41 years-ago today I said goodbye to my father. He was home recovering from surgery when another medical emergency arose on a Saturday afternoon. As my mother prepared to rush him to the emergency room, he told me goodbye. And, that was the last time I spoke to my father. He died the next day. People were kind to our family in the immediate aftermath of such an unexpected event. My father’s colleagues from all over the country flew into…
Sometime next month my youngest will embark on a new life adventure overseas. He is committed to teaching English in China for one year. He completed his undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University in December, so this will be his first “big-boy job” to use his terminology. Getting on a plane and relocating to China for a year was not on my radar when I was his age. Of course, I have to remember that I was married by that…
All you need is love. That sounds like the lyrics of a song from the ‘60’s. All you need is love… I am a “Two” on the Enneagram. Those of us that are “Two’s are sometimes referred to as the helpers. Two’s are empathetic and kind. They are personable and self-sacrificing. They often choose to love under any and all circumstances. What beautiful traits. But, underneath the beauty of such a caring spirit, are some false assumptions. As a Two,…
When I think of anger, I think intensity. A person is boiling mad! They are fired up! Voices are raised, and blood pressure levels are elevated. Doors are slammed and hateful words are spoken. I grew up with a father who was known to have fits of rage periodically. He was never physically abusive, but he showed several of the above mentioned outward expressions of anger. Those are not fond childhood memories. A good friend of mine is married to…
The real treasures in your life are often hidden behind the curtain of a quiet spirit. That is true of every group, and even church is no exception. Churches have treasures that remain undiscovered until they surface unexpectedly. My family moved to Granbury in July of 2004. We chose to paint the interior of our new home before the chaos of having three young boys in a new house ensued. And there were other menial chores around the house that…
Valentine’s Day is quite profitable for those who market candy, or sell flowers. I wonder about the gross sales of Valentines related items. Oh well…most of us dropped a few dollars today. As the day winds down, I am thinking of people who do not have anyone to buy them a box of candy or a dozen roses. I am thinking of people who are alone. I made preparations today to officiate at a funeral that will be held next…
I think I grew up in a pretty normal family. My mother was a stay-at-home mom like so many women were in the 1960’s and 1970’s. My father worked for two corporations during his entire married life. He was very steady and dependable in that regard. My parents were frugal like you can’t imagine, but we never went without food or clothes. But, my family of origin was also proficient at secret keeping. There was a history of mental illness…
I have been asked to speak to a group of high school students this Sunday evening about depression. It’s not an easy topic to delve into by any means, but it is relevant. Unfortunately, suicide ideation among teens is far too common. And, depression is by no means uncommon among students. Where do I begin? I have a strong hunch that some students are of a mind that being sad is unacceptable. If they feel sad, then they conclude something…
My day began with a call out from one of our 911 dispatchers about 6:15 in the morning. 6:15 is really not bad at all in terms of timing! But, they don’t call because all is well. It was a challenging experience, which is the norm. I tried to do a good job serving those who were impacted by a particularly difficult crisis. Later in the day another major incident occurred. This one ended up being a late-night experience, so…
It is a common theme in my discussions with both emergency medical services professionals and 911 dispatchers. Their friends, who are not first responders, ask the same question. It is a question that is asked repeatedly. Are you ready? The question is: “What is your worst call you have been on as an EMT or paramedic?” Or…”What is the worst call you have taken as a dispatcher? May I answer for these professionals? Here is a really good initial answer. …