Living Proof

Do you feel alone because you suffer from anxiety? Anxiety can make you feel like you’re the only one experiencing it, when actually, anxiety is the most common thing in the world. Some people smile through it, while others choose to use avoidance to cope. The one thing I noticed about dealing with severe anxiety is that once I focus on God completely — entirely focused on God Himself — I find myself less anxious. As soon as I feel it coming on, I sit down and take about 15 deep breaths. I had to work my way from 5 to now, 15. Mindful breathing is like throwing water onto the fire. And even though I may feel a bit calmer, I need MORE. I need to meditate and focus on God — even if my prayer is just saying His name, the meditation on Him changes the atmosphere in my home. I no longer feel the dread, the highly alert mania that somehow creeps in — all I feel is like someone is sitting there with me helping me through. I go through the promises of God if I don’t feel that euphoric sens...

The other night, I was chitchatting with a girlfriend of mine who lives out on the West Coast. It was 9pm for her, and way too late for me, but we got into various topics, one of which triggered this post for today. Without thinking about it, my friend chimed in, "You're gonna write about this arenchya'?"  I've touched upon this topic once before, and ever since realizing how common this is, I have to again come back to this topic. Atheism. Seems harmless. Atheism: the doctrine or belief that there is no god.  How can anyone have a "religious" debate if one person doesn't even believe in God? I never even thought about this years ago until I met someone with such passion for proving the nonexistence of God, that he basically bit every believer's head off. To top it off, this used to be a man of the cloth. Right there, you have to wonder, what happened? Then months down the road, I came across someone else who was an atheist. She basic...

Your life isn't for nothing - everything you do is for something. I remember weeks before Dad passed, he said to the social worker, "Ya can't believe it - it was like yesta'day when I was out working two jobs makin' money and enjoying life, n' just like dat - (as he snaps his fingers) - it's ova'!"  She looked at him and said, "But look what you did, Charlie? Look at all your accomplishments. Look at all the families enjoying their backyards because you laid the foundations for them. Look at all the people who enjoyed a good meal because you ran a fish market. You made a huge difference and you're still making a difference today."  Life can seem grim and hopeless, especially when everything you've worked so hard on is initially over. But when you truly think about it -- is it over? Have you left something behind that people can still look back upon? Have you planted seeds that people are still appreciating? Even good advice is a...