Category: Fear - Vibrant Lives

Leave Fear Behind...

10/2/2018

“Only thing we have to fear is fear itself” is a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first presidential inaugural speech in 1933. Many leaders, parents, and teachers have said those words to inspire and encourage courageous behavior. There are a number of different reasons to fear but the fear of failure is the one that people struggle with on a regular basis. It is hard to accept that failure is a part of life and yet we can only appreciate success if we know first how to fail.

Transplant Trauma...

4/25/2018

A few weeks ago, I transplanted one of my patio plants called “ZZ” (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) which has been “growing like a weed” and getting totally out of control in size and shape. As I researched how to separate and transplant it into 2 pots, I discovered that according to the online “care instructions” my plant should not have thrived like it did. The first thing I did wrong is to water my plants weekly and much to my surprise, according to the instructions, it should only be watered once a month. Secondly, my patio faces the south therefore it has direct sunlight every day of the year with very little shade. Apparently that is not the correct environment for growing this type of plant either. Maybe if I had followed the proper instructions, I would not have had to transplant the darn thing. Be that as it may, it certainly was a bugger to separate into two because of the extensive root system. After a lot of grunting, pulling and threatening to cut it with a knife, I managed to get it separated into two plants and then potted with fresh soil. After giving them a good shot of water, the waiting begins to see how they will react to the transplant trauma of being separated and transplanted.

Roller Coaster Ride....

9/5/2017

These past few weeks feel like I have survived an emotional roller coaster ride. The first big hill was the events that took place in Charlottesville. We saw some of the worst in us as our words and actions exploded in violence, anger, bitterness and even death. I think that most of us mourned not only the lost lives but also the reminder at how divided we are. My anxiousness has remained long after the crowds dispersed and I am still wondering how long it will be until the next riot or conflict of hate.

Anyone Out There?...

6/14/2017

It has been a real struggle for me to decide what to write this week. Lately, it feels like so many people are experiencing a lot of pain and anxiety. People are struggling with an unexpected cancer diagnosis, the death of a parent, a failing marriage, and a CAT scan that shows a brain tumor. This past weekend, a tornado ripped through the farming community leaving a swath of destruction in its wake. There is ongoing mourning and outrage for victims of bombings that kill fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. Many of us are feeling anxious about the political leaders worldwide who are trying to establish the governing power of their nations. All of this pain, fear and angst has touched my spirit and at times given me a feeling of hopelessness. Where is hope to be found in these feelings of doubt and helplessness?

The Choice... by Denise Meyer

3/21/2017

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. Like most people, I have a bucket list of places I want to visit while I am able. Ireland and Scotland are on that list. I want to experience the beauty of the countryside, the music, listen to the bagpipes, oh and let’s not forget the kilts. I also want to travel to Churchill Downs to stand on the infield during the running of the Kentucky Derby, dressed in a very elegant giant hat while holding a Mint Julep. However the place I want most to experience is the Holy Land.

Sitting In the Ashes...

3/7/2017

It is now less than 40 days until Easter. The day that starts the season of Lent is called Ash Wednesday, which happened this past week. A cross of ashes dusted the foreheads of Christian believers all over the world to commemorate the beginning of the season. Why ashes? In the biblical times, people like Job, Mordecai and Tamar sat in ashes to grieve, lament and/or repent. This practice could also symbolize a cleansed and renewed spirit. When someone had identified their mess and faced their issues, or in other words ashes; they had the opportunity to start anew. During the next 6 weeks, people of faith will spend time meditating; praying and reflecting on the power of Christ’s death and resurrection to rise out of the ashes in our lives.

But God...

9/26/2016

Sitting on my deck with coffee in hand thinking, praying, dreaming, visioning…
Asking God tough questions… What’s next? In what direction do you want me to serve?

Ssshhh
Listen to the sounds around you that I created for your pleasure... The birds singing their morning greeting… Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

But God…
These are important questions about life. How can I better serve the kingdom? I don’t want to miss your voice…

Sssshhh..
See the beauty of the water that rests on the horizon... See the trees in all of their splendor... And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Boldly Defend the Littlest Among Us...

8/22/2016

This week has been a tough week for me as a parent because of the horrific news of the ongoing violence in Aleppo Syria and domestic violence within families here in the United States. There are many more examples of violence and abuse but the two stories that caught my attention this week were especially poignant. The first is a little boy who was pulled out of his home after it has been bombed in Aleppo, Syria. His family survived but the video of the little boy sitting alone in the emergency vehicle just breaks my heart. You can see that he is in shock, as his expression never changes. The only movement is his hand reaching up to rub his eye and when he does he encounters the blood on his face. He then looks at his hand and sees the blood, which he tries to rub the blood off his hand onto the seat underneath him. He doesn’t cry out in pain or in fear, he just sits looking at the chaos going on around him. His face will haunt me for a long time.

Pilgrimage or Bust...

7/24/2016

Recently I attended a retreat for the Methodist Ministry Inquiry Process with twenty-one other candidates who are seeking to answer a call into ministry. We have identified that God is calling us into some sort of ministry in the Methodist denomination. The theme of the retreat was called Pilgrimage, which encouraged us to spend time on a spiritual pilgrimage to discern how we officially will serve in the church. So throughout our time together, whether in worship and/or mentoring sessions, we discussed where God might be leading us into a call of ordained or local ministry. These “call” stories are generally not as clear-cut as one would think. Sometimes, if there is no clear and concise direction from God, these moments can be a bit frustrating in their ambiguity. There is always a tendency for me to think I am the only person who does not have a clear vision of what God is calling me to do. However, there were a number of candidates who, like me, were still trying to figure out where we thought God was leading us into ministry. Actually that is ok because it means we are open to where God is leading us. But a spiritual pilgrimage? How does one go about doing that?

Facing Fears...

6/13/2016

This week I watched a video of an 8-year old girl named Bella Kenworthy, who is a skateboarder from California.1 She and 2 of her friends are known as the Pink Helmet Posse because they wear pink helmets when they ride their skateboards. Bella has been skating and surfing since the age of 5 years and she is fearless. Recently she wanted to “drop into a big bowl,” at skateboard park course challenge, which made her dad really nervous for her safety. However, he did not stop her but decided to go to the bottom of the bowl to be there for her if she fell. She didn’t fall but nailed it. What was Bella’s response to fear she faced? “I get scared sometimes but you gotta face your fears and just do it.” How, may I ask, at the age of 8 years old, did she gain such wisdom? As the video unfolds she reveals that her “board” is plastered with logos like, “dream big” or “follow your heart.” What an inspiration she is to all of us.