Tag: Long Suffering

Choosing to Go Slow

There’s something gratifying about finding a way to make a long journey shorter. I look to my GPS for help these days. But even as a kid, I was always looking for a short cut. When I was 12, my friends showed me a… Continue Reading “Choosing to Go Slow”

Choosing Painful Love

I read of her in my college literature class, Lady Elaine of Astolat. A figure in Arthurian legend, she died from the weight of unrequited love. Sir Lancelot just didn’t feel it the same way she did. Of course, dying because of or for… Continue Reading “Choosing Painful Love”

Choosing to Step Back and Wait

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 to Step Back and Wait”

Choosing to Let Desperation Work

Not too long ago I had a conversation with a person who struggles with addiction. He told me how he has a goal of developing more self discipline in his life. But he finds that he always fails in his efforts. He feels that… Continue Reading “Choosing to Let Desperation Work”

Choosing a Long-Term View of My Life

It hit the airwaves just before I graduated from high school. And though I never absorbed any of the lyrics except the first line, I found myself humming and singing those few words over and over. There was also a movie and TV series… Continue Reading “Choosing a Long-Term View of My Life”

Choosing to Wait for the Blessing

Several years ago, I assisted two of my grandchildren in making a craft/snack project. With the help of their grandmother, we made little “bird nests” out of peanut butter, chocolate, and crunchy chow mein noodles. As a final touch, we placed three colorful jellybeans… Continue Reading “Choosing to Wait for the Blessing”

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 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 Suffer Long

I always saw myself as a patient 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 pleasure from… Continue Reading “Choosing to Suffer Long”