Joy in the Journeys

What’s in a name? Think back to when you were younger, perhaps in elementary, junior or high school, especially when it came to the opposite sex.  Was there a school mate that you wanted to notice you? Talk to you? Ask you on a date??  For me, it was usually hoping that he knew my name, if nothing else.  For some of us, our world evolved around this.  Our insecurities seemed to, at times, run our emotions.  Having someone know our name was the ultimate goal. As I became older, that desire did not change.  I longed to be accepted for who I was, loved unconditionally, and appreciated.  For me, that acceptance was not easily recognizable.  I became a “yes” person, feeling that if I always said yes, that acceptance would be just around the corner.  Instead, what happened, was just the opposite.  I felt taken more advantage of, less loved accepted.  Saying “no” to anyone was always at my personal expense.  Then something happene...

  What was he thinking? I have been tutoring a young man for the last three years.  When I started working with him he was in a charter school.  He did not do so well there, so his parents moved him to a Christian school.  Part of this young man’s homework each week was to read a Bible story, answer questions, and then memorize Scripture.  One day we were reading one of his stories and he stopped mid-way through and asked me if he could ask me a question.  “Why, of course”, I replied.  He went on to ask me if I knew that Satan was a fallen angel and that he fell because he wanted to be God.  He stated that God sent him to his “own” place where he would live for all eternity.  We talked a bit more and then he made this statement about Satan wanting to be God…..”What was he thinking?!” with as much emphasis as he could muster.  I tried my best not to laugh out loud.  He had a great point.  Sometimes I get discouraged when things ...