Most of my writings speak to my personal experiences and those of the many people who come to be for advice. I have worked as a law enforcement professional, educator, missionary, youth minister and with the homeless. Today I am working with disaster recovery initiatives helping those who have endured great losses because of natural disasters such as hurricane Irma, Harvey, and Maria. Given the human suffering I have witnessed throughout all of my work life, I can tell you that it is not easy to rejoice.
As a man of faith, I often struggle with the sorrow and misery so many men, women, and children experience each day. It is difficult to rejoice and celebrate the many blessings I have received when I see the pain of so many. I am reminded of the scripture in Philippians, Chapter 4:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
God's peace surpasses all understanding; it is a critical component of living through the challenges I witness each day. As I pray for so many who are without, I find God's peace and comfort in the knowledge that he continues to move so many people to provide a helping hand. More than 30 million donated to Salvation Army and 429 million to the Red Cross for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey just to provide an example of the giving hearts of so many people throughout this great country. Millions invested in our country because of the many churches, non-for-profits, and government funds provided to help the most helpless. It is up to each of us to give of what we have if we are to impact the joy and peace of those who are enduring hardship. Find an organization or a church you have confidence and give. Give to those who are hungry, to those who have no homes, to those who have been displaced by the hurricanes that we have experienced, and to anyone you know who is living a joyless life. Your gift, regardless of the amount, will not only bless the recipients, but will bless you and return to you in ways that you cannot possibly imagine. It has for me! Just a little advice to go.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Saturday, September 1, 2018
The Chaos of Isolation
Poet John Donne, proclaimed that no man is an island. His words speak to the truth of the chaos we often read about when terrible incidents take place. The perpetrators are often referred to as weird, friendless, and isolated. Today, isolation is fostered by the various technological tools allowing people to socialize while avoiding actual contact with others. An article in the Washington Post recently quoted from an American Sociological Review stating “that the number of close friends for adults is declining, with the modal number of close friendship in 1985 being three, while in 2004 the modal number was zero. The percentage of adults who report having no close friends at all has increased from 36 percent in 1985 to 53.4 percent by 2004.” The gains we achieve through contacts with others, contact more intimate than a superficial hello and goodbye, are fading increasing the likelihood of greater chaos and more divisions.
Overcoming isolation must be intentional, we must make a serious effort to develop friendships with others. Perhaps the individuals who are most isolated simply need us to reach out to them, to befriend them. Recently, I was asked to count my inner network of friends and while it seemed an easy task, in reality it was not. I have many friends, but intimate friendships with people I see and speak to on a weekly basis outside of work, produces a very abbreviated list of friends. It challenges me to be more intentional about developing an intimate network of friends, friends who I communicate with regularly and who will know they can come to me with any problem. If each of us focuses on developing intimate friendships, perhaps we can reduce the isolation that often leads to a world of chaos. Every little bit helps! Just a little advice to go!
Overcoming isolation must be intentional, we must make a serious effort to develop friendships with others. Perhaps the individuals who are most isolated simply need us to reach out to them, to befriend them. Recently, I was asked to count my inner network of friends and while it seemed an easy task, in reality it was not. I have many friends, but intimate friendships with people I see and speak to on a weekly basis outside of work, produces a very abbreviated list of friends. It challenges me to be more intentional about developing an intimate network of friends, friends who I communicate with regularly and who will know they can come to me with any problem. If each of us focuses on developing intimate friendships, perhaps we can reduce the isolation that often leads to a world of chaos. Every little bit helps! Just a little advice to go!
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