Our Kintsugi of the Soul* project is wrapping up next week. This week I want to share the story of a woman reunited with her dogs following the terrible wildfire in Paradise. I love this beautiful story of restoration!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features a trUly BEaUtiful story of generosity and goodness. Cobey Thomas is a “gentle giant” with non-verbal autism that LOVES to swing. At 6’10” he has outgrown traditional swing sets, but Mr. Handyman from Knoxville, Tennessee stepped in and saved the day! You’ll have to watch and read the subtitles for the best news of all!!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features Elizabeth Smart’s story of overcoming trauma. Kidnapped at 14-years-old, she nows speaks out on behalf of victims and shares her story of how forgiveness helps you rise above your tragedy and sorrow.
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features a story making the rounds on Facebook about Mr. Rogers. I cannot locate the original author or citation, but this is the story below.
I don’t mean to dishonor the other stories here. But there is one I wanted to add.
A good portion of my pro-bono work is defending abused children. It’s a cause close to my heart. In the course of my work I met a man who was an adult survivor. You wouldn’t have known it looking at him. He was this gigantic Polynesian guy. Wild curly hair. I think of him every time I see Khal Drogo on GoT. He was counseling some of the little kids, and doing a fantastic job of it.
I visited his home to get his opinion on something and I noticed a little toy on his desk. It was Trolley. Naturally curious, I asked him about it. This is what he told me:
“The most dangerous time for me was in the afternoon when my mother got tired and irritable. Like clockwork. Now, she liked to beat me in discreet places so my father wouldn’t see the bruises. That particular day she went for the legs. Not uncommon for her. I was knocked down and couldn’t get back up. Also not uncommon. She gave me one last kick, the one I had come to learn meant ‘I’m done now’. Then she left me there upstairs, face in the carpet, alone. I tried to get up, but couldn’t. So I dragged myself, arm over arm, to the television, climbed up the TV cabinet and turned on the TV.
“And there was Mr. Rogers. It was the end of the show and he was having a quiet, calm conversation with those hundreds of kids. In that moment, he seemed to look me in the eye when he said ‘And I like you just for being you’. In that moment, it was like he was reaching across time and space to say these words to me when I needed them most.
“It was like the hand of God, if you’re into that kind of thing. It hit me in the soul. I was a miserable little kid. I was sure I was a horrible person. I was sure I deserved every last moment of abuse, every blow, every bad name. I was sure I earned it, sure I didn’t deserve better. I *knew* all of these things … until that moment. If this man, who I hadn’t even met, liked me just for being me, then I couldn’t be all bad. Then maybe someone could love me, even if it wasn’t my mom.
“It gave me hope. If that nice man liked me, then I wasn’t a monster. I was worth fighting for. From that day on, his words were like a secret fortress in my heart. No matter how broken I was, no matter how much it hurt or what was done to me, I could remember his words, get back on my feet, and go on for another day.
“That’s why I keep Trolley there. To remind me that, no matter how terrible things look, someone who had never met me liked me just for being me, and that makes even the worst day worth it to me. I know how stupid it sounds, but Mr. Rogers saved my life.”
The next time I saw him, he was talking to one of my little clients. When they were done with their session, he helped her out of her chair, took both of her hands, looked her in the eyes and said: “And remember, I like you just for being you.”
That, to me, is Mr. Rogers’ most powerful legacy. All of the little lives he changed and made better with simple and sincere words of love and kindness.
For today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* I’m am sending you over to UpliftTV once again to watch a short 10-minute film called Rosa: These Storms. It is the story of a determined, young Mayan woman, who turned her greatest heartbreak into the impetus that drove her dream. You do have to register with UpliftTV to view this short film, but it is free (they will occasionally send you emails about future inspiring films).
We as people, might be like the birds… they undergo storms… winds… and they never give up. We should not be afraid of these storms.
Instead…
we ought to have wings…
and fly.
~Rosa
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* might require a tissue or two. Folks, this is what restoration and redemption look like when a whole community joins in…
Today I would like to introduce you to an embodied spiritual practice called CaraMayan. CaraMayan is a way of moving to the Bible for exercise, fitness, worship and prayer. It is a Christian alternative to Yoga and Tai Chi based on dance and pilates movement. It was created by my friend Mary Jones, founder of the International Christian Dance Fellowship. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending time with Mary, and it was an honor to sit under her teaching and fellowship over a meal. She is truly a treasure in the kingdom of God!!
Not sure if anyone’s coined the term “Physio Divina”, but perhaps today is the day we do! In Lectio Divina (sacred reading) we read a passage of scripture several times to savor its meaning. In CaraMayan we experience the same type of meditation, except through physical movement. May you be blessed as you put this into practice.
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* might require a tissue or two! This precious little girl named Abigail is fighting an incurable cancer, and the Freeport Police Department made her dream of becoming a police officer come true and stands beside her as she fights “the bad guys” in her body!!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features an inspiring, short film about writer Joe Minihane. Joe shares about his struggle with anxiety and how nature and community became two integral paths on his healing journey… a healing journey that first, took him across the UK in search of peace from his worry and then second, sparked and unleashed the creative spirit within. In order to access this film you’ll have to head over to Uplift TV and register for a free account. You’ll find the film here.
“I know that not everybody will want to throw themselves into the sea or get into a cold river, and I know that not everybody can. But everybody can talk and everybody can tell other people about how they’re feeling. And that to me is the most important lesson I’ve learned from this entire journey… that being open and honest are the first steps to making yourself feel better.”
~Joe Minihane.
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features the incredible story of a group of snorkelers who freed a small humpback whale from a large fishing net. It took them hours of work to free this majestic animal, but in the end their hard work was rewarded with an hour long show of breaches and pectoral fin and tail slaps!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features the story of a quick-thinking and resourceful flight attendant who saved a young girl from human trafficking. This is truly restoration…
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features the story of a determined young man named Jake Javier, a patient in an experimental stem cell research program at Keck Hospital of University of Southern California. This young man’s determination and positive spirit are inspiring, to say the least!
She’s a professional dancer… she’s a physicist!! Wait! Which is she? She’s both! Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features Merritt of the BBC show The Greatest Dancer. Check out this young woman’s determination and strength!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features an inspiring story of Beth James, a mother “determined to give her [daughter] the most beautiful life.” After a terrible car accident left her daughter Liza unable to walk and talk, her mother began to enter the duo into biathlons and triathlons. Even more than that… the mother-daughter team has now become the first physically-challenged team to finish the Ironman, a grueling competition that includes a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. There are many folks who enter this race and are unable to finish, but Beth and Liza did!! Together! Watch the whole story here!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features Christian Bagg, a one-time semi-professional mountain biker and snowboarder who injured himself snowboarding. He now creates adaptive mountain bikes, giving others the freedom he once desired and now enjoys for himself!
I’m not quite sure that today’s offering on Kintsugi of the Soul* matches my original intention of sharing stories of wholeness, restoration and healing, but it certainly is inspirational so here it is!!
Keely’s Camp is an organization that exists to inspire, education, empower and connect young women. And in a world that very often tells these girls that they don’t measure up or that they’re not enough as they are, I think that this DOES INDEED bring wholeness, restoration and healing!! Check it out:
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features a wonderful story of restoration. And the “main character” in this story is quite possibly the cutest little thing ever! ENJOY!
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features singer/songwriter Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last. He is currently creating a series of songs based on the Enneagram, a system of nine “personality types” (that are actually so much more). If you are not familiar with the Enneagram, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with it and perhaps take an inventory to see if you can identify your own type.
Ryan is in the process of releasing a song with an accompanying podcast for each of the nine Enneatypes. I have found these very helpful to not only understand myself but also those I love. Also I love hearing him talk about his creative process as a deep-thinking artist. The podcasts can be found on iTunes here. You can also find them here. I CANNOT recommend these podcasts ENOUGH!! They are amazing!!
Here’s one of my favorite Sleeping At Last songs with lyrics proclaiming “You’re enough!” In a world of comparison that makes us feel as though we can never measure up and consumerism that plays on making us feel inadequate on our own, I know many of us struggle with feelings of being not quite enough.
With today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* we are back at Goalcast with 12-year-old author, artist and motivational speaker Nyeeam “King Nahh” Hudson.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 