We all love to feel heard and understood. We all know how it feels when we aren’t. We love people who feel warm and non-judgmental, who accept you as you are and inspire you to grow. How do we become this way or what is it that these people have? These warm souls...

A Review of Perception and Lens Therapy The man stands on the corner of Doom and Gloom, repining to the empty sky. “I am a failure, a moron, a worm. Everything I touch turns to rubbish, I am useless and worthless.” The ophthalmologist, walking home from work, sees the...

Almost all the help I’ve gotten in life was because I went after it. Sometimes I’ve felt like the woman who squeezed through the crowd to touch Jesus’ robe, desperate for healing and answers. Sometimes I’ve waited by the bulletin board at church, hoping someone would...

I read a book recently that was impressive to me. Uniquely Human is written about people who are autistic. However, my mind has been taking some of the ideas farther than autism. The book speaks of how autism therapy typically focuses on trying to eliminate the unique...

I recently attended two different meetings related to special needs. The specialed teachers’ meeting was held at the Newark, Michigan congregation- the first of its kind. There were 40- 50 special ed teachers in attendance from all over the US and Canada. One lecture...

  It’s not our perfection that draws others – it’s our brokenness. And how we respond to brokenness. I think now with a rueful grin at the interactions between one set of close neighbors and our children during their growing up years. There were times the little...

I tire of working on myself, of striving to improve my emotional health. How I wish I could go to a retreat or conference and come back changed. A new, calm, content person. “What happened to you?” my friends would ask. “You suddenly seem so different.” Suddenly. Key...

Imagine life without bridges. There are all kinds of bridges, from the smallest culvert to the greatest engineering marvels that span miles of distance. There are bridges made to walk across, swinging, or fixed in place, or there may be just a slippery log or some rocks. Culverts can be ever so small but without them, country roads would wear away from erosion and the ensuing ravines would become deeper and deeper over time. The world’s tallest, longest bridges save hours of driving time by eliminating the use of ferries and boats, or miles of detours. Think back to bygone eras in our country and all the hardships endured by pioneers as they ferried their livestock and themselves across torrid rivers and lakes of all sizes. What a toll that exacted on lives, both human and animal.