went about their lives.
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