Ode to Charlie

 “Though my health may fail and my spirit weaken, God is my heart’s strength." ~ Psalm 73:26

I lost a dear friend to pancreatic cancer this week.  His spirit was amazing.  Even though he went through unimaginable physical and mental suffering, he continued to spread optimism, goodness, love, and happiness to all those around him.

He knew he only had but a short time to live.  We all knew it too, but didn’t say it.  Friends and family rallied around, kept him company and supported him until the very end.

During that time the world became a smaller place. 

When cancer steals the life of someone you love, there are no words.  Simple words don’t do an entire lifetime justice.  Nothing can explain why cancer swoops in ... grabs a hold of someone you love and swallows them whole.

Charlie used every day to build his legacy; vivid rainbow colors that will echo for eternity.  Even in this difficult time he gave more than he took, helped others more than he helped himself, and returned even more love and light than he was given. 

He prayed continuously.  Not for a cure or more comfortable passing, but as in Jesus’ Prayer at Gethsemane, he asked to be led from challenging times and delivered from evil.  He was right to ask, to present his heart before the Father.

He also taught us about prayer.  Praying for someone with an incurable condition is not mainly about trying to "fix a problem" or even "finding the right words."  It's about joining the suffering in crying out to a gracious and powerful God, acting as living testimony to God's promise in Christ that darkness won’t have the final word.

I wish that all of you could have known what my friend knew and live with the same joy, love, and passion that he lived.  I wish that we all could see deep in our hearts just how precious this life is; that every second we’re given can be a moment of caring, of happiness, of humility.

So, let’s never let a second of our lives go to waste.  Let’s not wait until an illness threatens our lives before we start living.  Choose love today; share love this moment.

Rejoice in the life you’re given.  Take the countless little choices you make each day and make them with a loving heart, a kind thought, and a joyous soul.  

Hug your family.  Let your friends know you appreciate them.  Tell those you love just how much you love them.  Care for yourself, others, and the world around you.  Live your life the way God meant for you to live.  He may not guarantee constant happiness, but He does promise to be an ever-flowing source of joy.

Charlie, you’re someone who used your life to touch so many others.  I’ll always feel lucky that mine was one of them.  God speed my friend!

“Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.  Et lux perpetua luceat eis.  Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.”  Amen  (Catholic Blessing for the deceased)

Funny Little Bird

“A joyful heart is good medicine." ~ Proverbs 17:22

Sharon found herself slumping into a new year; weary, worried, and troubled.  “We’re living through a dark time of an out-of-control virus, the violence in our presidential election, and a planet careening toward disaster,” she thought. 

So, she decided to do what she always did when she needed a pick-me-up.  She didn’t do drugs.  Sharon didn’t frequent the bars, shopping malls or nail salons.

She went to the zoo.  

After walking down a darkened hallway, she peered through a thick glass pane into the icy pool.  Suddenly a penguin jumped into the water and he was flying; clearly in his element.  Penguins are invaluable as diversion and consolation; a great antidote for despair.

Tuxedoed birds with endearing personalities, penguins are fascinating for both young and old alike.  Clumsy and comical on land, Penguins become beautifully graceful swimmers under water.  They’re ten times more streamlined than a Porsche!  With the equivalent amount energy from a single liter of fuel, they can swim over 1,500 miles.  

Penguins lost the ability to fly millions of years ago, but their powerful flippers and streamlined bodies make them the fastest swimming (up to 20 MPH) and deepest diving (up to 1,800 feet) species of any birds.  Those huge depths require great lung capacity; the longest-known dives have lasted 22 minutes!   They seemed almost miraculous.

Dark back colored plumage provides superb camouflage from above and white under bellies protect them from below in the water.  And superior underwater vision helps them spot prey while hunting, even in cloudy, dark or murky water.

But to Sharon, their essential value lay in their ability to make her laugh.  It was virtually impossible to feel miserable in the company of penguins.  They always lifted her spirits.

A line of penguins paraded past her with their distinctive, comical waddle on tiny little feet - so serious, so purposeful; pretentious even.  Then one slipped on the ice and did a face plant in the snow.  Undeterred, he picked himself up and abruptly smacked a neighbor with his flipper.  Sharon chuckled as a playful chase ensued. 

Pride and a pratfall.  Slapstick on ice.

Then she remembered something odd about Antarctica's king penguins.  Turns out they emit such copious amounts of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, that “researchers have known to go 'cuckoo' from being surrounded by penguin poop.”  

Suddenly, a laugh emerged from Sharon like a newly sprung leak - timid at first, stopping and starting.  Laughing didn’t come just from her mouth, but from her eyes as well, as her face changed to a vision of relaxed joy and unrestrained hilarity. 

How could one not laugh at those beloved clowns at the bottom of the world?  Precious!

“Grant me, Oh Lord, a sense of good.  Allow me the grace to take a joke to discover in a life a bit of joy and to be able to share it with others.”  Amen (“A Prayer for Good Humor,” by Saint Thomas More)

For All the Moms

 “His mother treasured all these things in her heart." ~ Luke 2:51

This past year has been challenging at best!  But like all the Moms before you - you forged ahead, persevered, and made it work.  Because as a Mom, there’s no finer choice; no back-up plan.  Cheers to you on this your special day!

Here’s to the Moms whose hearts grow exponentially wide for all children.  Who pray that kids worldwide have safety, food and love; who suddenly feel their suffering as if they were their own.

For all of you who sat up nights cradling sick toddlers, cleaning up macaroni chunks and cherry Kool-Aid saying, “It’s OK, honey, Mommy’s here.”  In a world of endemic divisiveness, where hatred is the cause and love the antidote, you relish the chance to rise above, to conquer it with empathy, wisdom and by example.

Here's to the moms whose child surprised them by being slightly "different" at birth.  And to the mothers whose children were born ill, but fight tirelessly for their lives.  They’ll get their courage and character from you. 

This is for those who show up at work with spit-up stains on their blouses and diapers in their purses.  Then after a tough day at work, still read “Goodnight, Moon” every night.  And read it again, “Just one more time?” as they fall peacefully asleep.

This is for all of you who froze your fannies off on metal soccer bleachers so that when she asks, “Did you see my goal?” you can say, “Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” and mean it!

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to catch fly balls.  Here’s a shout-out to all of you whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls “Mom?” in a crowd, even though you know yours are away at college.

To the moms drained and depleted, thanks for waking up each day to battle forward.  It’s OK when you mess up occasionally.  We know hard you’re trying and how much we mean to you!

This is for mothers whose kids have gone astray; who can’t find the words to reach them.  And for Moms of all ages who put flowers on their children’s graves praying that when their own time comes, it’s their child that joyfully leads them by the hand into His eternal Kingdom.

Finally, three gazillion cheers to those of you who are still raising us … and helping raise your grandkids; who decades later, still continue giving of yourselves to both the big and little people you adore so much.

One day a year isn’t enough to celebrate motherhood and everything you do for us.  To all the Moms and Moms-to-be out there … Happy, Happy Mother’s Day!

Lord of Life, thank You for all mothers.  Continue strengthening them in their daily tasks.  Grant them wisdom in the lessons they teach, patience in the discipline they foster, and persistence in their promotion of decency and compassion.  Amen

Try Another Way

 “Never tire of doing good." ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:13

Janae stood at the end of what seemed like an endless line at the grocery store.  She checked her cell.  Exactly three minutes had passed since she last checked an hour ago, or so it seemed.  The cashiers were doing their best, but progress was measured in millimeters. 

To prevent further self-pity, Janae shifted her attention to others in line.  A sublime compassion quickly washed over her for the mother trying to keep twin four-year-olds entertained.

Mom was doing her best, but boredom was about to detonate.  One of the girls walked over to a candy display, gazing back over her shoulder to gage her Mom’s reaction.  The other sister remained by her mother’s side, ready to bolt depending on Mom’s response.

Instead of the expected authoritarian voice that Janae would likely have used in this situation, Mom did something curious.  She squatted down to eye level, looked at the child testing her patience and calmly asked her to come back.

No worries, no anger, no provocation.  Just enough leeway for the restless child to make her own decision. 

She rejoined her family and retreated behind her mother.

The line had barely moved, so Janae decided to try and help. “Have you ever played ‘I Spy’?” she asked the girls.  

Two pairs of eyes looked at her as they considered her question.  Not the same fun as hopscotch or hide 'n' seek, but OK for now. 

Soon the children were engrossed in their own imaginations.  They noticed things in that store Janae would never have seen. 

Who knew that Kroger offered over 200 gift card varieties, or that fragrant bouquets are located near the store’s entrance to encourage impulse buying, or that favored kid items are placed at their buy-level on shelves?

Janae also noticed a ripple effect.  People who’d been grumbling at the wait, now enjoyed ‘spying’ two sweet sisters encourage and help each other find unique things in the store.  Time flew!

Soon, it was their turn to check out.  Janae took a moment with Mom.  “You did a great job back there,” she said.  “I was so impressed that you didn’t just hand them your phone.”

Mom smiled.  “I’m a kindergarten teacher, so I have other tricks up my sleeve than resorting to a mobile device.”  She laughed and added, “Thank you for stepping in!”  Looking down at her twins, she added, “You were our blessing today.”

Be a blessing to someone else today.  Your words or actions will be felt by them and seen by those around you, amplifying its effect.  By sharing your goodness with someone else, you lift them up. And they’ll likely pay it forward and do the same for someone else.

Father God, You never tire of keeping me safe and blessing me with abundant care.  Let my heart beat with humility and servanthood.  Keep my eyes and ears open today for even the smallest opportunity to serve You, to make others smile, to bring some joy to this troubled world.  Amen

Lover of Light

 “Work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically." ~ Romans 12:11

Born to a country preacher and an amateur artist in 1853, the boy took the same name as his parent’s first child who was stillborn exactly one year earlier.  As a child Vince was melancholy, quiet, and very serious.

Hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps, he volunteered as the pastor in a poor mining village during his early twenties.  But it was his mother’s love of sketching and watercolors that would later influence him the most.

Believing his true calling was to preach the gospel, he tried desperately to serve the miners, adopting a pauper’s lifestyle.  But after just six months, the evangelical committee sponsoring him decided that he was unfit to be their pastor.

When his shot at ministry failed and still feeling the need to do something meaningful, he chose to focus on art.  His younger brother, an art dealer, helped support him financially; money used for art supplies, coffee and alcohol.

At age 33, he went to live with his brother in Paris.  His two years there proved pivotal, exposing him to the work of impressionists using lighter, brighter palettes and unusual brushstrokes.

Painting became his escape.  So, he moved to the countryside to paint more scenes from ordinary life. 

Plagued by psychiatric illness throughout his life, he began suffering increasing bouts of epilepsy, psychosis and depression.  The aspiring artist checked himself into a mental hospital in southern France.

During his yearlong hospitalization, he painted scenes of its gardens and the nearby scenery.  Several of the more than 100 paintings produced during this period became his most celebrated works.

Just two months after his release, he died from a gunshot wound.  Both murder and suicide have been hotly debated since his death in 1890.

You’re undoubtedly familiar with at least some of Vincent Van Gogh’s 860 oil paintings and 1,300 sketches and watercolors.  You’ve probably seen Starry Night, Bedroom in Arles, or Café Terrace at Night (above), to name a few.  His finest works were produced in less than three years.

But what you might not have known is that Van Gogh sold but one painting during his entire lifetime.  In other words, he went to the grave thinking he’d failed as an artist.

Though Van Gogh didn’t benefit from fame or fortune during his brief 37 years, he remained committed to realizing his artistic vision; pouring his heart and his soul onto every canvas.  Over time, that commitment paid off.  He’s now viewed among the greatest painters of all time.

Few people achieve success without hard work and with determination that would make most of us dizzy.  So, the next time you hear opportunity calling, realize the hard work that’ll be required.  As Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunities are often missed by most people because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Touch me, Lord, and fill me with Your light and hope.  Give me strength me when I’m weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I’m afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, and comfort when I’m alone.  Amen

His Touch

 “Children are a gift from God; a true blessing.” ~ Psalm 127:3

Eileen grew up believing that following the news makes you a better citizen – that staying informed somehow benefits society at large.  But today’s drumbeat of violence, abuse, cruelty and other human atrocities had been wearing her down.  When a baby was murdered in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting, she’d had enough and hit the “off” button.

Now she filled her time instead with great music, more nature walks, and the Bible and other spiritual books to help her stay positive and hopeful.  Thankfully, God left a message supplying daily reminders of kindness, humility and love.

One of those reminders touched her heart today while strolling through the library searching for a new read.  Wearing a mask that’d become so commonplace now, Eileen was struck lightly in the calf by an elderly lady pushing a baby stroller.  Embarrassment flowered her wrinkled cheeks, followed by an apology both genuine and contrite. 

Eileen’s eyes immediately shifted to the carriage and the little girl in her floral dress still sleeping blissfully.  She learned the baby was the woman’s great-granddaughter.

Admiring the sweet, innocent face, an old saying that her grandmother often recited came to mind: “A newborn is God’s blessing that humanity should go on.”  

Clearly His work!

Suddenly, the infant opened her eyes as if to agree.  For a brief moment, Eileen feared the child would cry at the masked stranger.  But rather, she looked up with a smile as warm as the rising sun with Heaven’s love behind it.

Eileen cherished the moment, soaking in her brilliant eyes, delicate hands, and intoxicating smell.  There was a purity to her gaze – love given and received.  Eileen knew instantly, without a word being spoken, that she loved this this baby … and every other.

She left the library thanking God for this perfect child and all the daily reminders of His love.

Babies are conceived to bring love from that beautiful protective web of emotions that give, nurture and guard them.  They invite us to be the best versions of ourselves, to rewind, to cast away the cynicism that poisons and instead create the loving network their intuition searches for; like a compass, its needle spinning until it finds real love, their true north and ours.

Each of us is created by love … in love … and to love.  We have God’s fingerprints all over us.  

Helping our children to see God’s fingerprints in the midst of these difficult, painful, and scary times is critical in helping them understand that it’s Him who makes their days’ worth living.  Its Him who created and provided everything for them.

And its up to each of us to leave God’s touch all over this world.

Father God, help me to be the person You intended me to be.  Help me do what’s right and best for my family, friends and all those with whom I interact.  Help me leave Your fingerprints everywhere, every time.   Amen

Miracle Baby

“With God, all things are possible." ~ Matthew 19:26

Returning home from a weekend with her parents, Jennifer (25) hit a concrete bridge barrier and drove off the roadway.  The car wasn’t discovered until a fisherman spotted it the next morning.

Police officers rushed to the overturned car.   All four recalled the same thing: a mysterious female voice calling out “Help!” from inside the vehicle that called them to action. 

Fueled by adrenaline, they quickly rolled the partially-submerged vehicle from water so cold, several were later treated for hypothermia.  To their surprise, they discovered an unconscious toddler still trapped in her car seat.  Nobody knows exactly how 18-month-old Lily survived hanging upside down, without food or water; icy water rushing just inches below her head.

That voice … where had it voice come from?  From the massive trauma evident in Jennifer’s corpse, nobody believed it could’ve been hers, especially after 14 hours upside down in freezing water. 

Others asserted that certain birds can mimic sounds and voices.  It was possible that a bird was imitating Jennifer’s voice from when the accident first occurred.

Not surprisingly, believers insisted the voice came from a Divine plea to rescue the infant by dispatching a Guardian Angel to cry out on her behalf.

Naysayers questioned: “If God intervened, why didn’t he save the mother, too?”  Still others asked: “Can’t we simply be sad about the tragedy and happy that this baby beat the odds and survived.  Does it really matter ‘why?’”

Honestly, I think we all care why.  We can’t help ourselves.   At one time or another, we must confess to some anxiety about the existence or absence of an afterlife.  It’s an age-old argument.

For me, the curious voice was no mystery; no explanation is necessary.  It was the voice of God directing those men.  I BELIEVE - these are what miracles look like! 

For those who don't believe, no explanation is possible.

God relies on His angels to get His Word out as we’ve seen countless times in the Bible.  Angels reveal important truths; about things unexplainable, about faith, about hope. 

We humans crave answers for everything.  When people are cured from a terminally ill diagnosis, triumph through almost-impossible challenges, or survive near-death experiences, angels offer the only explanation we need. 

Faith is believing in the unknown, despite the good and bad that comes with it.  If you believe in sacrifice, if you believe in God, and if you believe in His guidance – then you believe in angels.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the most optimistic person or not, everyone needs a little bit of hope in their life.  Hope is a powerful element that remains invisible and omniscient.  Even though we can’t see it or quantify it, it’s always there.  Angels are a symbol of hope.

Father, thank You for the miracles in my life every day – for my health, for my family and friends, for this magnificent country.  Help me to never take these for granted and to stand in faith and keep my focus on You.  Amen

No If's, But's or Maybe's

 “Admit your wrongdoing to one another before your Father will forgive you." ~ James 5-16

Forty years ago, 12-year-old Mary Kellerman woke up feeling sick.  Her parents gave her one Extra-Strength Tylenol and sent her back to bed.  Hours later, she died on the bathroom floor.

Within days, Mary and six others would die in the Chicago area from taking Tylenol pills that’d been laced with cyanide.  Publicity about the poisoned capsules instantly caused a nationwide panic. 

Without a suspect to condemn (no one was ever caught), public outrage could’ve fallen squarely on Tylenol — the nation’s leading painkiller, with a market share more than the next top 4 painkillers combined.  Despite what seemed like a death sentence for the brand, Johnson & Johnson acted decisively as the terror unfolded.

J&J’s CEO promptly acknowledged the problem.  He accepted responsibility.  He expressed grave concern.  And he put his money where his mouth was.

Not only did the company offer to exchange all (31 million) Tylenol tablets already purchased, they quickly introduced a new version of the pill - a gelatin-coated capsule making it much harder to alter than the original tablets.  They delivered the product in tamper-resistant packaging to make certain the problem would never be repeated.

Cynics contend that this was nothing more than a marketing stroke of genius.  But there are some important takeaways about the essence of an effective apology.

Apologizing starts with admitting you’re wrong.  “I’m sorry” carries a lot of weight but only when it’s genuine.  Saying it requires vulnerability to confess responsibility for the hurt that’s been inflicted and genuine regret for one’s role to everyone affected.

But an apology is only valid it you take accountability for fixing it.  J&J did not tamper with the Tylenol or administer the cyanide that killed 7 people.  Yet they did not try and avoid responsibility for what happened.  The company took aggressive action by introducing a safer, better, more trustworthy product.

A good apology is first and foremost about the victim.  Using words like ‘if, but or maybe’ negates the confession, shifts the blame, and attempts to minimize guilt.  Similarly, there are those who are experts at identifying their mistake, and apologize easily as if they knew exactly what they were doing and were prepared to apologize if they got caught. 

A written plan detailing the changes you plan to make shows that you take the matter seriously and are willing to spend substantial time planning how to change.  Asking forgiveness signals that you’ve completed the apology.  Then give it time ... especially if the hurt is deep.

Making an apology is an art.  Christ offers the greatest example of forgiveness.  However, He doesn’t forgive unconditionally.  If we don’t mend our ways, we’re not reconciled to Him and do not have His forgiveness.

Father God, open my eyes to how I’ve hurt others.  Give me the desire and the grace to seek genuine forgiveness from You and from the one I’ve offended.  Help me repair the damage I caused as quickly as possible.  Amen

The "Springtime of Our Lives"

 “In Christ, your old life is gone and a new life has begun." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

To say Nadia hated winter was an understatement.  The heater under her desk and blanket over the back of her home office chair proved it!

So today, she smiled when she saw the first flower of Spring - a lone daffodil popping its head through the ground on a cool, April morning walk.  New life sprouting always brought hope and happiness that drew Nadia out of her wintertime doldrums.

Daffodils represent friendship.  These golden stars trumpet the rising greens; a silent choir which predicts a kind of love story between the sun and its flowers.

Nadia wasn’t sure what’d made the lone daffodil finally decide to end its long sleep.  Perhaps it had noticed that the adjacent dirt was no longer frozen.  Maybe it heard singing birds announce Spring’s arrival.  Tree roots had possibly whispered that it was now safe to come out as its own limbs were already budding.

Whatever the reason, it was a joy to see the little guy calling out to its fellow flowers to join in the revival of life once again.

All God’s creation awakens in springtime; warming up softly in ways that bring optimism to hearts and souls. 

Bird songs reach their peak during spring; the perfect time to enjoy this treat for the ears.  As migrant birds return throughout the season, songs grow in volume and diversity.

Hibernating animals wake from their winter nap.  Spring means food is back in ample supply and it’s time to eat.

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of seeing your first bumblebee or butterfly of the year. They’re one of the feel-good sights that give us a little taste of the summer to come.

We too are a part of that creation, but unlike the flowers in the field we can bloom even when the world around us is cold, dark, and harsh.  We have the ability to share our beauty in the face of ugliness, our joy in the face of fear, and our love in the face of hate.  We’re capable of making every day feel like the first day of Spring.

But only God can take away the cold and dark of sin, refill us with His sweet Holy Spirit, and make us new again.   Only He can bring back the springtime, renewing our hearts to the warm and tender state they were when we first accepted Him.

As daylight increases, rains fall, and flowers grow again, may your heart for God – Our Creator and Sustainer – flourish like never before.  Breathe deeply and enjoy the invigorating feeling the spring air brings and allow God to align your heart to the freshness He has in store for you.

God of all creation, help me truly see this Spring for what it is: a blessing for how beautiful change can truly be.  As flowers bloom and birdsongs fill the heavens again, renew in me the strength to move forward in my faith journey with You.  Amen

Edith

 Jesus said, “There are many rooms in My Father’s house.  I will make a place for you.” ~ John 14:2

Dr. Andrew Block rocked back in the timeworn leather chair that’d become his throne … and cocoon.  His emotions waxed and waned; recalling earlier days – crazy, anxious times building a career and raising a family.  

The hectic life of toddlers had given way to the social chaos of teenagers.  Life had slowed to a more mellow pace.  As head of the Oncology Department, Jack didn't mind white hair or adding a few notches to his belt either.

Life had been good until a just few weeks ago.

“I’m so sorry to have to tell you this.”  Andrew had delivered that same line a thousand times.  But it never sounded so chilling as when he’d heard the diagnosis of his own pancreatic cancer from a colleague.  The words - Terminal, Hospice and Comfort Care - splintered inside him.

It wasn’t dying that scared Andrew.  His affairs were in order, his wife and children were well provided for.  He grieved the loss of life he’d miss; seeing his daughter grow to be a mother and his son to be a Dad.  Not ready to be called Home by God, he constantly asked “Why me?”  

Intellectually, he knew God worked His own way in His own time for His own purpose.  But emotionally, he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to beloved family who’d graced his life on earth and go to Him, yet.

He had a more pressing duty today however. 

Edith, a wonderful Christian patient he’d known for years, waited in the reception area for test results.  Glumly, Andrew entered the waiting room and spotted the older woman, a Bible perched conspicuously on her lap, sharing its Wisdom with the young mother sitting beside her.

He motioned for her to follow him to his office.  She eyed the doctor quizzically before asking, “What wrong Dr. Block, why so sad?  Are you still reading your Bible?  Are you praying faithfully?”

He spoke in a voice of uncommon warmth.  “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this Edith,” he said, pausing before the gut punch.  “Your lab results came back.  The tumor is cancerous.  I’m afraid its terminal.”

Unfazed, Edith replied, “Oh, you silly man!  Do you think God makes mistakes?  You just told me that I’m going to see my precious Lord, my husband, and my friends.  I’m going to celebrate Easter forever, and yet you’re struggling to give me my ticket!”

“What a magnificent woman!” Andrew thought.  “So genuine; called by her Creator to nurture others by her faith; the embodiment of His protective love.”

Her words were the "off switch" for his internal storm.  Maybe it was time for him to read John 14 again and get ready.

Dear ones; I’m so happy and so bright!  There’s perfect joy and beauty in His everlasting light.  All the pain and grief is gone; every restless tossing passed.  I’m now at peace forever, safely home in God’s Kingdom.  ~ Dr. Andrew Block