Blog Archives - Articulating Hope

LCCC--HPS--PAC--@ CCC (Do You Understand?)

3/31/2022

I have the honor and the privilege of serving as the Chair of the Laramie County Community College (LCCC) Health and Public Services (HPS) Pathway Advisory Committee (PAC). We held our annual meeting today at the College Community Center (CCC). It was a joy to be surrounded by a wealth of knowledge and expertise as we discussed ways to continue to improve and grow the programs and services at Laramie County Community College in this pathway.

It has been many years since I earned my B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, but it all started out at a junior college here in Wyoming. I played collegiate basketball my first year at Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming way back in the late 1970's. That is now known as Northwest College. I finished my basketball career, and my degree, at Northeast Missouri State University. That is now known as Truman State University. (It is apparent that schools want to change their names after I attend there. Why is that?)

Anyway, I walked away from today's meeting with renewed vigor and hope for the young people embarking on careers in the social and behavioral sciences, as well as education. These fields of study may not always be the most lucrative from a financial standpoint, but there is something energizing about striving to serve our fellow human beings in a variety of ways through these particular academic disciplines.

I wish to offer my gratitude to Danielle Ryan, PhD. She serves as the Pathway Coordinator for Human and Public Services. I am humbled and grateful that she invited me to be on this committee. She then really went out on a limb and entrusted me with the leadership of today's gathering as well. It was a joy to work with her in getting ready for today. Dr. Ryan's energy and enthusiasm is quite contagious.

Finally, I am grateful to all the committee members who participated. The knowledge demonstrated today was phenomenal. Thank you for your wisdom. I also offer a word of gratitude to the administrators who gave us an update on happenings around the college, the faculty members who participated in our discussions, and the students who shared their first-hand experiences with us. It was enlightening and beneficial.

Crossing To The Other Side

3/29/2022

Can a bridge be a symbol of crossing from this life into the next? Would the bridge be even more pertinent if it literally let you cross from one state into another to achieve the goal of dying? I think our society needs to seriously delve into the topic of assisted suicide sooner rather than later.

The state of Oregon was sued because their physician assisted suicide practices required that a person be a resident of Oregon to participate in physician assisted suicide. If the residency requirement is removed, will Oregon become the "assisted suicide tourism capital" of the country? It appears that we will eventually witness the consequences of a society that continues to move farther and farther away from God.

I invite you to read more.

www.theblaze.com/news/oregon-residency-requirement-medically-assisted-suicide

"Make Each Day Your Masterpiece." ~John Wooden

3/26/2022

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”
~ Suzy Kassem

Have you ever felt like giving up? A piece of advice I read a long time ago went something like this. “If you ever get to that point where you want to give up, just remember that there are a lot of people you still have to prove wrong.” That may not be the purest motivation for doing well, but it can be a motivating factor nonetheless.

Today, I simply want to encourage you to keep going. You are a child of God. We seem to forget that important aspect from time to time. If you have a difficult time grasping that concept from a theological standpoint, let me put it in more practical terms to demonstrate your worth. “Never let anyone treat you like regular glue. You are glitter glue!” (Unknown Origination)

Have a blessed weekend!

The Varied Skills Needed To Save Lives

3/25/2022

Military helicopters are a common sight in Cheyenne. The accompanying noise is something that most residents come to accept. However, today I was sitting in the parking lot at the cancer center and the sound of a chopper kept getting more and more intense. I got out of my car to have a look. It did not take long to realize that the noise was coming from was a medical helicopter preparing to land at the hospital.

Thankfully, the wind was not as strong today as it had been the rest of the week.

The pilot brought it down nice and gently.

It was a pleasure to watch someone that was obviously skilled at their craft.

Safely landed.

Please offer an extra prayer today for all who are suffering trauma in any way. There is a lot of pain in the world, but I am frequently reminded of the quote from Helen Keller.

"Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."

Old Elevator Shows Off Style and Neglect

3/23/2022

I enjoy going into historical buildings. The word "historical" may be a relative term. What is considered "old" in one locale may not be considered in a similar manner elsewhere. All I know is that building elevators have changed in style since this one was created. Are those bird droppings on the glass? I don't care. Look at the woodwork.

As I age, I more fully appreciate the wisdom of some of the people who surround me. Their life experience has taught them some lessons that they generously hand on to others. In the midst of sharing some of the struggles of the journey, we grow together and learn from one another. There may be some wear and tear on us, maybe even a few bird droppings messing up our path, but we know our worth as children of God.

After yesterday's blog post, I had the opportunity to hear from a lot of folks. Some of you commented on my social media pages, some of you personally emailed, and a few of you touched base with a phone call. It was good to hear from each one of you. Thank you for your words of encouragement and for your prayers on our behalf.

Some of you are bearing heavy burdens as well. Thank you for your openness and vulnerability in sharing about the crosses you are carrying. I learned long ago that there is frequently deep sorrow behind someone's smile. It is amazing to see how good we can get at concealing the pain in our lives. Each and every one of us has a story. That story includes pain and struggle, whether we want to admit or not. Please know that you do not walk alone.

My dear readers, we do know WHO holds tomorrow. Thanks to Robyn for pointing me in the direction of Branson, Missouri to hear the Petersens sing, "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7BtGs1w6hA

I'm Not Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

3/22/2022

Sitting in the parking lot of the Cheyenne Regional Cancer Center waiting for my wife to come out from her radiation treatment is not as enticing as "(Sittin' on) the dock of the bay" as described by Otis Redding. I wouldn't mind "sittin' in the mornin' sun." I wouldn't mind "sittin' when the evening comes." It would be better than sitting through yet another snow storm. {Thankfully, it was just a quick hit and gone.}

As I contemplated that song, and yes, I can still remember the words, I yearned for warmth and relaxation. However, when one learns about the lyrics of that song, "it chronicles a broken man mired in loneliness and depression." It is not about peaceful relaxation at the beach. I decided to search a little deeper about the meaning of the song, and I found quite a descriptive article. I invite you to take a look.

www.lifetypestuff.com/blog/2019/7/9/wpxuw7iwp2ojzw3al3ni7kxn39ylyt

Life always has its challenges. I believe the last two years have exacerbated the feelings of helplessness and loneliness in a multitude of ways. Throw in a job loss, death of a loved one, a diagnosis of a serious illness, inflation, another war, and the endless political theater from both sides of the aisle, and it is easy to see why many of us today echo the line, "looks like nothin's gonna change."

Remaining hopeful when the storms of life hit your household can be a challenge. Some days we cry, some days we remain indifferent, other days we embrace the cross and join our sufferings to Christ. If we don't do it perfectly every day, that is okay. On the days you feel like you can't pray, I will stand in the gap and pray for you. I hope you will be standing in the gap for me on those days when I struggle to pray as I ought. Through it all, we are the Body of Christ!

The Challenges for "The Price Is Right" Contestants

3/20/2022

How much does this item cost?

A contestant on the show "The Price Is Right" may have to ask which day they priced the item. Was it today, yesterday, last week, or last month? That will factor heavily into the price of any particular grocery product right now.

I do not like to spend a lot of money going out to eat for lunch during the workweek. However, I do enjoy having something warm to eat once in a while versus a cold sandwich. Last week, I bought the item pictured above for $2.48. Today, I bought it for $2.87. An increase of 39 cents on a product that costs less than $3.00 is a significant increase.

Fasting during Lent may become more than a spiritual discipline if this keeps up. It may become a practical necessity. I am fortunate to be working full-time during these uncertain times. I am still able to provide the necessities of life for my family. However, I am greatly concerned for the working poor and those living on fixed incomes. Inflation continues to deplete the value of each dollar in our wallet or purse. Once again, the wealthy do not notice the pinch, but the majority of Americans feel it quite painfully.

Continue to pray for our nation and the world. Remain united to the Lord, and radiate Christ's love to others.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

3/17/2022

A green trash truck in a Mardi Gras parade can be held over for a Saint Patrick's Day parade with minimal alterations. (Practical and frugal.)

Whether you are of Irish descent or not, I hope you find blessings today!

Two Years Ago Our Society Changed Forever

3/14/2022

This is a screenshot from the timeline posted on the CDC website. Who could have imagined the devastation we would endure for two years and counting?

There are many questions which have received no answers, and this whole experience has made me want to question everything at this point. Let me just start with a few that come to mind immediately:

1. Have we as a society been groomed, conditioned, and manipulated with a particular end game in mind by the elites? (New World Order?)

2. Was the virus intentionally thrust upon the world (biological warfare)?

3. What role does the U.S. play in having biological labs across the world?

4. Whether the virus was released accidentally or on purpose, will anyone ever be held accountable?

5. Was the virus intended to disrupt the presidential election to be sure Donald Trump would not secure a second term?

6. In that same vein, was the economy destroyed intentionally to make the president look bad? Elitist Bill Maher was hoping for a recession already in 2018 to damage the president's status.
www.thewrap.com/bill-maher-economic-crash-recession-rid-trump/

7. Was the shutting down of churches a step toward silencing any entity that would not march in lockstep with immoral ideologies being forced down the throats of the American people?

8. What are the long-term consequences and repercussions for society since Church leaders allowed our faith communities to be labeled as nonessential?

9. What will be the long-term consequences for toddlers and young children growing up in a masked society limiting exposure to clear verbal and facial cues?

10. What will be the long-term mental and emotional consequences for people of all ages who missed celebrating milestone events in life?

11. How will unresolved grief complicate the lives of people? Loved ones died alone without the comfort of family. Funerals were restricted to ten people in attendance. The pastoral leadership from churches was unavailable.

12. How will resentment toward the hypocrisy of the bureaucrats who applauded crowds at riots (otherwise known as peaceful demonstrations with some buildings on fire in the background) ever be overcome?

13. How will resentment toward bureaucrats attending large gatherings of their own, including funerals for "special" people, ever be overcome?

14. How will resentment toward bureaucrats who had repeated violations of their own rules regarding masking and isolation ever be overcome?

15. How will media outlets ever regain any credibility?

16. How did the Superbowl eliminate COVID?

17. Two years of COVID has kept us distracted, but many people are still waiting on answers to many other topics. Where is Dr. Fauci, and what responsibility does he have for this fiasco over the last two years?

18. What is really behind the war in Ukraine?

19. Does Hunter Biden still have ties to Burisma? What about his old laptop while we are at it?

20. Do we no longer care about pedophile island and the powerful people who have abused others in this awful scenario?

Wow! These questions only touch the surface. Unfortunately, there are an abundance of things we could add to the list. However, you get the point. Here are just a few more that have popped into my head.

Many people have died from the virus. Do we not deserve an answer to the origins of how this started?

Many people have become quite ill from the virus. Were doctors allowed to treat patients with all of the tools at their disposal, or were they restricted by anything that did not comply with a predetermined narrative?

Was all of the "free money" handed out by the government designed to cause inflation to spiral out of control?

My dear readers, the past cannot be undone. However, it is important for us to pay close attention as we move forward.

I offer my prayers for everyone who has been impacted by this long and arduous journey.

a. For those who have died
b. For all who were denied access to pastoral care in sickness
c. For all those not allowed to grieve properly after the death of a loved one
d. For those who experienced serious illness and long-term effects
e. For those who experienced adverse reactions from the gene therapy
f. For all those with broken relationships (jabbed versus unjabbed)
g. For those who lost their jobs due to societal shutdown
h. For those who lost their jobs for not getting the jab
i. For all those suffering mental & emotional distress from the isolation
j. For all those who did not get to celebrate milestone events
k. For all who have become angry at anything and everything because of this
l. For all who now have a general distrust of all institutions

Yes, we have endured two years rather than "two weeks to flatten the curve."

Barbie Made Her Debut on March 9, 1959

3/8/2022

Celebrate Barbie's birthday tomorrow.

"Barbie officially debuted on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York City as a creation of Mattel, Inc.'s Ruth Handler. Handler got her inspiration from the German Bild Lilli doll in 1956, and development of the Barbie doll began soon after."
~Encyclopedia Britannica

How many Barbie dolls are sold each year?

"Barbie is the most diverse fashion doll on the market. More than 100 dolls are sold every minute, with a total of 58 million sold annually. Barbie is sold in 150 countries worldwide. Barbie has products in 45 categories, including food, fitness, and clothing."
~www.barbiemedia.com

How many Barbies have been sold since 1959?

"Since 1959, over one billion dolls in the Barbie family have been sold around the world and Barbie is now a bona fide global icon."
~www.history.com

MARCH 8

Today is National Proofreading Day. (Please don't check my work.)
nationaltoday.com/national-proofreading-day/

MARCH 7
Yesterday was National Cereal Day, and I missed it.
nationaltoday.com/national-cereal-day/

As we prepare for yet another snowstorm here in the Mountain West, my thoughts turn to summer. I would say my thoughts turn to spring, but snow typically continues throughout most of spring. Bring on the heat, and vegetation not covered in snow.