Ale for the Soul

A little over one week ago, I received news from The University of Texas in Austin they denied my application for admission as a student to their prestigious school.  Apparently they are so prestigious, people with a flawless 4.0 grade point average can't get in either.  This was a devastating blow to my ego, and a slap in the face of the hard work I've put forth these previous three years earning my Associates Degree at Tarrant County College.  The intellectual and emotional turmoil raging in my head has been non-stop.  On Monday I shared with my "Friends of Bill" group what I have been dealing with over the past week.  The topic of the group discussion was 'Acceptance' and how it is so important to serenity, as well as to emotional and physical sobriety.  I knew if I didn't deal with the storm raging 'between my ears,' I would eventually pick up a drink in order to numb and not deal with the resentment and hurt plaguing my heart and soul.  As mor

Over the previous week I have been sorting family photographs dating to the early to mid 1800s.  Now I'm beginning to place those same photographs into photo albums in order to make the sorting process easier.  Subconsciously this has been a time of reflection.  As these thoughts bubble up to the level of cognizance, I find myself regretful over missed opportunity: time with family deciphering the wealth of information through pictures and documents I find before me.  In speaking to an acquaintance at the cigar shop, a realization dawned I am not alone in these thoughts and feelings.  How may we individually guard against this by seizing the day when we are younger, full of life, and taking such treasures as family for granted?  Now it is my duty to uphold my family honor and tradition by uncovering the treasure before me and sharing it with my present family.  The torch of the family heritage and culture has been passed on to me, however unconscious of this I may have been at the

"God wants to change us into people who are truly noble, people who reflect an unswerving confidence in who He is, which equips us to face all of life and still remain faithful.  Spirituality built on pretense is not spirituality at all.  God wants us to be courageous people who are deeply bothered by the horrors of living as part of a fallen race, people who look honestly at every struggle, who feel overwhelmed by what we see, yet emerge prepared to live: scarred, still troubled, but deeply loving.  When the fact is faced that life is profoundly disappointing, the only way to make it is to learn to love.  And only those who are no longer consumed with finding satisfaction now are able to love.  Only when we commit our yearnings for perfect joy to a Father we have learned to deeply trust are we free to live for others despite the reality of a perpetual ache." Larry Crabb The False Hope of Modern Christianity From the book Inside Out