Hectic Schedules and Disabilities

Oh how I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas! As we unwind and head into the new year, I know that many can relate to what has become a reality in our family… life with a family member who continues to suffer from severe disabilities, whether TBI, chronic pain or other limitations. This life requires planning and often forgoing some visiting and special gatherings and purposefully seeking (and hopefully finding) peaceful / quiet moments in between the rush.

It means sometimes disappointing friends and family and juggling responsibilities with what’s best.

It means pushing through, sometimes knowing that it could take days to catch up from the effects and weighing which experiences are worth the risk of setbacks.

It means not wanting your loved one to miss out, but realizing that there are times when it is better, in the big picture, to go on ahead without them.

It means aching inside because you're feeling helpless as your loved one struggles, and just wanting so bad to take away the pain and wiriness.

It means being so very thankful for wonderful kids who get it and actually like spending quiet time at home with mom and dad.

It means slowing down… which means time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for and for the gift God sent so many years ago… which truly is the reason for the season.

I pray that you too will find joy in the simple things and be filled with peace as you reflect on all that you have together – rather than anything missed, undone, or declined. May you have abundant joy and not let the burdens of this life overwhelm you. May you find rest and be encouraged in the fellowship of others who understand the road you travel. May the coming year be filled with blessings, smiles, love, and plenty of those quiet moments in between!

Desensitizing Ourselves to Violence

Like so many across the country, I am heartbroken over the tragedy in Connecticut as well as other acts of violence that have permeated our culture. I hear so much regarding the answer to the problem of violence in our country being more government regulation, ie: gun control, yet this idea of treating symptoms rather than problems just seems so backward and naive. One only needs look at history to realize that humans have been destroying humans since humanity began…long before guns were ever an issue.

The problem with our society is that evil exists and evil seeks to destroy. Looking through history, it seems obvious that as cultures desensitize themselves to violence and let immorality run loose, they fail. As cultures use violence for sport and entertainment, immorality and violence prevailed. The Babylonians and Romans with their lion dens and gladiator fights, Medieval knight competitions… people have glorified violence as sport and entertainment since the beginning of time. We continue that bent with movies, media and video games that are increasingly violent, all the while desensitizing this generation and teaching them to solve problems with violence.

History also is filled with examples of governments that have taken greater control of the populace, until finally there is revolt. Great civilizations have crumbled when their governments have sought to control, tax, enslave and make the population dependent on government.

We would do well to pay closer attention to the lessons of history as we are not above repeating it… again.

Gun control will not solve the problem of violence. A more forceful and controlling government will not solve the problem. A return to God, morality, and placing value on every human life is the only answer… for there will be evil in this world until Jesus returns and puts evil in its place forever.