I do not like “unknowns”. One of the most challenging parts of this COVID-19 pandemic for me is not having clear answers to the many questions rushing through my mind. One of the most pervasive questions is this: “when will this end?”. It’s like I am craving a light at the end of the tunnel to look forward to. However, there is no clear indication of when it will be over. We just don’t know when our lives will resume without the present threat looming over us. Continue reading “There is an End”
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A Painful Reminder
A few Monday nights ago, it happened again. For those of you who know my story, you will recall my past struggle with fear, anxiety, and panic attacks. Well, these old acquaintances have paid me a visit over the past two weeks or so. On that Monday night, the granddaddy of them all (a massive panic attack) snuck up on me about midnight. Continue reading “A Painful Reminder”
A Neverending Cycle
Years ago, Derek Webb penned these lyrics to the Caedmon’s Call song “Thankful”:
I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up
Some clothes for Goodwill
You know I had to laugh
That the same old struggles
That plagued me then
Are plaguing me still
It can be massively discouraging when we come to the realization that we continue to wrestle with the same things over and over in life. We wonder if we will ever be free of those things we despise about ourselves and/or our behavior. Is there any hope for us when we discover we are stuck in a cycle we’ve tried so hard to break? Continue reading “A Neverending Cycle”
Looking Ahead at 2020
2019 is setting and 2020 is on the horizon. With this comes a lot of reflection and forward thinking. This time of year is used by many as a time to look at what has worked, what hasn’t worked and to set goals for this new beginning. Social media and other media advertisements will be full of new ways to improve yourself and be better. Now, I am not going to use this post as a means of bashing goals or self-care at all. Instead, I am considering the important difference between rules verses guidelines. Continue reading “Looking Ahead at 2020”
Letting Our Guard Down
Last night I came home from work (my day job, not counseling) in a pretty good mood. I went about doing several little things I wanted to do, including warming up some delicious supper that my wife had made on Sunday and turning on some TV to watch (by the way, Wu-Tang: An American Saga is pretty cool for those like me who enjoyed Wu-Tang’s music back in the day). Continue reading “Letting Our Guard Down”
Listening
As a counselor, listening is a big part of what I offer others as they come to me with struggles that need to be shared and worked through. Below are some thoughts that came to me today as one of my good friends spurred a conversation about this topic. Continue reading “Listening”
The Perfect Temperature
In the mornings I typically take a few minutes to turn on the news to catch the weather. Personally, I prefer warmer weather. I would rather be hot than cold, so what I want to hear from the meteorologist is that the day is going to be sunny, warm, and dry. Now, I know everyone has their preference. Some love the winter and want some snow on the ground. Others, like those who farm for a living, want to see the right amount of rain in the forecast. There seems to be an abundance of opinions on what the perfect temperature, humidity, and cloud cover would be for today. Continue reading “The Perfect Temperature”
What is Driving You?
Whether I want to really admit it or even think about it, what I truly believe drives my actions. And to take it a step further, a lot of times my actions don’t line up with what I say I believe. My beliefs drive my thoughts, how I view myself, how I view others and how I view God. I can try to fake it until I make it all day long but what I truly believe is what still drives me. It will come out! Continue reading “What is Driving You?”
What Matters More?
What we do matters less than who we are. How we do things matters less than for whom we do them. (From the book Ascent of a Leader by Thrall, McNicol, and McElrath)
Living in God’s grace means living our lives out of who God created us to be. We can only reach our human potential outside of allowing Him to guide us to our true destiny. This path requires humility, which is not self-deprecation but rather choosing to trust God and others with ourselves by being vulnerable and truly allowing them a voice in our lives. Faith takes action as we choose to act on conviction rather than opportunity. This grace-based, relationship-oriented lifestyle leads us to be less focused on selfish ambition and more experienced in being loved and loving others.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV)
-Neil
Admission: The First Step to Freedom
Words have felt stuck in my throat. They are stuffed down and unable to come out. It has been a while since I have written. I have not even been doing my personal journaling.
Describing my words as being stuck, stuffed and unable to come out is a reflection of how our lives can be at times as well. I do not know about you but I have definitely encountered periods of time where I felt stuck, stuffed down and unable to shake it off. Continue reading “Admission: The First Step to Freedom”