Hope — Page 81

A Caring Catalyst

July 20, 2015 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

https://youtu.be/t4WwcGq91VQ

You don’t need a tissue, after watching Dr Levy and Chloe’s story, do you?

Uhhhh. . .maybe a towel. . .perhaps even a blanket. . .

but not really for the reasons that make us cry.

Dr. Alex Levy is a

Caring Catalyst

Who Cares * What Matters

Pssssst. . .it’s not because Dr. Alex is a Doctor. . .

You are a

Caring Catalyst, too

and it has nothing to do with your vocation or occupation. . .

Impacting Another’s Life

(Which we are all more than capable of doing)

is a

C H O I C E

And when made, consistently,

You are much more than a just an

Earner of a Paycheck. . .

You become more fully a

Caring Catalyst

Who Cares * What Matters

and automatically

The World Changes

and so do the people who live in it. . .

especially the ones you intentional

T O U C H

(and in return. . .the Lives that are then intentionally stirred)

Shhhhhhhhhhh. . .Listen. . .A Wedding March is beginning. . . .

( Get in IT! )

Water Pumped

June 26, 2015 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Sometimes the water from another’s Well might not be any colder, but it sure does taste better. . . .

Have you ever tasted it? Ever felt it go all the way down your throat into your stomach?

Jimmy Pettit was one of my friends. We lived a hundred miles away from each other, but not on weekends. On the weekends we both went to our summer camp grounds–our families had one room cabins with two bedrooms and a small bathroom. There were about 10 camps in all and his was just across the gravel road.

He was respite for me from my two brothers and my sister and I gave him a reprieve from his brother.

Buddies. . .Pals. . .Friends. . .Idiots. . . .

We’d swim, fish, hunt and hike together.

It was one, long, hot hike on a sunny morning that turned into an afternoon.

Instead of walking along the creek like we had done hundreds of times, we decided to go up unto the hills to do some exploring.

How thirsty have you ever been?

It wasn’t getting hungry that was the problem…it was the I-hope-I-see-an-oasis-mirage-before-I-blink-my-eyes-thirsty.

What I did see, was one of the best things I ever laid my eyes–even to this day:

An old fashion water pump

Seriously. . .you ever use one. . .have you actually ever drank from an old water pump?

H I N T :

It takes at least two to really get a drink from the old standing water pump out in the middle of nowhere on the edge of an unkept farm house.

It felt like my arm was going to fall off. I pumped and pumped and pumped and pumped and. . .

. . .and then it started coming out in a cold, long, wet stream. . .and it never stopped, as long as you would keep pumping.

I’ve often thought about that as a metaphor for my life

when I felt like giving up. . .

when I felt responsible for my grandfather’s death

when I had to miss a basketball season with bad knees

when I went away to school

when I got married a week out of college

when I went away to Seminary

when I became a dad

when I began at my first church

when I got divorced

when I ran 7 and a half marathons

when I got married again

when I became a hospice chaplain

when I self-published books

when I became a grandfather

when I became a professional speaker

when doors closed and windows wouldn’t open

when I. . .

I remember pumping water that day. . .I remember working hard to get the water to come up deep from that well and just when it didn’t seem like it was ever going to come out. . .there. . .there. . .it was.

I didn’t have to pump as hard after that, but I had to make sure, especially after all the hard work to get it flow, I didn’t want to stop. . .didn’t want to start all over again and I didn’t as long as I kept the long, steady stroke of bringing that glorious water forth.

Jimmy drank first from his cupped hands and then he let it pour over his head and finally laid upside down and let it pour into his mouth, his throat. . .

. . .and then. . .and then. . .it was my turn. I did the same thing. . .I drank and let the water run over my head and finally just laid underneath of it and let it fill up my mouth and run down my throat, too.

We took turns, getting drenched and drinking our fill, all the time, making sure the water wasn’t going to stop flowing;

The Secret:

We never stopped pumping. . .getting soak. . .drinking

The Lesson:

We needed each other to quench our thirsts. . .our truest Thirsts

The Hope:

We may all be Water Pumped

Blending Opposites

March 11, 2015 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

When was the last time you felt totally

B A LA NC ED. . .?

If you talk to any person or group of people they most likely will admit to you that

BALANCE

is work and rare for any length of time.

Well, of course there’s an APP for THAT and now, of all things, a bracelet.

A LOKAI Bracelet.

It’s a stretchable bracelet that has a Black Bead containing mud from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The Black Bead symbolizes the most Difficult moments you may experience throughout life.

Directly across from the Black Bead of Difficulty is a White Bead containing water from Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth, highlighting Life’s Highest moments. The water is actually infused into the silicone mixture and then injected into the White ball itself to insure that the water is always in the Bead.

The Clear Beads in between are clear to remind us that

C L A R I T Y

is key in times of both, Joy and Sadness.

The Clear Beads also symbolize that we all have

A STORY

and those Beads just represent pieces of THAT Story.

The Lokai Bracelet was created by a man named Steven Izen after he learned that his grandfather had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. The experience of joy and sadness was experienced so close together that he thought life is

C I R C U L A R

and throughout our highest HIGHS and lowest LOWS, it’s important to always remain balanced.

Why LOKAI?

The name was inspired by the Hawaiian Word: L O K A H I
which means UNITY and to BLEND OPPOSITES. . . .

It’s main purpose is to

R E M I N D

us to simply stay HOPEFUL and know that even in the most darkest moments

IT WILL GET BETTER!

I asked HER about this bracelet when I first saw it and in part, that was the explanation I received.

My knee-jerk follow up question was:

DOES IT WORK?

There was no hesitation before I got a one-word answer:

A B S O L U T E L Y.

I swallowed hard the remark,

“SO DOES SHARK REPELLENT IN OHIO!”

What is it for you?

What gives. . .brings. . .assures. . .infuses. . .promises. . .delivers. . .

B A LAN CE in YOU?

Is it a Bracelet?
Is it a Blanket?
Is it a Robe?
Is it a piece of jewelry?
Is it a Symbol?
Is it a piece of clothing?
Is it a Chair?
Is it Music?
Is it a Written Word?
Is it Food?
Is it Alcohol?
Is it Drugs?
Is it a certain kind of meditation?
Is it a massage?
Is it_______________________________________________?

Whatever you feel brings you Balance, does–doesn’t it?

What YOU THINK really is a powerful, second-to-none-potion.

Pssssssst: It’s NOT the same thing for Everyone.

The real irony is that

WHATEVER IT IS

is seldom utilized.

IT should be used often/always. . .

and then…then Shared!

(NO, NOT THE SYMBOL FOR THE BALANCING)

But YOUR BALANCED SELF!

YOUR BALANCED SELF IS THE GREATEST FORM OF BALANCE YOU CAN BRING TO ANOTHER. . .
(WHICH IS THE REASON I WEAR MY LOKAI BRACELET–TO BE BALANCED TO BRING BALANCE).

A Peaceful Heart Comforts a Troubled Heart

which equals

A BLENDED BALANCE!

Slip THAT on for Size

GIFT

February 2, 2015 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Buddy, can you spare a dime?

How about seven minutes?

GIFT

is a short film that has a profound, heart-touching message about the importance of GIVING, and the true value of wealth. It’s a beautiful deperiction of how we deeply touch others when we SELFLESSLY give our time, love and kindness.

GIFT

is about a boy who grew up not liking his father because he believed he was poor, unintelligent and unsuccessful, but his father had a secret. It was only until after his father’s death he discovers the true reach of his father’s generosity towards others and the joy and laughter he brought to others. He finally understands his father’s message to him as a boy, that

“BEING RICH IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, BUT HOW MUCH YOU GIVE”

I’ve watched the film several times and used it in a couple of presentations I’ve given, and plan to use it in some upcoming ones in March.

It doesn’t matter how many times I watch it.

I tear up

I gulp a little harder

I hear two words that just keep resounding louder and louder above the soft soundtrack. . .

I’M

A S H A M E D.

I’m filthy, stinking rich. . .

and aim to become just a little richer than any calculations could ever compute

. . .and even richer, still, tomorrow.

Here’s my invitation:

JOIN ME!

A Necessary Heart Attack

December 22, 2014 By ChuckBehrens 2 Comments

So what is IT?

We’ve been bombarded almost constantly, some say since Christmas In July, with

C H R I S T M A S !

So what is your favorite Christmas movie or animation, because they’ve been on since Thanksgiving?

I think mine is the THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS but it’s not a run-a-way winner by far. I like them all.

I think I choose the Grinch because of one particular scene that I loved from the book written in

1957. . . .

(SEE, EVEN IN 1957 THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS AND WHAT MAKES IT SO SIGNIFICANT TO SO MANY. . . .)

“. . .AND THE GRINCH, WITH HIS GRINCH-FEET ICE COLD IN THE SNOW, STOOD PUZZLING AND PUZZLING, HOW COULD IT BE SO? IT CAME WITHOUT RIBBONS. IT CAME WITHOUT TAGS. IT CAME WITHOUT PACKAGES, BOXES OR BAGS. AND HE PUZZLED AND PUZZLED ‘TILL HIS PUZZLER WAS SORE. THEN THE GRINCH THOUGHT OF SOMETHING HE HADN’T THOUGHT OF BEFORE. WHAT IF CHRISTMAS, HE THOUGHT, DOESN’T COME FROM A STORE? WHAT IF CHRISTMAS, PERHAPS, MEANS A LITTLE BIT MORE?”

Could be the greatest WHAT IT ever, huh?

or maybe. . .

WHAT IF…

Christmas is less about RELIGION and severely about what R E A L L Y

makes our Hearts grow Three times M O R E?

Well, now. . .

That’s a HEART ATTACK we all could afford…

Even…EVEN…

n e c e s s a r y.

The covers are turned down;

See you in the C. C. U.

S T A T !

Your Rung

November 5, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

In a Concentration Camp there was a Prisoner who, even though he was under the sentence of execution, was fearless and free.

On a day where he was making his own Sunshine for others to squint, he was seen in the middle of the prison yard playing his makeshift guitar. A large crowd gathered to listen, for under that magical spell of his music, they all became as fearless as he. When the prison guards saw this, they forbade him to play.

But the very next day, there he was again, strumming tunes on his guitar and singing with a larger crowd around him. The guards angrily dragged him away and had his fingers chopped off.

The next day. . .yes, there’s always A NEXT DAY. . .

There he was–BACK–singing and making what music he could with his bleeding stubs.

The crowds not only gathered, they cheered loudly and D A N C E D.

The guards grabbed him and dragged him away as they beat him with his guitar until it was splintered stringless.

The next day. . .yes, the very next twenty-four hours. . .

He was standing in the prison yard singing a song that would make Pavarotti jealous.

What a song.

Pure.

Uplifting.

The crowd joined in, and while the singing lasted, their hearts became just as PURE as his and they felt

I N V I N C I B L E

in an UN-invincible place.

So very angry were the guards this time that they had his tongue torn out.

A sickening silence hovered over the camp like a heavy dark fog.

If DEATHLESS had a sound. . .

they all heard just THAT!

No. . .NO. . .N O

No one could believe it when he was back in the Prison yard the next morning.

He was swaying. . .

He was dancing. . .

To a Music that was so Silent it screamed loud enough. . .

EVERYONE seemed to hear.

And soon, without any hesitation or invitation,

there they were, the other prisoners holding hands and dancing around this bleeding, UN

broken figure in the center

while the guards just stood there, rooted to the ground in utter wonder. . .disbelief.

What?

How?

Why?

are some of the questions that come to Soul when we hear. . .become such stories.

It didn’t take me some twenty years of Hospice work, and thousands of patients later, to figure out that
not ONE OF THEM have ever showed me how to die. . .

EVERYONE ONE OF THEM HAVE VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATED HOW TO LIVE.

Some call it Spiritual.

Some call it Religion.

Some call it Common Sense.

Some call it Sixth Sense.

I’m still not so sure what to label it and have come to accept that maybe it needs

No Name.

But when I see it exhibited, hear it spoken, taste it’s sweetness, touch it’s sacredness, or smell it’s aroma. . .

I take another step up the Ladder.

Haven’t I seen you on those Rungs?

I’m sure I have. . . .

Without naming it or putting it into shape or form, you too, know.

Like me, you too have

C O M P A N I O N E D

What a perch to look out from, huh?

You know the very best RUNG to see it all from?

THE NEXT ONE. . .

U P

S C O R E

November 3, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Lauren Hill–A Freshman basketball player at Mt. St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(DIPG) Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma–An inoperable form of cancer with roots at the base of her brain stem and growing tentacles weaving through out her nerves.

T E R M I N A L

This isn’t a post about the unfairness of the situation. . .

This isn’t a post about WHY’S, HOW-COME’S, WHAT-FOR’S. . .

This isn’t a post about Lauren’s wish to compete in just one single game before. . .

This isn’t a post about an opposing coach and team being more compassionate than competitive. . .

This isn’t a post about ___________________________________________________. . . .

This is a post about Hope. . .

This is a post about Dreams coming true. . .

This is a post about saying “HELLO” and never GOOD-BYE. . .

This is a post about Living. . .

This is a post about________________________________________________________. . . .

The Lauren Hill’s will tell you what they’re afraid of the most isn’t the dying, the ‘what-is-next’s’, the leaving, so much as “the Leftover’s” the ones they’re leaving behind.

I’ve just celebrated twenty years at Hospice; started on a Halloween Day Monday in 1994.

I’ve seen lots of Pain.

I’ve seen lots of Anguish.

I’ve seen lots of Dying and Death.

I’ve seen lots of miracles that would have never been possible without all of those ingredients.

Mostly. . .I’ve seen not so much how to die as how to live.

I’ve had there in those rooms, at those beds, the best seat in and out of this World and I’ve been invited, entrusted to be there.

I’ve experienced that it’s the people, those magnificent golden strands, who have interwoven themselves into the very fabric of a Life, that makes life all that it is Life really is.

Lauren Hill gets IT.

She knows in essence what we all know: WE ARE TERMINAL.

I’ve done the studies–100 out of 100 of us are going to die.

That’s NOT the sad part–for Lauren or for us.

The sad part is not LIVING. . .

Not Living Before we Know IT. . .

Not Living During IT. . .

Not Living Through IT. . .

Not Living After IT. . . .

It’s a LIVING that DEFIES cancer, death. . . .

Lauren Hill proved that she is a huge DIS-EASE that Cancer has for which there’s no cure.

She proved with a simple lay-up in the first and only basketball game she’ll ever play in college, that
L-I-F-E is not just spelled with Capital letters–but EXPERIENCED in a much larger way:

S C O R E

Hope, Faith, and Love

September 17, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

How good of a NOTICE-ER are you?

Do you believe in Coincidence or are you more of an Einstein believer of, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining Anonymous?”

I’ve always had a fairly sharp eye for what’s happening around me. I still think I MISS much more than I notice, but a willingness to SEE, HEAR, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL more goes a very long way in actually seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling so much more than purposely not doing so.

Everyone wears NAME TAGS these day.

EVERYONE. . .EVERYWHERE.

I saw her’s at CVS as I was checking out. Her name was HOPE.

“I like your name, do you?” I asked her.

She smiled and said it was ok.

I asked her if anyone ever made fun of it and she told me more than she’d like, but was pretty much use to it.

I thanked her for taking care of me so nicely and said, “No pun intended, but I ‘HOPE’ your name serves you well and others more than you’ll ever understand or imagine.”

She smiled at back at me and already began checking out the good of the person behind me.

I NOTICED. . .

Later that day I was picking up some copied mps/cd’s from a camera shop and person who had called me on the phone to let me know that my order was ready, she identified herself as, Faith.

I had a little “Hmmmmmmmmmmm of the Day,” moment.

When I met her, I asked her about her name just like I had done with Hope. She told me that it was an aunt’s name who had died before she had been born.

I asked her if she liked her name and she smiled and shrugged her shoulders a little and giggled out a, “It’s alright, I guess.”

“Well, Faith,” I said, “I hope your name serves you and others well–just like it did me today.”

Her smile served as her only response.

I NOTICED. . .

It was my last visit of the day.

She was sitting with her back to me and her husband was lying in bed.

From the doorway, I could see he was half sleeping and half awake, moaning softly.

He blinked opened his eyes repeatedly, tried to clear his throat and then with a raspy whisper he said, “Hey Love, can you give me sip of water?”

“Ahhhh, thank you, Love, thank you,” he sighed as he was already back into a not so restless slumber.

“What a great name,” I said as I pulled up a chair beside her on the side of his bed.

She looked at me with moist, tired, red eyes.

“Oh that’s not my name, it’s Gloria, but he’s called me that since our second date 48 years ago.”

“It seems to fit,” I told her as we sat silently watching her husband breathe with a little rattle.

He mumbled, “Love. . .Love. . .Love. . . .”

She put her hand over top of his and laid her head down on the side of his bed.

It was peaceful. . .it was Love-FILLED.

I NOTICED. . .

Coincidence or

meeting three women in three so very different places, God’s way of remaining Anonymous?

Are you a good Notice’er?

You really don’t have to be Einstein to N O T I C E

Hope. . .

Faith. . .

Love. . .

The Greatest of these is not just in the NOTICING, but BEING in the moments that make Life more than mere Consequences…and then,

SHARING THEM. . . .

A Fan or a Follower?

September 8, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

I’ve been a life long Pittsburgh Steeler Fan.

Now it comes honestly. I’ve been living in Cleveland since 1987 and I don’t think I’ll live anywhere else because I love the area and what it offers so much.

But. . .

I was born in Wheeling, WV and grew up about thirty miles away in Washington, PA, about a half an hour from Pittsburgh.

As much as I love the Cav’s (especially with LaBron and his supporting cast in place) and am an avid Tribe supporter, The Steelers…well, I just can’t give them up.

However. . .

I’m not a Pittsburgh Steeler Fan, anymore. I’m certainly not a Baltimore Ravens Fan and no, sadly, I’m not a Browns fan either.

After seeing the video of Devon Still and his four-year old cancer-stricken daughter and hearing that in the midst of all of his troubles, he actually finds out that he didn’t make the final roster cut of the Cincinnati Bengals…but included him on the Team’s Practice Squad, how can you not at least have a little bit of support for THAT team?

THAT they signed him to a newly expanded Practice Squad…

THAT he will not be traveling a whole lot and be able to spend precious time with his daughter…

THAT he will receive $6300.00 a week for his salary for being on the Practice Squad…

THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE INSURANCE FOR MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL CARE…

goes well beyond what football is, promises, or ever hopes to be, even with the ultimate winning of the Super Bowl or MVP Honors.

I’d like to think, just because the Browns lost to the Steelers on a last second Field Goal after coming back from a 27-3 half-time deficit, their home opener next week will still be a sell-out–not because of Fans…but faithful, die-hard FOLLOWERS!

FOLLOWERS who, regardless of wins/losses, last-second defeats or stupid-game-losing-mistakes, still believe, still support, still root, support, wear the T-shirt. . . .

Are you a Fan or a Follower?

It’s not often or often enough to be sure, but when I watch a video like the one above or hear of a TRUE LOVE STORY like Devon Still and his daughter, I become a much more Compassionate, Committed Follower; my heart beats a little more proudly; my eyes become watery; my faith a little more restored; my Hope–more secured.

Are you a Fan or a Follower?

Sometimes…just Some Times…

there’s a new song that just doesn’t need to be heard, or sung, but followed!

Let The Dance Begin…and never end. . .my fellow Followers!

Seed (y)

July 30, 2014 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

ONCE UPON A TIME…

Could easily be NOW as THEN or WHEN.

The story goes that a thief was sentenced to death in this ONCE UPON A TIME mode for stealing some bread. Before he he was taken to the gallows he was allowed to make a statement to the King.

“Your Majesty,” the thief summoned humbly, “I am the only man living who knows how to plant apple seeds that will grow and bear fruit over night. To atone for my crime, I would merely like to teach you and your court the secret. I’ll just need a shovel, these hand full of seeds I carry around, and a young maiden who has not tasted love’s first kiss.”

Well, the King was a little intrigued and so he took the thief to a nearby field to learn this most awesome secret.

The thief knelt down and quickly dug a small hole.

“Now,” the thief said, “the water must be poured in the hole by a young maiden.”

The King’s own daughter stepped forward and poured the water in the freshly dug hole.

“We are now ready for the actual planting of the magical seeds,” the thief said addressing the King and his honored Court.

“The seed can only be placed in the earth by someone who has never taken a single item that didn’t belong to them, no matter how small or how long ago.”

[Read more…]

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