Tag Archives: pain

I’m Home

Posted on March 15, 2016 by rstaples2013

After driving for 30 hours over a span of 7 days my critically ill friend visually soaked in the desert of southern Nevada and simply said, “I’m home.” This friend, who I genuinely embrace as my BFF, has suffered unrelentingly … Continue reading →

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Footprints in Chaos

Posted on December 22, 2015 by rstaples2013

Many of us love to pray or sing “Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus.” What we aren’t as quick to acknowledge is our expectation that the Jesus we see be accompanied by comfort, order and tranquility. Those … Continue reading →

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Grieving a Loss That Does Not Leave

Posted on October 25, 2015 by rstaples2013

No one who is grieving compares one grief to another. Pain and loss are personal, not categorical. Pain is what the suffering person says it is. It is experienced as such and there is no comfort in hearing about someone … Continue reading →

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Why is Grief so Lonely?

Posted on January 22, 2015 by rstaples2013

It is often true that people rally around a grieving person. There are probably rare times when a person is so the center of attention as at the memorial service of a loved one. Yet, neither the well-meaning crowd nor … Continue reading →

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Loving the Invisible Ones

Posted on January 12, 2015 by rstaples2013

A friend just posted a question on Face book, in words more eloquent than mine, asking for help in understanding why the world is standing united in response to 17 people killed in Paris and virtually ignoring the 2000 who … Continue reading →

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Realigning My Periscope

Posted on April 11, 2014 by rstaples2013

I have one area of my life where the Presence of God is blurred. I know, cognitively, that God is good. An African greeting begins: “God is good,” followed by the response:“ All the time.” The greeting goes on: “All … Continue reading →

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When “Thankful” Is a Choice

Posted on November 29, 2013 by rstaples2013

I am awakened this morning by the strong purr and gentle paw of my cat, Takker. I am reminded that he was given to me as a gift ten years ago today. He has been and is a source of … Continue reading →

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Celebrate

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jroesler728

I bought this glass at Goodwill.  I smiled as I paid $.99 each for six. The reason this was amusing to me is that I had donated these champagne glasses last week when, in an obsessive fury, I filled boxes … Continue reading →

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My Introductions to “Feeling Old”

Posted on August 30, 2013 by jroesler728

I have often said with authority that old is something you appear to others but not something you experience yourself. My body has been remarkable healthy and strong. In my mind, I still wondered what I would do when I … Continue reading →

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An Encounter with Presence

Posted on August 19, 2013 by jroesler728

When we had about 8 miles to go today I couldn’t take another step. I was weak and the pain in my right knee was unbearable. I braced myself against the corner of a stone building, dragged my body around … Continue reading →

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