Safe Vs. Unsafe People

I wrote a longer post on my blog, but I wanted to share this list with everyone that I came across recently:

unsafe people (and communities):

- think they ”have it all together”; no admitance of their weaknesses
- are defensive instead of open to feedback
- are self-righteous instead of humble
- only apologize instead of changing their behavior
- avoid working on their problems instead of dealing with them
- demand trust instead of earning it
- blame others instead of take responsibility
- lie instead of tell the truth
- remain stagnant instead of growing
- resist freedom instead of encouraging it
- flatter us instead of confronting us
- condemn us instead of forgiving us
- stay in parent/child roles instead of relating to us as equals
- unstable over time instead of being consistent
- gossip instead of keeping secrets

safe people (and communities):

- accept us just like we are
- love us no matter how we are being or what we do
- influence us to develop our ability to love and be responsible
- create love and good works within us
- give us an opportunity to grow & stretch & practice
- help us feel comfortable being “ourselves”, to be authentic
- allow us to become the us that God intended
- use their lives to touch ours and leave us better for it
- help us be more like Christ
- help us to like & love others more
- make the relationship more important than opinions
- receive instead of just give
- are humble & willing to say what they need
- are honest, kind & don’t pretend
- work through resistances instead of giving up

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Questions

- are you a safe or unsafe person ?
- are your associates safe or unsafe ?

Fear....and Courage

I've asked for prayers about placing my parents in the nursing home,and that has been a scary journey. Even now, because of their grief, it's sort of scary to visit them.
But getting in touch with this fear in my belly has made me think about others and their fear. I think now of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fears they face daily....soldiers dying or being seriously wounded...or the need to kill another human being. My fears have been real, but their fear and the fear of countless others, are ten thousand times more.

Plus, speaking about fear, I was reading an article yesterday about Nelson Mandela and his thoughts on leadership. He was seen as a man who was fearless. There is a story of a plane he was on and it started having engine problems. People began to panic, but Mandela continued reading the paper. After they landed with success, he shared with a confidant that he'd been terrified. He desired to "show" courage to others which he had done again and again in so many situations like when he was imprisoned for 25 years.

May Christ make us courageous or at least able to handle it in such a way to inspire others to carry on.

All That Is Yes

My soul is a little sad today. My mom and dad, Jean and Don, are moved into the nursing home. It is certainly where they need to be because of the care that they require and were not receiving, but they are experiencing grief. I certainly can understand this because they are no longer in the home they loved, have less freedom, and believe this signals the road downhill toward death. They will most likely adjust over time and perhaps even flourish like a fireworks finale, and we will continue along with many others to offer much love and support. Yet, my soul is sort of sad because they are experiencing so much sadness.

Life is so very beautiful and precious but has times which are harsh. During all times, but especially during the difficult days, we must cling to the God who loves us so very much and to each other as well. And we must continue to believe...to trust that the Light is greater than the darkness or as Saint John proclaims, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

My soul is a little sad but it continues to believe and it continues to lift my eyes to see the beautiful blue sky, the sun-filled green trees blowing in the wind, and all that is Yes!

In

My parents are in the nursing home!!!!! It is the miracle many have prayed for.
My mom is glad but my dad is mad.
But they are in a nice room in a facility with a very caring staff.
This is day 2 of the next chapter of their life, and it will be a long transition.
I praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thank you for your love and prayers.

Help Needed Please

Dear brothers and sisters,

This coming Friday the 18th my family plans to place my parents in a nursing home. It is definitely time. But they do not know it is going to happen. My two brothers and I are very scared because we know that my mom will weep and my dad will be furious and probably put up a fight. Please pray for the presence of Almighty God and God's comforting Spirit be with my mommy and daddy on that day and the days to come. (and us too!)

My folks poured their love and ways into my life and the lives of many over the years. I pray that they may now reap what they have sowed.

I love U and pray that the Shalom of the One be with you and your family.

We have some bushes out back which I go out to visit once in a while. When I stop to look closely, I see all sorts of activity and life. I've seen butterflies on the flowers, beautiful green and yellow berries, and tiny bugs munching on the big leaves and having sex with one another.

Jesus said God's kingdom is like the life on this bush. He used examples like yeast helping transform the dough and a seed becoming a tree where the birds come to find rest. God's rule of love involves life, interaction, love, hidden power, beauty, and a way of inter-conncectedness and dependency in God's creation.

Rarely do I slow down to see the hidden life all around me, but today I did. Besides slowing down to see the bush, I walked, read, trimmed some bushes, picked some green and yellow berries and some yellow and orange Iris's to put in a vase, watched a Monk marathon, and did some writing.

Today was Sabbath for the soul, and I am so very thankful.

Come!

Off to Ft Wayne in the attempt to take my parents to see one of the new rooms just finished in the nursing home. We hope and pray to God that they will move in sometime in August. I feel somewhat alone in this effort today, so I am carrying my Bible with me. This makes me feel not so alone.

Part 2: Didn't go very well. Hard not to despair and keep the faith, but ....
Heard a radio report on the way home about the prisoners in San Quinten....talk about trying not to despair!

Come Good News Of God's Kingdom For Us All!

Tired Dude

I am on vacation for the weekend of the 4th!
And oh man do I need it.
I've been pretty darn busy and I'm pretty darn tired.
But indeedy indeedy I am done for a while...for a sweet while
and officially on sabbath.
So far I'm watching sitcoms (soup nazi!) and eating stuff.
Tomorrow it's the 4th with family and friends.
Feeling sweet about taking it easy comes only by giving it your all
and by going at it day after day to do our part and trying to make a difference.
Go America!
Go Freedom!
Go Family!
Go World!
Go Sabbath of the Soul!
Now I'm watching Star Wars.

Happy Anniversary!!

Craig and Joy Happy 30th Anniversary!! God bless you as you continue your adventures together and all you do advancing the dream of God. Have a joyous day!