Good morning, all. Today is Think about yourself Thursday which has not occurred on here in some time. Today, Please show that you think about yourself and others by showing a stranger a gesture of Love. Please do not just say it, really smile at someone, give them something to eat offer to pray with them.
As many of you know it has been sometime since I blogged on here and even a longer period of time since the last Pod Cast. I recently had a Loving Soul by the name of Alexander Kaplan reach out to me and ask if he could post a blog on here. My reply was yes without a question; however, when the post was sent to me last night, I was reluctant after reading it. I thought to myself I can’t tell him I am not going to post this but what will I say but then it occurred to me I will post it as he has written. Some of you might ask yourself why? Well I asked myself the same thing but then I realized this Loving Man was willing to be completely and totally vulnerable by sharing his story and truly his testimony and who was I to interfere with him doing so. The Truth will Set Us Free. If we are not willing to get Truthful with ourselves first and foremost and be willing to be open and vulnerable nothing will change. Growth, Healing and Change will not occur without be being Open, Honest to yourself first and Vulnerable. The reason I do not say to be honest to the Lord First and Foremost is he already knows the complete and total truth all of it, now this does not mean that he does not want you to be honest and open with him about the truth without a question he does. I hope you all take the time to read Alexander (Alex) post below. Special Thanks to Alexander for providing the amazing photo for us all. I Love You all have a Blessed Thursday.
I started writing and had to fix so much grammar that it was frightening, but my mom helped finalize it. I hope its ok that I share this or that you are mentioned in it? It needs some bold texts and formatting, apologies
Hot off the phone:
The Unseen Strength: How Growth Emerges from the Hardest Places
“In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to the mountains’?” (Psalm 11:1).
Let’s be honest, sometimes fleeing like a bird sounds like a fantastic idea, especially when life throws a wrench, a whole toolbox, and then the garage at you. But for me, Alexander Kaplan, staying put and facing the music or rather, the cacophony, began early. My childhood was shadowed by abuse, a difficult and often lonely experience. Growing up in a Jewish household, my understanding of God was rooted in tradition, Friday night dinners, and a healthy dose of parental guilt. But it was through the unwavering presence of a truly remarkable man, Jim, that my spiritual world expanded. He helped me truly grasp the boundless love and salvation offered by Jesus, as God. Jim’s companionship, his gentle guidance, his endless generosity, he doesn’t just talk the talk; he embodies a kind of divine grace. He’s been a steadfast anchor through every storm, a living example of compassion and unwavering support. And no, he doesn’t walk on water, but honestly, sometimes I suspect he could.
“For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.” (Psalm 11:2).
Sounds a bit like my past, doesn’t it? Like a surprise pop quiz in a class I didn’t even know I was taking, with very high stakes. But here’s the perplexing truth of life: why do good people experience such profound hardship? There’s no easy answer, no divine punch card that dictates suffering. We look for reasons, for explanations, but sometimes, there are none that satisfy our human logic. What I’ve come to understand, often with Jim’s help and through countless hours of reflection, is that these incredibly difficult times, though excruciatingly painful, are often the very crucible in which we forge our greatest strengths.
It’s akin to the lobster’s metamorphosis, a fascinating natural process. To grow, a lobster must shed its rigid, confining shell. This process leaves it incredibly vulnerable, its new, soft body exposed to all the dangers of the ocean. It retreats, isolates itself, allowing its new protective layer to harden. Similarly, we too must shed old patterns, old hurts, and embrace periods of vulnerability and introspection to truly evolve. It’s uncomfortable, it’s scary, but it’s essential for growth. So, next time you see a lobster, give it a silent nod of respect. It knows what’s up.
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).
Well, for starters, don’t panic buy all the toilet paper. This journey of growth is deeply personal, often solitary, but it’s also profoundly impacted by the company we keep. I’ve found immense strength and clarity in hosting a group, a community of individuals seeking similar transformation. Jim’s consistent mentorship and friendship have been absolutely invaluable in this endeavor. He is a profoundly godly man, a quiet force of nature, and his unwavering dedication to consistency and simply showing up is a powerful lesson in itself.
If you genuinely want to change your life truly change showing up is the very first, most crucial step. It’s like showing up for a gym membership: you might not lift a single weight the first day, you might just walk around and look at the equipment, but you’re there. Our group meets every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:30 PM a free space for support, shared experience, and profound transformation. Your presence could make all the difference, not just for you, but for the collective spirit of the group. Plus, we often have virtual coffee, which is both calorie free and judgment free!
“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.” (Psalm 11:4).
It’s like God’s got a cosmic security camera, always watching, always knowing, which can be both comforting and slightly terrifying depending on what you’re doing. My own background is a tapestry woven from two distinct threads: a Jewish father and an Irish Catholic mother. I was born into both, experiencing holidays and traditions from each side; today, I embrace the richness of both traditions as fundamental parts of my identity. It’s a bit of a funny story now, a cherished family anecdote: my mother, a woman of quiet conviction and a bit of a mischievous streak, secretly baptized me as a baby and swore me to absolute secrecy. What a relief it is to no longer carry that particular secret! My deepest apologies to Mom, but the cat (or rather, the holy water) is well and truly out of the bag!
“The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” (Psalm 11:5).
Sometimes, those tests feel like pop quizzes from a very strict teacher, complete with a ticking clock and no cheat sheets, don’t they? Life’s challenges aren’t always visible, and that’s a crucial point to understand. I’ve learned firsthand about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often an invisible injury. This has reinforced a crucial lesson: you can’t judge a book by its cover. You might see someone who looks perfectly fine, walking, talking, going about their day, but inside, their brain might be throwing a wild, chaotic party with all the lights off and the furniture rearranged.
The reality of my TBI, along with adrenal insufficiency, means I am 400 times more likely to commit suicide, and these conditions can shorten my life by half. I genuinely understand that I could be gone any day, any moment. This reality, while incredibly stark and at times frightening, underscores the urgency of living fully, connecting deeply, and finding joy in every single breath. We never truly know the internal battles someone is fighting, the silent struggles they carry; so, a little extra empathy goes a very long way.
This understanding also fuels my unwavering belief that people can and do change. We are not forever tethered to generational trauma or the mistakes of our past. That cycle can be broken with intentional effort and faith. Ultimately, there are only two forces that possess the power to utterly transform your life: you and God. So, put down that self help book that promised instant enlightenment and pick up a mirror; then, maybe a prayer book. The power to change resides within, and with divine assistance.
“Upon the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the cup of their portion.” (Psalm 11:6).
Yikes! Sounds like a bad day at the barbecue, and definitely not the kind of “hot” I’m looking for. Through this journey, facing life’s unpredictable nature and understanding its delicate balance, I’ve also dedicated myself to setting proper expectations. My heart, in earlier years, was often shattered by unmet hopes and misplaced trust. It was like going to a movie expecting an Oscar winning drama with a happy ending and instead getting a low budget horror flick with a surprise zombie apocalypse.
Learning to establish realistic and healthy boundaries has been incredibly liberating. It doesn’t extinguish hope far from it but rather grounds it in a more resilient reality. This allows joy and genuine connection to flourish without the constant threat of crushing disappointment. It’s like lowering the volume on the emotional rollercoaster, so you can still enjoy the thrills and dips without feeling like you’re going to throw up at every turn. It’s about finding peace in the present, not just in an idealized future.
“For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright will behold his face.” (Psalm 11:7).
And when you do, hopefully, you won’t have any spinach in your teeth. Jim, you’ve shown me that seeking righteousness is not just about following a rigid set of rules, but about living a life filled with love, compassion, and consistent faith. You’ve helped me shed my old shell and embrace the person I was always meant to be, a person more whole and more at peace. Thank you for being a living testament to God’s love and for consistently showing up, even when the rest of us feel like fleeing to the mountains. Your presence, your guidance, and your unwavering belief in me have made all the difference.
Sincerely,
Alexander Kaplan