Back in the Saddle Again

Another school year has begun and Kim is in yet another classroom. This time he is with the Deer Park High School, North Campus as the new theater arts teacher. He is working hard to help the new ninth grade students get to know each other.

Weeks before school resumed, Kim got busy planning a Theater Fish Camp to welcome the new ninth grade students to the theater program. He was pleased to learn that the upper class theater club officers were willing and eager to assist in the camp. So, on the last Saturday of their summer vacation, about 30 kids met with Kim at the school for a day of games, fun and getting to know each other. The picture here was taken that day as he observed students playing a theater game.

Kim is to be commended for his tenacity. Teaching theater in public school has not been as easy as directing plays with a community theater where the actors chose to be there. I realize I am slightly bias, but he is a talented actor, director and teacher. I know how hard it is to juggle lesson plans, district policies, student discipline and what is often much more than an 8 hour day. I am very proud of my husband for what he does with young teens and for his ability to hang in there when the going was tough.

Kim, as well as all the other teachers working in our public schools, need our prayers as they head into a new school year. Many, like Kim, are facing new students, new principals, new colleagues and a whole new teaching environment. If you ever thought that being the new kid at school was hard, try being the new teacher. There are many similarities.

Lord God, please be with those individuals that give hours of every day to helping young minds grow and learn. Take care of the teachers and administrators as they enter schools each day in places near and far to create a safe place for learning.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

IT Is Most Uncalled For

"This has not been my day," said the 40-something year old woman standing beside me at Kroger's yesterday. Torrential rains had suddenly begun pouring and not wanting to be absolutely soaked, we stood watching out the windows. "Yeah, I know what you mean," was my reply. Even though I really was not having a bad day, but understood that she was lamenting over having to wait out this rain.

Prior to going to the grocery store that day, I had lunch with two of my best friends. We enjoyed a nice meal while visiting and talking about whatever popped out on the plate of conversation. Having time to meet girlfriends for lunch has been a rare luxury in the past. I was in a good mood. So, on this soggy day, I did not feel the rush to get on my way. I was content to watch the rain fall as others braved the showers to rush in and out of their cars.

While the woman and I waited she proceeded to tell me how she'd already gotten wet once today while frantically putting up the roof on her convertible. Apparently, the car got wet before she actually accomplished the task. Mental note to self, "rain can be a threat and a hazard for a convertible owner."

Having had bad days myself, I understand the frustrations that comes from running into an IT blocking our day. We start out the day driving almost mechanically doing what we do, checking our list, accomplishing tasks as if our feet were on gliders greased into smooth action. Checking our watches the time ticks on and we smile because we are accomplishing our tasks according to plan and in record time. Then, out of nowhere IT drops into our day like a boulder dropped in front of us. IT has sent our well-oiled machine screeching to an abrupt halt. We are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown off schedule like a derailed train. Apparently, on this day, the pouring rain was this woman's IT.

As I listened to the woman talk, I observed a young mother come in from the rain with a girl of about 10 years and four little ones perhaps under the ages of 3 or 4 years. It intrigued me to watch as she dealt with the IT of her mini-nursery under these damp conditions. While the girl, I assumed to be the mom's younger sister, waited with the children, the young woman pushed two rain soaked shopping carts with the big plastic Tonka-like cabs into the store's basket area where several of us were now waiting out the rain. The over sized carts allow the little children to "steer" their way through the market aisles while their moms shop. I noticed that the children were happy at the prospect of playing in these big toys.

The young mother had a roll of paper towels secured from store workers, and was wiping down the wet cars while four little sets of eyes watched and waited to be loaded into the toy vehicles. One lone little boy in the group had already claimed the red and yellow colored car with a roof for his carriage. However, when the girl, I took to be his aunt, suggested his legs might be too long for it and that he should ride in the roofless blue cart, tears began to streak his sweet brown face and cries of disappointment rang out from his mouth.

The young mother had already placed her two tiny twin girls in the red and yellow cab seats much to the little boy's dismay. His mom, continuing to wipe out the taller blue cart, calmly informed her son that IT was nothing to cry about and IT was most uncalled for. However, as she completed the drying of the taller blue car, she reasoned to the other girl, that the little girls would be up higher and closer to her if they rode in the taller blue cart. So, as the aunt lifted the twins into the blue cart, I saw the little boy was now smiling. I believe his mom realized that the baby sisters would not know the difference or care in which toy car they rode. So, the mother allowed her little son the privilege of "driving" what he thought to be the better of the two vehicles. It was then I realized the little boy's IT had been resolved and he was quickly pacified in his little world once again.

The rain finally let up a bit, so the woman and I decided we could make a break for our cars with minimal dampness incurred on ourselves. I wished her well for the remainder of her day and hurried off to my car under my small umbrella. As I awkwardly held the umbrella while loading wet grocery bags into my trunk, I didn't mind getting a little wet. I also realized that my days of juggling obligations of a job with children's schedules, outside activities and family demands were slowing down. My days of worrying over the potential ITS that tend to block my paths are numbered. Unscheduled time afforded to me by my resent retirement was already paying off. One more worry, one more IT to mar a perfectly good day was not going to be the threat it was in the past.

As a point of clarification and assurance, I am well aware of the occasional IT or two that will block my way as my days progress. However, hopefully, the next time a big IT stands blocking the road of my day, or yours, perhaps the young mother's words calmly spoken to her weeping child will come to mind, "IT is nothing to cry about and most uncalled for."

Hear the calmly spoken words of our Lord Jesus Christ and contemplate the unworthiness of our worries.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?--Matthew 6:27

Please, have a great day!

Depression and Anxiety

At some point in a person's life, he or she may experience some type of depression or anxiety. In a booklet entitled, The Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety Don Colbert, M.D. quotes J. R. Davidson, as writing that "Depression is a global problem. One in six people around the world will suffer from major depression at some point during their lives. It has been estimated that by the year 2020 depression will be the greatest disability worldwide". Well, I don't know what the other five people were like, but only a short four years ago, I was depressed and needed some meds my doctor prescribed to make me happier.

As I perceive depression and anxiety, it appears to be more rampant in varying degrees than it has ever been before. We live in such a fast paced society where competitions to be "top dog" are high. Much is expected out of us as employees and for some of us living up to high expectations are daunting. We sometimes pull over to the side, to slow down and find some peace from the tasks our bosses and family want us to complete...yesterday. That is just one cause of stress in our lives. We go to work, work for our jobs, think about our jobs, miss time doing fun things because of our jobs and that can really get to us. Then when something unexpected happens like an prolonged illness, a death in the family, or any number of traumatic events over which we have no control happen; the super moms, dedicated dads and anxious kids have a difficult time coping with all the anxieties of life.

Well known Christian comedian and singer, Chonda Pierce, in the last year has gone public about the depression that almost ruined her career. For her, an extremely taxing road schedule, family, her past, and her present all collided while on vacation. A panic attack and the inability to overcome on her own, brought doctors to diagnose Chonda as clinically depressed. Fortunately, with counseling, loving family and friends, and some medication, she is back on the road with limited engagements and maintaining her mental balance.

It happens to the best of us and it happens to Christians as author and physician, Don Colbert, explains in the opening paragraphs of his booklet. He explains the function of specific vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements as natural alternatives to the more common and sometimes addictive synthetic antidepressants. His open talk about how depression and anxiety can make us physically sick and what we can do to combat these ailments is presented from his years of medical research.

Colbert is also an advocate of a healthy diet free of high-sugar foods, processed white flour foods, alcohol, cigarette smoke and caffeine. His advice to increase fruit, vegetables, and essential fatty acids while also drinking 2-3 quarts of water a day is advice I've read recently from many doctors. South Beach Diet guru, Arthur Agatston, M.D. would surely agree with Colbert's recommendations for a nutritional diet.

In addition to a healthy diet and taking essential vitamins and minerals, he promotes a routine of exercise. (I could have done without that one too.) Colbert writes, "Exercise is the absolute best natural antidepressant." The exercise a person does releases endorphins into the body and brain which elevates a person's mood. So there we have it, the walk around the block that we sweat over will make us a happy camper or employee, or parent, fill in the __________.

Along with that exercise we should be getting more restful sleep. It seems that during the night while we sleep our bodies are repairing damaged or worn tissues. Apparently our bodies need more time to do that repair. With more restful sleep we get "an improved immune function, improved mood, a more youthful appearance, improved stamina, improved mental function and improved memory". Okay, so now we know what happened to me and maybe you? It's probably time that we shut off the TV and GO TO BED!!

Another very essential part of Dr. Colbert's cure is written in the title of his book, "The Bible". Scriptures are printed throughout the pages of this little 74 paged booklet. They are God's words of promise that will help readers focus on the "healing power of God". There is a reason that Alcoholics Anonymous advocates that its members look to a "higher being" for a cure to their disease.

My analysis of this booklet, "The Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety" is favorable. I found the information provided by Dr. Colbert to be useful. The emphasis given to The Word for Divine encouragement was an added bonus for me. If you too are one out of six people suffering from depression or anxiety, I would suggest that you pick up a copy of this small book. It is a start, however, as Dr. Colbert writes, "if your depression persists or deepens, consult a physician, pastor or Christian counselor before you take any steps. At times even the strongest ones among us need a helping hand to climb over an obstacle."

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid."
--John 14:27

Fear Not

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10

It is a sad life to live in fear. Fear of the unknown produces a continual state of worry. When one lives with thoughts of doom, "what if this feeling is cancer?", "where will I get a job?", "when will I ever pay these debts?" it is injurious not only to that person, but to those that live around or with that person.

When I worry or fear the worst, it can literally make me ill. My body feels sick to the point that my thoughts run wild thinking the worst has happened to me. My husband might not notice that I'm worried or feeling sick, because I don't want to talk about it. Or he might not be tuned in to what I'm going through because it is all in my head. However, he isn't getting the best from his wife when I am in this worrisome state. The dishes tend to sit in the sink longer, I don't get dressed as soon or get my day started before it is already time for lunch or later. My actions are in limbo not really knowing what to do next. If I allow myself to linger, my thoughts take over and solutions to my problems seem to be lost in a black hole somewhere in my brain.

I recently saw a book title about the Bible cure for depression and anxiety. The little book proposes that many of our illnesses come from allowing ourselves to stress and that we can do something about it with God's help. It also suggested that if we also do some of the things recommended by the doctor that wrote that book we can overcome our depressive thoughts. I will tell more about the book and author after I read the book. I found the concept intriguing and one that I've thought about before. Just some of my thinking this morning.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." Psalms 23: 4