Gather the Good

It’s that time of year again! I’m talking about March Madness when college basketball dominates the television. At least it often has in our home where three sports-loving males once resided. Several times this season I’ve caught bits of televised basketball games with Kansas State and their coach, Bruce Weber. And each time he appears on the TV screen, I think back on the time he came to the detention center when he was coaching at the University of Illinois….

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One morning last week I sat at my desk to focus on writing. Just as I closed my eyes and began my ritual of settling into silence, I was surprised to feel the morning sunshine pouring over me. Oh, the blessed gift of that welcome warmth! I allowed myself some time to absorb and appreciate its magnificence, and then I turned my focus to breath. The next moment, the sound of a robin just outside my window diverted my attention….

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Several weeks ago I wrote about my recurring thoughts, thoughts that seemed to be leading me toward a big life change. Well, it happened. I just left a church where I’d been a member for over 20 years. That, to me, was a big deal. I was connected to a lot of people at church over the years. Some I didn’t know well, but I shared a special closeness with others. Now those relationships will be significantly altered—maybe even gone…

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Friday was my husband Rick’s last day at work. He’s retiring after being with the same family-owned business for almost 42 years. It’s hard to believe he’s been there for so many years. He’s worked for three generations of the family. A trivia tidbit: His current boss was 6 years old when Rick started. We’ve been excitedly awaiting this day for quite some time. Last year I made him a paper chain with one loop for every week he had…

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I’d noticed him earlier, the slender man with the slightly disheveled hair.  I’d watched him as he walked laps around the perimeter of the room. Now he approached and stood directly in front of me, our faces barely a foot apart. Under most circumstances, it would have felt like an encroachment on my personal space, but I didn’t mind. Not uttering a sound, he just kept staring intently into my eyes. Although I was unable to give him the attention…

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I’ve heard we often face the same lesson in life over and over until we finally “get it.” When we eventually learn what we’re supposed to from a situation, we can move on to something else. I’m wondering now if the same principle applies to my thoughts. Lately I’ve been plagued by a feeling of restlessness in my life. In reality, it’s been recurring for quite a while. I’ve resisted, attempting to press it into submission. I’ve tried to carry…

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One year before Valentine’s Day, my colleague Katy suggested we make special valentines for each of the kids at the detention center. With the help of the detention officers, we came up with a list of positive qualities of each student.   In truth, it may have required us to dig a little deeper for some students. And, sometimes we may have had to exercise a little creativity with our wording. Eventually, however, we came up with plenty of wonderful,…

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When we moved to the new detention facility in 2000, our school program received a huge boost in resources. It was exciting because, so opposite from previously, we had complete sets of classroom textbooks. Our wonderful new literature books catered to a wide range of reading abilities. Included in the drama unit was a favorite of mine, an excerpt of Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun. Every year we read that act of the play, and afterwards, we…

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One of my favorite writers these days is Gregory Boyle, author of Tattoos on the Heart and Barking to the Choir. A Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, he writes of his experiences working with gangs in Los Angeles. The thing is, although the books are not really that long, they take me forever to finish. I tend to read a little, cry a little, sometimes laugh a bit, and then reread sections multiple times. I’m amazed by his…

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Sixteen-year-old Dave was arrested and brought to detention for battery. The incident occurred at the residential facility where he lived.   As in similar situations, we were aware he might become combative if he became agitated. He never did. In fact, he seemed happy to be in detention, despite the tight restrictions. Unlike most students, he never even complained about the food. One morning the staff surprised the students with news we’d be having a guest speaker that day. University of Illinois…

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