Archive for the 'Forgiveness' Category

Beautiful Soul

My mom rarely sends emails, so when she does I pay attention. This week, she sent a link to a YouTube video. Twelve minutes later, I sat at my desk with tears in my eyes. The video was the official trailer from a documentary called, “Alice Dancing Under the Gallows” about 106 year old Alice Herz-Sommer – the oldest living Holocaust survivor.

When I collected my thoughts, it occurred to me that this vibrant, beautiful soul was the embodiment of The Four Keys. Let me explain.

At the age of 39, Alice was sent to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp known as a purgatory for artists. Concerts, plays and other displays were used to generate propaganda to prove that inmates were well treated. Alice was a… Continue reading

Published on Monday November 8, 2010 in Blogs and Forgiveness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The Power of Second Chances

Theodore Johnson, or “Mr. J” was my fifth grade teacher.

He was a tall, slender man with a reputation for fun that made students pray to be assigned to his class. Mr. J was significant in my life for many reasons. As an educator, he brought mundane subjects to life with humor and passion.

As a person, he taught me the blessing of an unexpected second chance.

One Monday morning, the schoolyard buzzed with rumors about a fire in the school over the weekend. When the bell rang I raced inside, excited by the acrid scent of burnt wood that confirmed the rumors.

Homeroom hummed with conversation. Mr. J quieted the class and explained that “Home Economics” would be cancelled due to a fire. He also… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Forgiveness, Spirit and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Send Beauty

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, Kate Cain-Bell was fully immersed in teaching “something important” to her first-grade class at Richboro Elementary School in Richboro, Pennsylvania.

Not long into the day, the principle asked her to step out the classroom for a moment. There, in the hallway, she heard about the devastation in New York and Washington, D.C. It was difficult for her to grasp the news, let alone explain it to innocent minds, so she agreed with the school’s decision not to inform the children.

When Kate returned to her waiting students, the class work seemed to pale in comparison to the significance of the day’s events. As a deeply spiritual woman, she felt compelled to impact the world in a positive way during the time… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Forgiveness, Spirit and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Mark of Angels

Many years ago my husband and I visited Bern, the charming capitol of Switzerland. One evening, we had a night free of planned activities.

Feeling liberated from itineraries, we wandered through the medieval streets into the heart of Bern. The warm evening breeze had lured swarms of people into the town square. Old men played checkers at cement tables amid musicians, jugglers and other assorted street performers. Frank and I paused to drink in the carnival of sights and sounds.

An American accent rang out above the bustle. I grabbed Frank’s hand and pulled him toward the sound of home.

“One… Two… Three!”

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd around a juggler. I moved in closer, drawn in by his act and familiar accent.… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Forgiveness, Parenting, Serendipity, Spirit and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .