When the going gets tough the tough get going

Sometimes events shape our lives. The Great Depression and World War II affected our entire country. People's lives were forever changed because of these external circumstances. Each generation and every individual will experience life-changing events. Hurricane Katrina is only the latest in a never ending stream. Millions of individuals in her path are now living different lives. Some of these people are in shelters, some are in different states, some are living in damaged homes, some have lost jobs while others are still working.

Individuals, friends, families, and governments are working to fix the problems, but this will take a long time. These times test our mettle. Will we curl up in a ball and cry or will we stand up on our hind legs and face the beast. Some folks may do both. Life changing events are usually difficult, but IF we move through them, we find we are stronger, and we have a greater sense of respect for nature, God, others, and self.

Every night on the news, I see people returning to damaged homes. At first they are shocked and most cry. They are not crying because they have lost material things, but because the evidence of their existence is gone. Their things tell a story and those things are gone. Think about your own house, look around at your stuff. When I look at my couch, I can remember good times watching football games with my son. The rocking chair by the TV was a bitch to get in our little car when Barb's mom gave it to us one Christmas. My father helped me make the bookshelf in the corner. Every room holds memories. These people feel this loss and it takes time to heal.

Even through the tears most of these people say they will begin again, they will rebuild. History shows us that our "human spirit" is quite capable of surviving and recovering from almost any kind of tragedy. Our spirit can overcome, IF we allow it to. The first marathon I ran in 1981 was across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. One of the finishers that day was a man with no feet. He ran with round horse hoof looking shoes. He could have easily said, "I can't run a marathon because I have no feet." Instead, he said, "I want to run a marathon."

We do what we want to do. If you give yourself to a task, chances are you will one day achieve it. The most important part is what is in you. It is the same way with the hurricane recovery. Those that want to go on will and they will help others.

The way we move on is to change our focus. At some point we must stop dwelling on the problem and work on a solution. When we begin to work and move, others are drawn to us and a kind of momentum takes place. Let's say your car runs out of gas. You could sit inside the car with your lip poked out hoping someone will stop and help you; or you could start pushing your car down the road. My guess is, more people would join you pushing the car than would offer to help you if you just sat in the car.

FEMA and the Red Cross can give help. The government will give some more, but the greatest resource any of us possess is our will to survive and to overcome. Whatever situation we find ourselves in - it is OUR situation. We must own it because no one else will.

This crisis holds many opportunities, but like an Easter egg hunt; the eggs must be sought out. Opportunities rarely find you.

It is a new week, put that spirit within you to work. Before a great thing can be achieved, a great thing must be attempted.

What lies behind us,
and what lies before us,
are small matters,
compared to what lies within us.

Until the next time
John Strain

Somewhere just south of "normal"

Things should be back together today as far as my yard is concerned. I have a big leaf pile in the alley that needs moved to the street. After that little chore, a long awaited weed eating, mowing, and blowing will return my grounds to normal. There are two less trees, some bare spots in the grass, tire tracks, and a pile of debris on the street. My shed roof still needs to be fixed, and weeds have been having their way in the outer beds. Their day will come, muahahahaha.

Running is almost back to normal. This week’s mileage will be near 90 miles. Tomorrow, I run a 20+. That is run 20 miles, then run 40 minutes in a 2 minute / 1 minute run / walk pattern. The 31-mile race in Huntsville, TX is on and is three weeks from today. Yesterday I made my reservations at the Motel 6 (39.99) nothing but the best lodging when I travel.

Bear must have taken his tennis ball with him on a walk and dropped it again, because it is nowhere to be found. I broke out a new one and he is getting used to the higher bounce of a new ball. You see we all have to adjust to things. He is laying here waiting for me to make a move to the door before he goes into his hyper-gyrations. That dog just loves to chase a ball and walk. If those things are in his life, he is a happy pup. We could take a lesson.

Barbara has been working at our church which has been functioning as a distribution center. They made a little video about the hurricane and you can view it here.

Saturday is officially on, my next task is to make a cup of coffee, then the dog, then the yard. After the run tomorrow, I can recover in front of the tube watching the Saints and Chiefs. I hope they improve their performances this week.

I downloaded the new Cheryl Crow album from the Apple Music Store. It is pretty good, I have it on now.

Until the next time
John Strain

They're trying to wash us away

Enough words for now, enough thinking and debating, how about some soft music from Randy Newman, Louisiana 1927 (used without permission)

Have a great weekend,
Until the next time
John Strain

Lake House: A plea and a need

About a month ago in the first days after Hurricane Katrina, I received many comments and emails from people wanting to help. The outpouring of goodwill overwhelmed me, but I could not direct their desire to help toward a specific need. Well now I can.

I am asking those of you who still want to help and can help to consider doing something for Lake House in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Lake House is two blocks from Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, Louisiana. The director is a very dedicated lady; Cheryl Cosse.

The folks at Lake House operate a 6 bed group home named Carroll Street. The group home made it through the hurricane, but Lake House did not. Three feet of water destroyed all of their furniture, office equipment, kitchen appliances, television, and the list goes on. The building is a 5000 sq. ft. rental. There is roof damage along with the water damage and the repairs probably won't be completed for months.

As a social worker, I refer people to Lake House. What they provide in our community is unique. They provide a place for folks with a mental illness to come hang out. The people at Lake House help people with whatever they need. They help with trips to the mental health clinic or doctor, grocery shopping, a listening ear, help getting a job, and providing a place where they are accepted and treated like family.

I know the Lake House program has kept people out of the hospital much longer than if these folks had been on their own. The clients go to Lake House 6 days per week, 9 AM to 2:30 PM and are fed lunch.

Cheryl and her staff are top notch. I am aware of a lot of agencies, this one is staffed by people who want to be there and who love the people they serve. The patients know this too and many of them have been going to Lake House for years.

My plea is to help Lake House get back in operation. Cheryl has had to let her staff go because she cannot provide any services. She is an independent contractor to the State Office of Mental Health and is a 501c organization. This is not a business or a job for Cheryl, it is a calling. Donations are necessary, because there will be no state funds to help and what insurance they have will not cover their losses. Lake House is listed on the Louisiana OMH website. Scroll down the page to the Social and Community Services section.

Lake House gives to its clients and to the community. Now they need help.

In the days ahead, I will give you more information about Lake House, Cheryl Cosse, and the clients they serve. Until then, if you would like to donate to this cause, you can send a check to:

Lake House
1912 Jefferson Street
Mandeville, LA 70448
985 626 1796

Items they will need to replace are:
Furniture
Television
DVD player
DVD's
Range
Refrigerator
Freezer
Copy machine
Computer
Office supplies
Brochures
Microwave oven
Kitchen utensils

Presently, they are looking for a temporary building so they can get up and running again.

Stay tuned for more about Lake House.

Until the next time
John Strain

Snowballs and Dominoes

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.
-Og Mandino

How to have a happy life, a successful life, or a meaningful life (pick your adjective) is not a closely guarded secret. It has been written in every language. It was preached before there were pulpits. It has been transmitted and communicated with every invention of mass communication, be it print, radio, video, or digital means.

Religions and philosophies package IT in various ways, but the common threads are easily distinguished.

I believe we recognize the truth when we see it. Most of us know the difference between right and wrong. We know we are to strive to be better than we are.

The Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule are examples of what Christianity offer to help us live happy lives. The book of Galatians condenses these teachings into one word, love:

Galatians 5:14
14     For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I was trained as a Baptist minister so the Christian teachings are more familiar to me, but I know other religions and philosophies say things similar.

I quoted Og Mandino above. He lists the "secrets" of life in his writings with eloquence. Kahlil Gibran poetically expresses these same truths. C.S. Lewis appeals more to the mind than the heart and his logical writings have been a foundation for many. Norman Vincent Peale, with his positive thinking, and Albert Ellis who pioneered thinking, feeling, and emotion into modern day psychology all speak the truth about how to have a happy life. This is just one list of those proclaiming the truth. I am sure you could produce one just as good from your reading and study.

We are not all the same though. We are born into families with differing resources. Our genes give us a head start or hold us back. Circumstances may present us with more obstacles than the guy down the street. Obstacles like physical handicaps, poverty, living in an area with a poor educational system, and experiences of abuse or trauma. These things do not guarantee a bad life, they only present a challenge. It is a mystery of predicting human outcome why some people overcome the most dire circumstances and others fail inspite of great opportunity.

The prophets above tell us to love ourselves and each other. They tell us to learn and to study. We are encouraged to work. They exhort us to be givers more than takers. Those who ignore these teachings will face rough waters in life.

Just like having a happy life is no secret, screwing up your life is also common knowledge.

Those who drop out of school limit their potential for earning money. Jobs go to those who are educated, intelligent, responsible, and competent. If you can't type or operate a computer, good luck getting a job. It is not that hard though. If you play video games or operate a DVD player, then you are well on your way to computer literacy.

Drugs and alcohol make any load you carry heavier.

Carrying hate and anger will destroy you from the inside out.

Laziness, entitlement, and assuming the role of victim will paralyze you and ensure you never achieve a thing in life.

The lifestyle you choose brings with it your friends. They will be like you, so that is a good reason to be a productive, loving, intelligent, and involved citizen.

We are the recipients of our work or lack thereof. We are dealt different hands in life and no amount of whining will change that fact. As it was said in the motion picture, Shawshank Redemption, "Either get busy living or get busy dying."

Until the next time
John Strain