Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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Nearing the end of a two-week quarantine, snow, a contentious election, among many other 2020-ish happenings, I’m trying to focus on what I’m grateful for. Here’s my list: • The relative health and safety of my family, and the community I live in. • Friends who will make grocery store runs. • Orange-colored string lights. • Our neighbor’s projected house witch. • Conscientious and helpful school teachers. • Television shows like the Office, Seinfeld, The Good Place. • Dogs. Aren’t pets amazing? They have no clue that the world is chaotic; th...
If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and go read the book “Wonder” by RJ Palacio. (The movie isn’t enough; you need to read the book!) It’s a kids’ book, wisely assigned to the sixth grade language arts students. But this book isn’t just for kids. It’s a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. The main character, fifth grader, Auggie Pullman, has a rare combination of genetic defects which make his face severely deformed. And for the first time in his life, he’s heading to school. With care and honesty, Palacio weaves a stor...
As the world spins in increasing chaos, COVID rates rise, and a contentious election draws near, it’s hard to find peace and calm. While finding peace has always been elusive to human beings, right now it feels especially difficult. In these times, I appreciate the honesty of others who’ve struggled to find peace. Today, my mind is on Horatio and Anna Spafford, from whom the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 took their law business, and the life of their 4-year-old son. Two short years later, while the family sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on the...
First Congregational Church I am moved by what poet and songwriter Sara Graves shares in her song “The Dream” about her grandfather’s recurring image of God: You are standing in the driveway As I come up the street I can tell by your movement you’re not angry You are waiting there Because we humans worry. We see the chaos of the world around us. We worry that we’ve done something, that we’ve caused God’s wrath on us. That we don’t deserve the radical love that God offers. Human reason says that “everything happens for a reason” and that...
It feels like we hear about suicide more and more all the time, and it’s hard to know how to talk to our kids. Death by suicide has increased every year since 1999 in people age 10 to 74, as this community has felt acutely. Thea Gallagher, clinic director at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, told TODAY “"You can’t prompt suicide by talking about it or asking about it." How we talk to our kids will vary depending on their ages. The American Academy of Pedia...
There are certainly so many factors that may lead to increased suicide risk amidst this global pandemic: social isolation, economic hardship, lack of spiritual sustenance, worry about the wellness of loved ones, not knowing what the future holds and so many more. Despite all we are facing at this time, it’s good to remember that oftentimes in a crisis, people are more willing to band together to support one another, ultimately decreasing the likelihood of suicide. In fact, after 9/11, suicide rates dropped as the country’s people gathered aro...
I don’t know about you, but I’m finding myself very edgy these days, and the tears come easier than normal. Then I try to avoid my short temper by zoning out on my phone. It’s normal to feel out of sorts. It’s okay to be sad, angry, or fearful. We are entering uncharted waters, it is no surprise that each of us handles it differently. Some buckle down, and immerse themselves in work or family. Some need to be alone. Some need to talk through their thoughts with a trusted person. Some need exercise. Some need to laugh. We at Eddy County Communit...
This is from the devotional, “God is in the Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned and executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In an incomparable reversal of all righteous and pious thinking, God declares Godself guilty to the world and thereby extinguishes the guilt of the world. God himself takes the humiliating path of reconciliation and thereby sets the world free. God wants to be guilty of our guilt and takes upon himself the punishment and suffering that this guilt bro...
This is from the devotional, “God is in the Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned and executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. God becomes human, really human. While we endeavor to grow out of our humanity, to leave our human nature behind us, God becomes human, and we must recognize that God wants us also to become human— really human. Whereas we distinguish between the godly and the godless, the good and the evil, the noble and the common, God loves real human beings witho...
This is from the devotional, “God is in the Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned and executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ Or ‘What will we drink?’ Or Whatever will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the...
This is from the devotional, “God is in the Manger” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned and executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Authority over the world is supposed to lie on the weak shoulders of this newborn baby! (Isa 9:6) One thing we know: these shoulders will come to carry the entire burden of the world. With the cross, all the sin and distress of this world will be loaded on these shoulders. But authority consists in the fact that the bearer does not collapse under the bur...
I need to exercise more. No doubt. I know this. Our town (and the internet!) has resources to help me carve out time for exercise. Exercise lengthens lives, and increases quality of life. It helps our brains and our mental health. So why don’t I do it? Maybe, for you, it’s not exercise. Maybe you’re good at exercise. But you have something. You have something you wish was better in your life. You have something you know would be good for you, but you still don’t do enough. Prayer and/or meditation? Morning devotions? Don’t floss enough? D...
The John Tesh radio show told me about an experiment done on competitive bicyclists. All the participants started by competing in a hot-weather bike ride. Then they were split in half, one group continued to train physically in the hot-weather conditions, and the other group focused their training on mental health, including positive affirmations, learning how to deal with uncomfortable situations while racing. In the follow-up competition, the group who focused on mental training improved their speed and duration by 25%. We’ve all heard s...
Moses declares the Ten Commandments two different times in his lifetime: once on Mount Sinai, just after God freed the Israelites from slavery, and again 40 years later, at the end of Moses’ life, just before the Israelites enter the Promised Land. In this second declaration, Moses says, “It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today” (Deuteronomy 5:3). Moses is saying that these commandments are for those who are gathered there. Is this even true? What about those who h...
Genesis 2:15,18,19: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. Our work, how we spend our days (whether we get paid for it or not) is our calling in life, and each and eve...
Sunday, Sept. 29, Eddy County Community Cares will host it’s fifth annual Lights of Hope. The event begins with a film screening of “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” at the Rockford Theatre at 5 p.m. Following the film at around 6:30 p.m. will be the annual memorial walk to the football field for a small memorial. Everyone is welcome to join the event, whether you have lost someone due to suicide, struggle with suicidal ideation or want to do more to create awareness about the issue. This film, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” is part of a global mi...
As September is suicide awareness month, Eddy County Community Cares is planning its fifth annual Lights of Hope. This event serves to remember those who've died by suicide, and to bring awareness to the epidemic. This year's Lights of Hope will be held on Sunday, Sept. 29. Meet at the Rockford Theatre at 5 p.m. for the movie, "Suicide: The Ripple Effect." (More to come on the details of this eye-opening film.) Following the film, around 6:40, the group will begin to walk from the theater to...
Crisis. We’ve all known it in some way or another. Sometimes we are facing the crisis and other times we are watching others. Regardless, there is one thing we are often told to do- to stay calm. Breathe, and don’t panic. Sounds familiar, right? Often it is easier said than done. But it also helps if we know how to respond to the crisis situation. Fire? Stay low to avoid smoke, evacuate the building, call 911. Profuse bleeding? Stabilize the victim, apply pressure to the wound, seek medical attention. Dangerously distraught friend? See...
This time of year, snow covers the ground. Everything is white and beautiful, and the whole of nature seems to be in deep peace. If it’s not windy. But I know what my yard looked like a couple months ago, that the white flakes have covered fallen brown leaves, withered grass and plants. It’s all there, but it won’t be seen now as long as winter lasts. Winter is hard for me, my mood, my energy level, all of it. Without winter, spring and summer wouldn’t be what they are. There are seasons in our lives too. And we often have difficulties in unde...
ALERT! Quarantine mode: separate toothbrushes, separate blankets, Lysol doorknobs and light switches every morning, noon and before bed. Gatorade...check, BRAT diet...check. Constant laundry. “Don’t go near him! In fact, don’t even look at him.” Batten down the hatches. Please God, don’t let me catch this. See, not only do we have the stomach virus, we’re also on vacation. It’s 65 degrees outside. There’s a heated pool out there. And palm trees. Heck, I may even enjoy some exercise in this weather. Maybe. But instead, I’m fixated on a youn...
I need to exercise more. No doubt. I know this. Our town (and the internet!) has resources to help me carve out time for exercise. Exercise lengthens lives, and increases quality of life. It helps our brains and our mental health. So why don’t I do it? Maybe, for you, it’s not exercise. Maybe you’re good at exercise. But you have something. You have something you wish was better in your life. You have something you know would be good for you, but you still don’t do enough. Prayer and/or meditation? Morning devotions? Don’t floss enough? D...
And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:18 Among the people (and animals) in the Nativity, shepherds may be the most surprising. In first century Palestine, shepherds were weird. They stunk of barn animals, they worked from sunup to sundown, always on call if a sheep should get separated from the pack. They were not Jewish insiders. But an angel of the Lord appeared to them. There aren’t many people who’ve had an angel show up, this clearly, and this well-documented. Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, yes. And to the...
The minor prophet, Habakkuk, spoke the word of God to the people of Israel in the midst of them being captured, massacred and pillaged. The powerful Babylonians, lead by viscous King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the temple, and taken the people of Israel into captivity. Back into slavery, where they’d be for 70 years. How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? (Habakkuk 1:2) Habakkuk’s cry is the cry of every human heart. We see the violence around us: mass shootin...
Eddy County Community Cares (ECCC), a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting suicide prevention and mental health resources, will host their Fourth Annual Lights of Hope event on Saturday, Sept. 8. The public is welcome to attend any or all of the following events to raise awareness about suicide and to stand alongside those who have been impacted by suicide. Family 5K This year's activities will begin early in the day with a family 5K, open to competitive runners, cyclists, joggers, strollers,...
If you've had any experience with Cassidy Clifton, you've likely been struck by her loving, thoughtful, giving nature. Let me tell you, this 17-year-old young woman is a fighter. Back in June of 2017, Cassidy was experiencing significant lower back pain. Not finding relief after chiropractor visits, or physical therapy, a weird MRI scan had her family doctor send her to the University of Minnesota. An Aneurysmal Bone Cyst (ABC tumor) had been forming on her spine, even growing into her bone. Rul...
