When I Was A Boy
When I was a boy, the whole world seemed enormous. Growing up felt like a constant game of catch-up, trying to fit into a world that was far too big for me. I remember the day I could finally touch the ground while sitting on my bike – what a day that was! And when I walked across the crossbar of Mom's clothesline, it felt like balancing on a tightrope high in the sky, even though it was barely taller than Dad.
Finding Power and Purpose in Your Private Pain - Part 1
I have some very special people in my life who are suffering in silence. No difficulty or suffering is easy, but to suffer in silence is, in my opinion, the hardest thing of all.
We’ve all been inspired by people whose stories of grief and pain were turned into a platform of inspiration and overcoming. We’ve read their books, watched their movies, and shared their stories on our social media feeds, from pulpits, and over coffee. While we wouldn’t trade places with them, we can see how their suffering was transformed into something good. It’s obvious from the massive number of people they help. It’s even possible to assume that they also recognize their valley as a springboard for victory. Courage shared is strength given. If there is meaning in suffering, surely this must be it.
A Little Levity Does Not Hurt
Things are heavy out there. It’s easy to get sucked into a vortex of darkness. If you are someone who cares deeply about the world around you, the danger is even greater.
So take time to laugh a little today.
There is Never “Nothing You Can Do”
I have had several conversations this week in which the belief in helplessness or hopelessness was prominent. Those two beliefs often go together. It’s hard to say which one comes first. Ultimately it doesn’t matter. I don’t believe either one is necessary or inevitable. If you are feeling one or both of those right now, I want you to know it can be changed. Your situation can be altered. First, we change the belief. Then we change our actions. Then we change our situation.
I’m Not Unstoppable
I’m not unstoppable. I’m not invincible. As a force to be reckoned with, I’m barely a blip on the radar.
My body can’t stop bullets. One tiny piece of steel or copper traveling at a high speed can end my life, or change it forever. One diagnosis, one accident, one evil action on the part of another individual can bring everything to a screeching halt. I’m fragile. I can’t control whether my heart keeps beating, even though my life depends on it. I lose sometimes. Sometimes I lose a lot. I don’t win every single day. Everything I value could be taken away in an instant. Well, almost everything.
This is reality. This is mortality. So what will you do?
Should I Live Like This is My Last Day to Live?
You have heard it said that you should live each day like it is your last. Is that really good advice? I don’t think it is, and in this article I am going to tell you why.
Is Loving Something Worth it if You Know You’re Going to Lose it?
Is loving something worth it if you know you are going to lose it? I think it is, but to explain, I need to tell you a story.