suffering

The Delight of Disease

Before I go any further, I want to make a few things clear. First, I am not a silver lining type of guy. I do not try to find the good in the bad or try to look for the light in the darkness. While it is a good practice to be thankful and to remind oneself that God is at work, I don’t think that every situation has some type of good in it at least good that we can see this side of heaven. Second, I have always had a great marriage. People have commented on how in love we are and how we interact with each other. Third, I hate two “T” words, trigger and trauma. These words have been stolen from those who have had real trauma and suffer because of real triggers, your coffee being served to you cold is most likely not a trigger of past trauma. Why are these important points for me or at least why were these points important for me to make before you read on…?

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Be Present – the Greatest Gift

It’s 11am, 4 days into our 5 day getaway, a break from life that was way overdue but also will be far too short. We will pack up tomorrow not only the clothes we brought, the wheelchair I now need and finally used almost all the time but also the memories of what I can only describe as what my marriage should have been every day for the last 37 years. Sadly, it has not been like this. I understand that not every day can be a holiday, but every day can be a great joy. I can face all that comes my way with God and my wife, the only person that I would ever want to face the good and more often the bad things that just are life.

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When It Hurts Too Much For God

Sometimes it seems that my hurt is too much for God. I know that no theology supports this conclusion. I know that the messages I have heard in no way mirror this idea. I know that the Christians in my life would never propose this as even close to a biblical truth. Still, it seems possible, maybe even true, because sometimes it feels like my pain is too much for God.

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Guilt, A Useless Emotion?

I am not sure where I heard it said that guilt is a useless emotion. It could have been the always brilliant and insightful daytime talk show hosts. Maybe it was a talk radio interview. It also could have been a TV drama or a blockbuster movie. All I know is it seemed to make sense at the time. I am follower of Christ. I’m sure it wasn’t a Christian source but still I am forgiven and my sins are as far as the east is from the west ( Psalm 103:12NIV)so guilt must be a useless emotion, right?

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Is Fear Really That Bad?

Before you answer any question, it is probably best to ask a few of your own. A little free advice from one who often just blurts out what he thinks, sometimes before the entire question is asked, don’t! You probably know people like me. You probably find them annoying and maybe even don’t like them. Along with my “little free advice,” I will give you three insights into me. This will also be free! I find people who blurt out answers with little thought and sometimes before the question is finished, annoying too. The second free insight is, I don’t like them much either. Speaking of free, I might need some free counseling to address the fact I don’t like myself and find myself annoying.

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