Keeping the Dream Possible

My dad has been gone for 14 years now, but not a day goes by without thinking about him.  One of his favorite songs was, "The Impossible Dream."  Whenever I want to feel near him I play this song.  This morning I listened to it 8 times.

The song reminds me of the great quest for equality, justice, and respect for human life that Dad fought so hard for.  He never gave up, even when he was exhausted.

Lately I feel burdened by the lack of compassion in our world.  People are continually judged and treated in accordance to the country they were born in, by the color of their skin, by their religion, and by their abilities, to name a few.  Sometimes the dream of kindness and compassion feels very unreachable.

This morning I was telling my youngest daughter about "The Impossible Dream" and how much it means to me.  It gives me hope and reminds me of the battles that have been fought and won.  I love the fight I see in my daughters but today I am reminded that I have to share things like this song and the foes of the past that have been fought.  They need the hope of knowing that dreams can be reached and the battle is worth fighting for.

The Impossible Dream
Luther Vandross

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where
The brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march,
March into hell
For that heavenly cause
And I know
If I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart
Will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be
Better for this
That one man, scorned
And covered with scars,
Still strove with his last
Ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable,
The unreachable,
The unreachable star
And I'll always dream
The impossible dream
Yes, and I'll reach
The unreachable star
Songwriters: Joe Darion / Mitchell Leigh
The Impossible Dream lyrics © Helena Music Company

The Gift of Mobility

Over the years I have asked a number of friends of mine to tell me what it feels like to be in a wheelchair.  What are the helpful things people do?  What are the things people do that hurt?  How do children respond vs. adults?  I have been grateful for their honesty and the understanding I have learned from them.

I have loved reading about a variety of ministries around the world.  Joni and Friends has a great ministry collecting, refurbishing, and then distributing wheelchairs around the world.  I have heard of several organizations that provide wheelchair kits that can be sent around the world.  There are even all terrain wheelchairs being made to increase mobility in remote areas.  Below I have pasted a link to an article that shares what is happening in terms of technology and its advancements.  3D printers producing wheelchairs, what an accomplishment!

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/24/technology/3d-printed-wheelchair-benjamin-hubert-layer/

Far too often we think about the hinderance of a wheelchair rather than the gift of mobility it provides.  Can you imagine needing the assistance of a wheelchair and all of the activities it would allow you to do if you had one?  With a wheelchair you are able to play sports, be and play outside, attend school, church and numerous other activities.

If you have a wheelchair you can donate and you live in the Austin area, I would love to hear from you.  I will make sure it will be delivered to someone who's life will be blessed. www.theboggi@aim.com.

Checklists, Goals, and Bucket Lists

One of my gifts for Christmas this year was a little brown book titled, "My Ultimate Bucket List."  I love making lists, setting goals, and adding to my bucket list every year.  In fact, it is the first thing I do every January. I always have my lists checked off, I usually have reached my goals from the year before, but most often it takes years before I scratch something off my bucket list.

Last week, however, I was able to scratch something off my bucket list that I will treasure for years to come.  I was able to visit the International Disability Center and actually meet the very people I have looked up to for years at Joni and Friends.  My visit and my time with them was incredible.  I will post a few pictures but they can't even touch the surface of how powerful the message is the minute you walk in the IDC building.  I will never be able to communicate how much respect I have for the staff at Joni and Friends.  I am just a volunteer and yet was greeted by every staff member and enthusiastically thanked for being part of the ministry.

I met so many great people that love the Lord and the people God puts in their path.  I have never spent time with a group of people that love their neighbor more than they do.  They are humble.  They are excited.  They are full of joy.

I am still on a journey to determine what God is calling me to do for the next 20 years but I couldn't have better people walking this journey with me.  Thank you, Eric Jones! You made this happen and have been a great leader to follow.