Thank you for lifting my spirits up when I happened to truly need it by putting this on your blog. I am going though one of those times in life when too much is happening at once, and I dont know whether Im coming or going half of the time. Seeing your positive message and reinforcement to my sometimes stubborn mind that I am not alone when I feel that I am suffering, or that nobody cares, really meant alot to me and I wanted you to know through this reply. Thank you so much, for on the outside world there is not too much positivity being spread around between human beings lately which is so sad. I can only hope I have not gotten to the point where it has now negatively affected me after years of looking past it and not letting it change my whole demeanor forever. Since my biggest fear is letting negative vibes that are currently spreading like wildfire throughout the USA especially past 10-12 years Ive noticed, change who I am because if that happens, I will make up part of the negative crowd and the positive ones will become even more rare than we already have done! (smile) SO.... Thanks, you encouraging me to look from other directions and viewpoints, despite this tough time. With one piece of paper you managed to change my entire day and outlook at once. I just wanted to let you know that you can always brighten the lives of your readers even if you dont always find out that you did so. I figured Id let you know personally via this blog! Take care and never change the way you are, and I will do my best to stay strong and encouraged by the fact that I am cared about by someone higher than I am who knows what all of this is happening for even though I do not yet know the bigger reasons behind any of it. (smile) I guess at times we can wander astray from our own minds and who we are and who we have been for many years (almost 30 for me now) and forget why we even try. But I refuse to change my ways, even if I am going to be a bit more selective in who I show kindness to and not be naive in such a backwards world. I hate to see such negativity "winning" out here but sadly, it seems to be. (sad face) You have managed to be a bright spot in my day today when I havent had a bright spot hit me in the eyes since the month of May on the 15th when all of this both ended and began for me. Keep me in your prayers and send peace of mind to me as I try and make wise decisions regarding the things Im enduring. I would really appreciate that, and Ill keep you in my best of wishes, kind thoughts, prayers and send kind blessings your way each morning and night as well. Much Luv, C.C.

P.S. Know and please do not underestimate (or I doubt Id be making such a big deal of it haha seriously!) the fact that you are appreciated for (being rare and doing what is so hard to find these days which is....) choosing on your own time to try and bring calm kind peace to others as you have for me today only halfway thru my day, at 1:22 pm. So please, always remember: You are also cared about too and always to take care of YOU as well! Thanks so so much, and please dont forget that you have passed on some positivity in a world where it is majorly lacking and growing more sparse daily out here (sadly so), so thanks times 100, XRAY, for your blog post- the 1 Corinthians verse, picture, and mostly of all your encouraging words at such a badly needed time on my end recently. Cos I needed it and was tired of pretending to be strong. I needed to admit that I was falling victim to the negative side because it seems to be winning and making those like I miserable at the same time. Now I want to re-think that and consider it entirely differently. Knowing that there are others like you, XRAY, who think as I do even under hard times and rough circumstances encourages me as well. So please just know that in return for your kindness you have shown through this one blog post, that I will always wish you the very best as well. Keep up the positive vibes, keep them coming for those that need them, because you are helping more than you know and I felt that you deserved the feedback necessary so youd hear that from one of your readers. Take care and much love, sorry for the long reply! -Once Again, C.C. (Aug 19)

2 Corinthians 1 is one of the primary scriptures that drives me in ministry to the homeless, sick and incarcerated (along with Matt. 25), and it's our call to care for the least of these our brothers; He did it for us. This is not unlike Christ's call for us to die to ourselves, as He died to remove the barrier between us and Heaven. -Dan Nelson

Below is a poem read at a Chaplain graduation:

"You feel you are hedged in; you dream of escape; but beware of mirages. Do not run or fly away in order to get free: rather dig in the narrow place which has been given you; you will find God there and everything.

God does not float on your horizon; he sleeps in your substance. Vanity runs, love digs. If you fly away from yourself, your prison will run with you and will close in because of the wind of your flight; if you go deep down into yourself it will disappear in paradise."

LE PEUCH ('Homo Viator'
latin for ‘fellow traveler’)

What it says to me: When God lives in us, we can be content and bring God fruit, wherever we are, doing whatever service God has entrusted us to do for Him. Vanity flies, love stays and digs; and finds paradise.

Dan Nelson (offered for my friend X-ray)