Long Time No Post

Well here I am again - a year later. I am not sure I am made to blog but I see so many things each and every day that pull at my heartstrings I feel God has placed me in a position to share some of this. Much of it involves children, but not all. Yesterday I had the opportunity to join a local police officer as we attempted to persuade a person who was riding the shoulder of the highway in their wheelchair. Now mind you it was 97 degrees the only fluid this person had was a can of root beer that they were sure was poisoned therefore they would not drink the soda or the yet sealed bottle of water I offered. The dilemma here is no family, no money, no options. The local cop had already spent a couple of hours with this person and they were unwilling to go back to their residence because the people there were poisoning the water and food and sneaking in a night and cutting this individuals hair. After several hours spent attempting to gain trust, nothing worked. Unfortunately part of my job is admitting people who need psychiatric care even when they will not go voluntarily. I hate this part of my job even though I understand it is necessary. It hurts that there are so few options available for many people. Some are stuck in the muck of the consequences of earlier actions and choices, some are innocent victims of a fallen world. And yet the others are the victim of the poor choices of others.

If you have paid attention to the news at all, funding for mental health services is shrinking or in the case of Illinois, the state just has no money to pay their bills. Yet another fiscal year looms ahead and we anticipate cuts in our budget and layoffs. Heck, we have services that have not been paid for in a least a year - still waiting on the state! The impact of this will be wide felt in our society. I say we quite flying officials all over the state and country - even the world and expect them to stay at home and work for us collectively. If the budget isn't done on time - there should not be additional expenses paid to drag out the process. After the deadline they are on their own dime! Failure to provide adequate mental health services will have a direct impact on the medical system, the criminal system from the local cop on up, as well as, the families and communities in which we live. There are plenty of things most of us can live without but compassion for the least of these is not one on them.

This incident is one of many in any given day. It does not include the 7 and 8 year olds that sob endless in my office because of the horrendous things they have endured at the hand of those who are supposed to love and nurture them. This doesn't include the person who is dying and trying to figure out what the latest letter claiming she has no coverage for this particular medication means for her depression and pain. Every day is different, each soul unique, special in the eyes of the Creator. My hope at the end of the day is that my clients walk away with hope for better days ahead, recognition that some one has unconditional regard for them and that they are not alone.

And some days I still have to fill out the involuntary commit paperwork in order to keep people safe from themselves or to keep others safe from them. Mental Health is a challenging field. There are so many variables that enter into the mix. I work with a wonderful group of co-workers who have learned to do the best possible job with less than you can imagine. They are creative, hope giving and committed ( some days maybe "commitable" :) and passionate in the midst of dark and stressful times. It is an uncomfortable calling, but then I know few biblical leaders who were comfortable. Most of them spent time explaining to God why they were unfit to be used by him. I guess we just have to remember that it has little to do with us and everything to do with God!

What Was She Thinking?

Just when you think you have heard it all some one does something that just is beyond belief. God save us from teachers with this kind of poor judgment:

AP -HAMILTON, Ohio - A school spokesman said a 47-year-old southwest Ohio teacher resigned after acknowledging she accompanied four female students to a male strip club.
The teacher, who resigned Thursday, told Edgewood High School administrators that the students, all cheerleaders, asked her to take them to the bar in February, said Bill Solazzo, Butler Tech school district's spokesman.
The teacher told school officials in an e-mail that she got permission from the parents of the 17- and 18-year-olds to bring them to the club.

Okay, this article really set me off:

BALTIMORE - A former religious cult member pleaded guilty Monday to starving her 1-year-old son to death after making an unusual deal with prosecutors: If the child is resurrected, her plea will be withdrawn.
Ria Ramkissoon, 22, also agreed to testify against four other members of the now-defunct religious group known as 1 Mind Ministries. All four are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Javon Thompson.
According to a statement of facts, the cult members stopped feeding the boy when he refused to say "Amen" after a meal. After Javon died, Ramkissoon sat next to his decomposing body and prayed for his resurrection.

A one year old who refused to say "Amen" after a meal was punished to death! In what world would this be acceptable. The fact that it was done in the name of religion makes it even more heinous. What happened to age appropriate behavior and expectations. It breaks my heart to think of this adorable little guy being starved to death and it enrages me that adults and leaders approved of the actions taken against him. When will people learn to think for themselves rather than blindly following leaders who neither model or promoted godly principles.

I am not sure what 1 Mind Ministries is all about but it is certainly not about the Judeao-Christian God who created us in his image. This is evil at it's very core. This is about some one's ego and power and control. I wonder how the boy was to be resurrected while being shoved in a locked suitcase?

Children are indeed a gift from God and His son scolded the disciples for assuming that children would be a bother to Him. They wrongly assumed He had more important things to do than let children come to him and ask questions and be curious. I bet the disciples didn't forget the rebuke - I wonder when we will finally "get" the point?

Never Underestimate the Power of a Kid

One day a friend called. She was at her wits end because her 4 yr old was throwing terrible tantrums that lasted longer than usual. We discussed putting her in her room until she could calm down. My friend had tried that but she couldn't keep her in there. I informed her that you have to stay right there and keep her in her room even if it means holding the door closed. You can talk with her so she doesn't feel locked- up but the point is to calm down then talk. Great advice and usually most kids will respond to this and "get it". It also teachers them to remove themselves from upsetting situations and get control of their feelings. Well, mom and I were just feeling so smug about how well we took care of that little bump in the road when the next tantrum came along. Mom did everything correctly and finally the raging storm of a child calmed down. Mom, impressed that this was working, decided it was safe to walk away and wait for her to come out, when the doorbell rang. Feeling good about the whole thing a confident mom headed to the front door.

Imagine her shocked expression when whom did she greet at the front door? You guessed the 4 yr old. She had managed to get to the window, opened it, popped out the screen and climbed out the window onto the shrubs. Now she wanted in so she rang the doorbell.

Yes indeed so much for being smart adults. Never underestimate the power of a kid!

"VEEDERSBURG, Ind. - A couple who ran a baby-sitting service out of their home videotaped themselves performing sex acts with children, some as young as 2 months old, police said Friday."

This is the word from the Associated Press today. No matter how many times this happens and I hear it, it still knocks me over. How do we know our children are safe, who can we entrust them to, how will the damage be repaired? I can't even begin to imagine the anger and betrayal these parents feel learning of the vile acts perpetrated against their babies. How do we as a society respond to such horror? There are even people who claim this does no harm. I think all you have to do to disprove that notion is to ask an adult victim of child sexual abuse if it has affected their life. I am quite sure you will get a resounding yes. If the determining factor on the greatness of a society is based on how we treat the very young and the very old, we are failing miserably. God help us!

There are so many things that I am passionate about and how the world deals with children is at the top of my list. Just this week I read gruesome details of a thirteen year old who committed murder; of a man deemed sexually violent for molesting a 4 year old little girl; and a school where several children had all been molested by the same teacher. I wonder how kids see their world, it looks pretty scary from my perspective. How do we open their eyes to the dangers and still allow them to be innocent? As a therapist, I see children everyday who are dealing with the scars and fears that will impact their lives in some way for as long as they live. I like to see myself as a messenger of hope. HOPE that God will use this to bring good. As hard as that is to understand I do believe that God never wastes anything in our lives. I don't believe he causes evil but because he has given mankind free will some choose to exercise their evil ways on the lives of others.

Children delight, puzzle and sometimes irritate me. About the time I think aarrrgghh, they come up with something that totally cracks me up or brings me to my knees. With years of working with children I have collected so many delightful stories. Some of these stories I will share with you. The name will be changed to protect the guilty, mischievous and the profound. I have often ask parents what they would "pay" if I didn't tell what their kid did......most of them whipped out the checkbook. Out of the mouths of babes!