Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. (Mother Teresa) I met Len Leatherwood, author of this guest blog, at a Story Circle writer’s conference. Given what we’ve experienced recently in the great divide between those who celebrate the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and those who mourn the reaction to Dr. Ford’s testimony, here is a powerful example of how smile therapy can impact […]
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Ford, Kavanaugh and Columbus Day
. . .and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32) I’ve been debating whether or not to chime in on the national conversation about the Dr. Ford/Judge Kavanaugh hearings. The story of our country includes the narrative that our European ancestors came here to escape the tyranny of a hierarchy of royalty and high-ranking church leaders. When the Europeans settled here they essentially recreated that hierarchy with different […]
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Disaster Response
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) If you want to see God in action, step into a disaster zone. However, before you go, take time to know what to expect. Disaster Response personnel count on informed volunteers to help communities recover. News reporters are currently focused on the repercussions from […]
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An Open Letter to Dementia Caregivers
“A million tomorrows shall all pass away, ‘ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.” (From Today by John Denver) For reasons I’ll leave for others to explain, we are witnessing an increase in the number of people that do forget all the joy that was theirs. My circle of family and friends struggling to care for someone with dementia has been steadily growing over the past few years. Last week the challenges of […]
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Susan Bolling and RaiseUp Families
So The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Susan Bolling, Executive Director of RaiseUp Families, explains that when you intercept 400 calls a year from homeless people searching for shelter the Westside Homeless Prevention organization cannot provide, it makes sense to change the organization’s name to one that more aptly defines the mission. […]
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