I Hate Hearing From My Friends

What I mean is I hate hearing when tragedy happens. Two days ago an email shared the news that one of our college buddies had a tragedy. His teenage son died of a drug overdose.

Can you even fathom this? I can not.

For our friend, this probably makes 9/11 look like a picnic.

May I simply ask anyone reading this to try to absorb some of his pain?

Tragedy strikes us all. None of is immune from this. Perhaps this is the time when we are tempted to believe God doesn’t exist.

God never said life would be easy, He simply promises we will not walk alone. Our big challenge is to actually believe this when horrific tragedy is our shadow.

Have You Forgotten?

September 11, 2001

Click here to see Darryl Worely’s music video, “Have You Forgotten”.

Then again, maybe you have forgotten.

Have you? No? Then do it, click here.

PS. I HATE war. I LOVE our military men and women.

Catechism

Catechism. Missed the first one last night.

Life is insanely busy for many people. Organizational structure can help alleviate (not eliminate) common, everyday hassles.

To that end, every day my wife takes our son to school (no bus service available). I pick him up. When there are exceptions to this process, the alternate plan is simple and crystal clear.

Everything changes. Like when I travel. Like yesterday. So I missed the first day of Catechism.

Not a big deal. Usually. Except for one thing. I volunteer as a “junior assistant” third-grade Catechist teacher.

The full time teacher is a pro and can clearly handle my absence. But it’s not her I’m worried about.

It’s The Last Thing I Wanted

Labor day afternoon, I pulled our 9-year old son aside, “You impressed me this morning”.

Three 9-year olds, the day before, took turns ganging up on each other in our pool. Playfully wrestling and fighting the way puppies or kittens do.

However, the next morning (Labor Day), it was 2-against-1 the entire morning. The other two boys are very athletic. Our son hasn’t played any sports yet.

But you would have never known. Not only did he have strength, he had endurance too. It would have been hard to take pick of the litter.

As we cuddled in bed that night, I purposefully asked him if he remembered our earlier conversation. He did.

It was the last thing I wanted.

Why? That’s What We Want To Know.

Why? One of life’s most important questions.

We readily ask, but most don’t wait to hear the answer.

Why?

You tell me. Speculation says it’s because of three simple truths:

  1. We are afraid of the answer
  2. We are easily distracted
  3. Both

Why?

Not sure. Oh look, shiny.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂