Hope Is Real!

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and [S]he will make me walk on my high hills. Do not fear, Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; [S]he will rejoice over you with gladness, [S]he will quiet you with His[Her] love. [S]he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:18 Facebook Collected Writings: Responding to a friend who read an article that said talking about illness online is "attention-seeking." Just ugh Articles like those are ableist.  Sometimes illnesses really do need attention.  Problems don't go away if we stop talking about them. In fact, it's the exact opposite.  Those articles just reenforce the status quo. And the status quo is only good if you're a healthy white rich educated straight cisgender Christian male and then it's still an illusion.  :) When I have no hope for myself, sometimes I can find hope through other people and hearing their

My heart churns within me; my sympathy is stirred.  I will not execute the fierceness of my anger; I will not destroy Ephraim.  For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; and I will not come with terror. (Hosea 11:9) At my job, I talk to a lot of people with different views and I can't always challenge people the way I'd like.  Because we're trauma informed. And sometimes that's really hard.  It forces me to listen though.  Behind prejudice and Trump support, there is fear, some of which is legitimate. When we meet fear with more fear and anger, then things get worse. When we listen, acknowledge, and challenge with compassion, then things get better. In response to this quote: Or that you're extra special if you work with them as your job. I used to work with adults with developmental disabilities and one of my pet peeves was being told how wonderful I was for working in that field.  I worked there because I loved it, not because I was some hero.

Come see me this Saturday at The Strand Theater  in Marietta.  There will be an art show at 6pm, performance at 7pm and a Q&A at 8:15p.  It's free, so go to Gmhcn.org  to print out your ticket.  Watch a powerful performance of people telling their recovery stories in creative ways.