Dear Friends,
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength, but through persistence.
I've been thinking a lot recently about the question, "How do we develop resilience?"
This seems to be a particularly difficult season for many folks. I'm currently tracking a number of friends who are wrestling with illness. My dad's beginning cancer treatments. Economic concerns threaten retirement plans and financial security. A potential global flu pandemic adds to a sort of pervasive, underlying atmosphere of concern.
And yet--somehow we persist and discover triumph within tragedy. The same friend whose teenage daughter battles chemotherapy also prepares excitedly for the impending birth of his new baby. It sounds like a simplistic platitude, but every challenge truly reveals new opportunity.
This is a my friend Mike, who is currently re-defining "normal" as he recovers from a paralyzing spinal cord injury in September. He's certainly experienced his share of struggle, but within the pain and questions he still says "Thank You" to friends and family who support him and smiles with gratitude for the gift of a new granddaughter.
Some portion of this reaction is simple survival: we do what we have to, because there's no other credible option. But I think there's more to it.
As part of a speaking engagement in May, I've been analyzing the qualities that generate this sort of resilience. So far I've come up with this list:
- Realistic optimism
- Creativity
- Perseverance
- Making a decision and taking action
- Humor
- Hope rooted in faith
I've been blogging about these qualities here, and I'd appreciate your comments and thoughts. What would you add to my list? How do we develop resilience?
On a related note, I need to acknowledge two friends: Carley and Fred. Both are in the midst of chemotherapy and its horrible side effects, including a loss of hair.
Personally, I am proud of them for joining those of us who've shed all of that unnecessary head covering.
I am excited to announce a new online project called Grace Notes. Reactions to Relentless Grace convince me that everyone has a story about adversity. I've been seeking a way to encourage others to think about the people who've walked beside them during difficult times. Grace Notes allows folks to write a note to these special people. We'll deliver the notes via email and post them on the Grace Notes site.
Please click the button to learn more about this opportunity. I hope you'll consider sending a grace note to someone, and I'd appreciate your help in spreading the word to others about this project.
I continue to work at improving my online offerings. The latest development involves moving and hopefully upgrading my blog. It's always intimidating to change online locations, and readership dropped (as expected) when I moved. Hopefully the numbers will climb as people find me again. As a new convenience, you can now subscribe to receive my blog updates (2-3 per week) via email.
Subscribe to THOUGHTS ABOUT HOPE via email
I hope you'll visit regularly and see what's going on from my perspective. If you don't subscribe for email updates, click here to go to the new site.
Several readers of Relentless Grace have commented that they would like to know a bit more about Becky's side of the story. A new article tells of an important moment in her story:
The Good Little Girl
(Signs of the Times Magazine, May 2009)
I receive so many kind comments about Relentless Grace, but occasionally a reader expresses the point of the story so eloquently that I'm left speechless. I share this story with permission:
Just finished your book last night. Your words touched me in several ways. Wanted to share one. Many years ago, my brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor and became progressively ill. I remember my Mom saying, "He's gonna get better-he's gonna get up and dance. We just have to have faith."
Well, he didn't get better; he definitely didn't "get up and dance." He died at the age of 20. I watched him take his last breath. All these years, I think I've carried around this nagging "feeling" that IF I had had faith, he would have gotten better. Maybe that is foolish and illogical, but feelings aren't always logical. Then I read your book, and I think it finally laid that feeling to rest. It WASN'T a question of faith. It wasn't God's PLAN for my brother to suffer and die. That knowledge finally went from my head to my heart.
A number of folks commented on the touching story a few weeks ago about the service dogs for returning veterans dealing with PTS. If you missed that episode, click here to read it.
Those dogs were trained by a program called PUPPIES BEHIND BARS. That program, along with one of the families I met, will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show on May 6th. The segment is scheduled to include a scene in which Sgt. Allen Hill, his wife Gina, and their service dog Frankie meet the inmate who raised and trained Frankie. I'm told that there weren't many dry eyes in the room (except for Frankie). I encourage you to watch or record the show if you can.
I've reached a milestone: more than one thousand followers on twitter.com. I'm not at all certain what that really means, but if nothing else Twitter is certainly a significant online phenomonon with impacts in many areas of politics, entertainment, and business.
If you're a fellow Twitterhead, follow me (@Rich_Dixon) and send me a tweet.
I'm pleased with responses to my new series of reflections based on the imagery of Psalm 23.
Postcards
From The
Valley
Messages From A Fellow Traveler
This is very much a work in progress, but I hope these reflections provide some small bit of comfort and direction to readers who find themselves wandering in the valley. If you'd like to read these reflections or pass them along to someone else, please click on this link and complete the form. I'll reply via email with a link to a free e-version of the POSTCARDS.
If you prefer to read on your computer, Relentless Grace is now available as an ebook. Go to the order page to get your electronic version.
The book will also be available soon in a Kindle version and as an audio book.
Thank you all for your ongoing support through “word of mouth” recommendations to friends and family. The book world is increasingly an online community, and I appreciate anything you can do to raise the Internet profile of Relentless Grace. For more simple ways to help with building the buzz, this page has some suggestions.
I smile as I track the "Amazon ranking" of Relentless Grace. It's been as high as 100,000, which I'm told is quite high for a privately published book. The project is not about sales for me, but about touching lives. However, such statistics offer a curiousity, if nothing else.
On-going shameless self-promotion: If you enjoyed the book, please visit AMAZON.COM and contribute a five-star review.
I'm honored by three additional speaking appearances in May. These opportunities are an unexpected and enjoyable side benefit of the book. Talking with audiences about overcoming adversity has been a true source of encouragement.
I'm still seeking speaking engagements with both general and faith-based audiences. I’d welcome the opportunity to visit your community and share a bit of my story. As summer and more predictable weather approach, I'm eager to travel a bit and expand the circle even further.
Talking to individuals and groups about hope, love, and the story of Relentless Grace continues to be an enriching and meaningful experience. If you've read the book, please visit the Relentless Grace blog and join the conversation or send me a note at rich@richdixon.net.
Calendar and News
Here are links to recent articles.
HEAVEN: Today's Pentecostal Evangel (Mar 8, 09)
NOT ABANDONED: The Lookout (Jan 18, 09)
GRANDMA'S CAR: Mature Living (Feb 09)
LE TOUR de POOCH: New Mobility (Feb 09)
May 1st: I'll speak to the residents at Good Samaritan nursing home in Fort Collins.
May 7th: I'll speak to the table, a wonderful ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Denver.
May 19th: Technical Assistance Partnership Symposium for nonprofit professionals, sponsored by United Way of Larimer County.
June 13th: I'll speak at Men & Boys BBQ, First Christian Church, Loveland, Co.
June 25th brings an opportunity to speak to the inmates at Larimer County Detention Center.
October 17-18: Disability awareness day at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, Denver
November 5-7: TOUGH MINISTRIES CONFERENCE at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
If you know someone who is looking for a motivational speaker, please contact me or forward this information to an appropriate contact.
If you are engaged in raising funds for a group or individual, send me an email and let’s discuss using the book to support your efforts.
It's easy to sound smart.
Just think of something stupid and then say the opposite.
Blessings,
- Please visit my web site: http://www.richdixon.net
- I’d love to hear from you. Send me a note at: rich@richdixon.net
- If you haven't seen it yet, please click this link to view a short video trailer for Relentless Grace.
- Join the conversation about Relentless Grace at: Relentless Grace blog
- Read my blog post every Friday at: SetFreeToday.com
- To update your contact information: rich@richdixon.net
- I promise I won’t distribute your information to anyone for any reason.
- Take a moment for an Interview With God
