Welcome home Dyron

Well Dyron is finally home from his work in India, and his chistmas with family in the states. Now for those of you who do not know Dyron, he is the pastor at Campbell-Stone, and a friend. He is one of those rare souls who has been given an awesome gift, and who has weathered the storms of life, and managed to turn that simple gift into something that now resembles a treasure. There has never been a moment, when I listen to him speak, that I do not hear God speaking through him. As if God uses him as some voicebox to answer my own questions, and the questions of everyone else in the church.

Today I took kelly to Campbell Stone with me. I have not seen her since the day after her recent suicide attempt. I did not know what to say to her. I was afraid to talk because I did not want to sound like I was lecturing her, and I did not want to make matters worse. What I did want to say is "Life is not all that bad, Just look at it differently and it will get better." But I sat in silence, debating how I could help her, or whether I should try to help her, or whether I should just leave it up to the professionals. It is a dilema I am sure we all face. Or at the least those of us who feel our mission here is to help those who come within our influence, in whatever way we can.

Luckily for Me, Dyron was back with all the passion and intelligence he ever had and more. From the pulpit, it sounded to me like he was talking directly to kelly. Every word, every anecdote, every gesture was directed at her and every other soul in the room who lets negativity get the best of them. I sat in awe, knowing that he spoke not to bring attention to himself, but that he spoke to try to sooth the suffering that he could see in the congregation before him. His advise to all of us was three fold.

1. Change the Channel. (We all have the ability to change the channel when the television of our minds become too overwhelming, to difficult, or too negative. JUST CHANGE THE CHANNEL AND MOVE ON.
2. Fail Forward. Dont be afraid to fail. Failure is unavoidable and part of life. Failure is like the fertilizer of success, without it, success is impossible.
3. Think positive thoughts, each morning. Start your day with a good bowl of positivity and your day will be a little easier to stomach no matter how difficult it gets.

There are many reason why I dont call myself a christian. It is a label that has been tarnished so badly that there is no luster left in it. However, on days like today when I am able to see the christ figure travel through time and space, and speak directly to me, and my fallen friends so intimately, I must consider that a rose by any other name is still a rose. And that I might just be a christian after all.

It also reminded me of my own shortcomings and frustrations as of late. And how in my selfishness I might have lashed out at some friends and/or aquaintances who have done nothing wrong. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize if I have hurt anyone with my sarcasm and frustration. I am only human, but I should not turn my own pain into pain for others. I am sorry. I hope and wish you all the best in 2006, you know you are.