So I go onto Unit CC2...At Hampton the boys are placed on separate units regarding how far they are through the program. And if you don't know much about where I work its a psychiatric treatment facility for boys. It is a court ordered placement and the boys live here until they complete the program. We have boys that have made some horrible choices and some that others have made choices for them as their reasoning for being here. Two examples would be that we have a 10 year old with 22 charges on him (mostly gang related) and we also have a young man who is here because he came home from school and his parents had been taken off to jail. These boys have serious issues but in order to stay sane in this place we (staff and clients) have to make light of things that go on in here.
So back to where I started; I walked into CC2 and we were getting ready to go to class (they have to have education while they are placed in here). And me and 3 clients walk into class and 1 boy was not wanting to come to class. They have their good days and they have their bad days. This my friend was a bad day. So this is how it plays out...
1. He flops himself on the floor
2. He starts screaming "I'm remedial, I can't go to school!! I'm remedial!"
3. Finally convinced to come into class...he does the paralyzed army crawl to his desk.
4. He bangs his head on his keyboard for a while.
5. In the end falls asleep on his desk until class is over.
Just a little bit about where I work...stay tuned more news to come!!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Where is the HOPE?
Where is the hope? Where is the hope for a 5 year old boy who has been sexually abused his whole life. Who was sexually abused by his parents and then placed in foster care where in turn was sexually abused there too...Where is the hope for him?
Where is the hope for a young man who has been in the "system" so long he cant remember when it all started. Where is the hope for this young man who only knows violence as a means of dealing with every situation. Who's commonly used phrase is "I hate your life" and "Go kill yourself." But he is so smart-too smart for his own good...But who the heck cares?
Where's the hope for a boy who faces so many disabilities he doesn't even know how to cope. He was given anti-depressants and bi-polar meds at the age of ONE...in turn damaged his brain and is now legally mentally handicapped. Where's the hope for him? Who can't communicate very well however when he gets mad, he curses like a grown man-speaking clear and precise. But who cares?
Where's the hope for a young man who has been physically abused and severely neglected his whole life. Who, when in an evaluation said "looked like an animal" by his actions-grabbing at things on the desk, putting things in his mouth, not being able to make eye contact or sit still...who was severely emaciated. Where's the hope for him?
But who cares...?
Where is the hope for a young man who has been in the "system" so long he cant remember when it all started. Where is the hope for this young man who only knows violence as a means of dealing with every situation. Who's commonly used phrase is "I hate your life" and "Go kill yourself." But he is so smart-too smart for his own good...But who the heck cares?
Where's the hope for a boy who faces so many disabilities he doesn't even know how to cope. He was given anti-depressants and bi-polar meds at the age of ONE...in turn damaged his brain and is now legally mentally handicapped. Where's the hope for him? Who can't communicate very well however when he gets mad, he curses like a grown man-speaking clear and precise. But who cares?
Where's the hope for a young man who has been physically abused and severely neglected his whole life. Who, when in an evaluation said "looked like an animal" by his actions-grabbing at things on the desk, putting things in his mouth, not being able to make eye contact or sit still...who was severely emaciated. Where's the hope for him?
But who cares...?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Actions...Actions
"Its easy to speak truth out loud when youre being monitored; but its hard to speak truth in your heart where only you and God can hear."
This statement is so true in our fast-paced, twittering, facebook status changing, blogging, everyone wants to know what I think and how I feel about things, world we live in. I look on facebook everyday and see profound religious statements, impacting verses, and theological beliefs that always catch my attention. However, anyone can say these things on our social networks and make themselves look good to whoever decides to view their facebook, twitter, or read their blogs. But its how you live out these beliefs and convictions that make it worthwhile. The old adage still holds true when it says "your actions speak louder than words" or "your actions scream so loud I cant hear what you say."
Father mold me into a man of integrity. I dont want to say one thing and do another; father make me TRUE!! May there be nothing hidden...if you know me, I pray that you know me. Nothing false, fake or a lie; Nothing "sketchy" (my favorite word). Father make me into the man you called me to be and NOTHING else!
This statement is so true in our fast-paced, twittering, facebook status changing, blogging, everyone wants to know what I think and how I feel about things, world we live in. I look on facebook everyday and see profound religious statements, impacting verses, and theological beliefs that always catch my attention. However, anyone can say these things on our social networks and make themselves look good to whoever decides to view their facebook, twitter, or read their blogs. But its how you live out these beliefs and convictions that make it worthwhile. The old adage still holds true when it says "your actions speak louder than words" or "your actions scream so loud I cant hear what you say."
Father mold me into a man of integrity. I dont want to say one thing and do another; father make me TRUE!! May there be nothing hidden...if you know me, I pray that you know me. Nothing false, fake or a lie; Nothing "sketchy" (my favorite word). Father make me into the man you called me to be and NOTHING else!
Monday, January 4, 2010
It is well...
Lately life has been slowly feeling like I'm out of control...and you know what? I hate bein out of control. I hate that feeling of knowing 'I am not in control.' Scares the living you know what out of me. But you know what...that's exactly how its suppose to be. I'm not suppose to be "in control." If I have everything in control or under control, who is God to me? Why do I need a God who always has everything in control?
How big do I think I am to have my whole life under control....How stupid can I be?
God is in total, utter, and complete control of my life and that's exactly how it should be. I should never feel like I have everything right or stress free or in control-that means something is definitely NOT in control. If I feel like all is ok...that's when its not.
That feeling of being out of control-that feeling of complete uselessness...that's when God uses us the most and that's when we should feel ok...hmmm seems opposite in todays world.
So think back to the song "It is well" because truely when our life seems out of control and spiralling....IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. but only because God has it all under control! Thank you Daddy!
How big do I think I am to have my whole life under control....How stupid can I be?
God is in total, utter, and complete control of my life and that's exactly how it should be. I should never feel like I have everything right or stress free or in control-that means something is definitely NOT in control. If I feel like all is ok...that's when its not.
That feeling of being out of control-that feeling of complete uselessness...that's when God uses us the most and that's when we should feel ok...hmmm seems opposite in todays world.
So think back to the song "It is well" because truely when our life seems out of control and spiralling....IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. but only because God has it all under control! Thank you Daddy!
Friday, November 13, 2009
To write love on her arms
"You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.We live in a difficult world, a broken world...We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck. We all wake to the human condition. We wake to mystery and beauty but also to tragedy and loss. Millions of people live with problems of pain. Millions of homes are filled with questions – moments and seasons and cycles that come as thieves and aim to stay. We know that pain is very real. It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real."
This came straight from "To write love on her arms" facebook page.
Pain is real and depression is real...I say this because I lived with it for about 5 years of my life. I was depressed; I hated the way my life was; I hated the circumstances that surrounded me. Right now there is a 15% depression rate in South Carolina and a 12.1 suicide rate. That's scary!
A saying that I heard yesterday was,
GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS REAL!!
This came straight from "To write love on her arms" facebook page.
Pain is real and depression is real...I say this because I lived with it for about 5 years of my life. I was depressed; I hated the way my life was; I hated the circumstances that surrounded me. Right now there is a 15% depression rate in South Carolina and a 12.1 suicide rate. That's scary!
A saying that I heard yesterday was,
GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS REAL!!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Abundant Life
John 10:10b says "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
If that verse is true, why are so many people depressed, exhausted, tired, angry and sad? I see countless facebook statuses and stories of people who are dredding waking up in the morning or are mad because they have to go to work. Jesus came that we might have an ABUNDANT or satisfying life. How many of us can say we are satisfied with our life?
If we're not satisfied it might be because we're focusing on the bad in our life and not focusing what God has done in our life and what He is still doin! Key words there, "what He is still doin." God never changes, He always stays the same...We're the ones that change.
In order for us to truely enjoy the abundant life Jesus died to give us, we need to stop worrying about what we think we want or need and start following the promptings of the Holy Spirit."
If that verse is true, why are so many people depressed, exhausted, tired, angry and sad? I see countless facebook statuses and stories of people who are dredding waking up in the morning or are mad because they have to go to work. Jesus came that we might have an ABUNDANT or satisfying life. How many of us can say we are satisfied with our life?
If we're not satisfied it might be because we're focusing on the bad in our life and not focusing what God has done in our life and what He is still doin! Key words there, "what He is still doin." God never changes, He always stays the same...We're the ones that change.
In order for us to truely enjoy the abundant life Jesus died to give us, we need to stop worrying about what we think we want or need and start following the promptings of the Holy Spirit."
ENOUGH SAID!
Monday, November 2, 2009
wedding bells ringing!
So some of you know that I got engaged yesterday! It was awesome! It was a very fun day with lots of family and friends. Cass was real surprised! Its a funny story...that might be for a later blog though. But with marriage looming in the near future the words of the song "Love is not a fight" by Warren Barfield are hitting a lot closer to home. The words are:
"Love is not a place,to come and go as we please. It's a house we enter in, then commit to never leave. So lock the door behind you, throw away the key, we'll work it out together, let it bring us to our knees./Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for./To some, love is a word, that they can fall into. But when they're falling out, keeping that word is hard to do/Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for/Love will come to save us, if we'll only call. He will ask nothing from us, but demand we give our all/Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for/I will fight for you-Would you fight for me? It's worth fighting for"
So true! May that be my prayer today! God may this be a Godly relationship always focused on you and falling deeper in love with eachother every single day from here on out!!
"Love is not a place,to come and go as we please. It's a house we enter in, then commit to never leave. So lock the door behind you, throw away the key, we'll work it out together, let it bring us to our knees./Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for./To some, love is a word, that they can fall into. But when they're falling out, keeping that word is hard to do/Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for/Love will come to save us, if we'll only call. He will ask nothing from us, but demand we give our all/Love is a shelter in a raging storm-Love is peace in the middle of a war-And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door. No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for/I will fight for you-Would you fight for me? It's worth fighting for"
So true! May that be my prayer today! God may this be a Godly relationship always focused on you and falling deeper in love with eachother every single day from here on out!!
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