Tag: Despair
Choosing to See Beyond What’s in Front of Me
How many plans have been started with grand vision and then abandoned because of how insignificant and underwhelming the idea later felt? My visionary follow-through often struggles. Emotions of discouragement settle in when the glorious things I imagine don’t swiftly materialize. Not seeing an… Continue Reading “Choosing to See Beyond What’s in Front of Me”
Choosing to Embrace the Dry Season
The Sahara can be a lonely and disheartening place. I’ve been to this seemingly endless North African sandbox several times. Its beauty, overshadowed by the harshness and potential for disaster, was often not seen till after I returned home and reviewed my photos. On… Continue Reading “Choosing to Embrace the Dry Season”
Choosing to be Made New
The Geek Squad technician looked at me and said, “It’s dead. Your laptop’s motherboard has failed.” Of course, my first question was how much it would cost to repair it. I liked this computer. We had accomplished a lot together. He shook his head.… Continue Reading “Choosing to be Made New”
Choosing Patience
I always saw myself as a laid-back, easy-going person. That was until my first year of teaching remedial English to 8th graders in a California inner-city school. My carefully composed lesson plans were sabotaged daily by 13 and 14 year olds who derived perverse… Continue Reading “Choosing Patience”
Choosing to Hope in Resurrection
Grim news continues to come out of Ukraine. Mass graves are being discovered. And stories of torture and executions are multiplying. Not since World War 2 has Europe been the site of such atrocities. But now, with another apparently unhinged despot doubling down on… Continue Reading “Choosing to Hope in Resurrection”
Choosing the Help That’s Offered
It’s a nameless, forgotten movie from my childhood. But one scene has remained etched in my mind for decades. Perhaps it’s a composite of multiple movies. An individual, walking through a trackless jungle, steps into quicksand. He tries to work his way out, but… Continue Reading “Choosing the Help That’s Offered”
Choose This Day 