Pain unites across every category of difference, including age. We have teenagers to eighty-somethings there. Pain doesn't discriminate; everyone is truly equal. Pain reminds us of our frailties, and that everyone will suffer them if they grow old enough. We have such interesting conversations, nearly all about the different places that hurt. There is no... Continue Reading →
Finding Comfort Amidst Suffering Isn’t Easy, But I Try
Gibbs Gardens, Ballground, GA Dealing with the aftermath of a fall in your seventies is tough, as 70-something bodies don't recuperate as fast as 20-something bodies. Nearly two months after falling in Vienna, I am still suffering from trauma to my mouth, which leaves me frustrated and uncomfortable. But life is too short to allow... Continue Reading →
Foregoing the Pain: Knowing What Not to Watch
I have not watched any movies about slavery since I tried watching the first episode of Roots in 1977. That first one, where they tried to get the young African boy not to say his name was Kunta Kinte, nearly broke my faith. The mental and emotional pain I endured never left me, and as... Continue Reading →
Enduring the Hard Times Can Be a Gift!
Living through the most physically and emotionally painful days of your life gives you a appreciation for normality. The back surgery in August was meant to be simple, with two weeks of intense pain, and then with some physical therapy, I would be back to normal. But in my case, there were complications, namely the... Continue Reading →
Letting Go of the Past and Accepting Love
The past will leave a pall over our livs that if we are not careful will steal the joy of the present and future away from us. I never lived in a house where there was a man. I never saw a good romance, except on television, and even as a child, I knew those... Continue Reading →
God’s Weight-Loss Plan for Endurance
The author of Hebrews recommends laying aside all of the weight, including our sins, that encumber us in the race to eternal life. These actions allow us to demonstrate faith in Jesus Christ, whose birth, death, and resurrection is the basis of our faith in God and our belief in a better home to aspire to, one not made by human hands. Stripping off the weight means letting go of our hurts, heartbreaks, and humiliations; our broken dreams, broken hearts, and broken promises; and our fears, failures, and frustrations. This emotional baggage often hinders our faith, and causes us to doubt the One who paid the ultimate price for our redemption.
Help from Heaven 