A boundary is a line (usually invisible, sometimes literal) that separates a person from all other people. Each person is responsible for the wellness of his or her own boundaries.

Indications of poor or troubled boundaries: Sharing too much personal information too soon with someone you hardly know. Falling in love quickly – for some, instantly – and with anyone who reaches out. Being preoccupied – can’t get him/her out of my head – with someone. Going against your values to please or attract someone. Hoping someone you meet will have poor boundaries. Accepting food, gifts, touch, or sex you do not want. Taking for the sake of getting; giving for the sake of giving. Letting someone be in charge of your life. Allowing someone else to say what you feel and see. Believing someone can, and should, anticipate your needs. Being moody and withdrawn to get attention. Walking out to see if anyone follows – or even cares. Expecting people to read your mind and know what you want or need. Habitually stealing the agenda, taking center stage, occupying the spotlight. Falling apart to get care and attention. Eating for destructive reasons or with destructive results. Sex for pain, aggression, or retribution. 

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Fataf makes me smile – mostly because he is so innocent, or appears to be. 

I met him in Togo.

He made me hot chocolate. 

There are not too many people who have taken me for a ride on a motorcycle. 

He is one of them. 

There is no one else with whom I have the exact same shirt — well, almost. Mine has short sleeves while his shirt is more formal, long sleeves – but yes, we have the same shirt, made by the same tailor on the same day. There are not too many people who have made me a hot chocolate drink on a warm night in west Africa. Fataf is one of the two such people.

He’s a warm and friendly human. I think he loves people. It seems to me he understands what it means to hear and obey God, or at least he is learning.

What makes me smile is that young men and women who want to hear and listen to God are so keen to hear and listen to God that the keenness often blocks their ears and blinds their eyes. 

They seem to want God to speak in some unusual way – so they will really KNOW it is God. 

It is easy, I suppose, to forget that God is always speaking and speaking through the ordinary, the things we miss or see so often that it’s easy to not see. If a man walks past the most beautiful tree in the world at the same time every day he may stop really seeing it after a week or so. 

Some people live so close to the ocean they stop admiring it. 

Maybe even Beethoven’s family got tired of hearing him play the piano. 

God is speaking loudly and sweetly with every sunset, every laughing child.

God is speaking through a cup of hot chocolate made with love on a warm west-African night for a stranger who came on a plane from a far-off land to do more than drink a warm drink and nag for Internet access.

Sometimes a cup of hot chocolate is as powerful among those who believe as bread broken and wine, poured out for many, for the forgiveness of rebellion.

“This is my Body, the Body of Christ.” 

God is speaking.

Always.  

Two primal drives….

I want to be autonomous, occupy the driver’s seat of my life. Every now and then, for an hour or two, a day or two, even a week or two, I want to be alone to plan and do my own thing. Deep down in the core of my being exists a desire for autonomy. If ignored, it will be to my detriment. This is a gift, a primal urge, integral to who I am as a human, seated within the core of the human spirit and soul.

The desire for intimacy is primal,  it is deeply imprinted within me, just as deeply as the desire for autonomy. I want to belong. I want to be known. I want to be heard, and treasured as a companion and friend. I want to be an integral part of the lives of a few close family and friends. I want to be fearlessly open with a handful of loving friends.

Keeping both drives in order is my ongoing challenge. I will continue to learn how to achieve my goals while being available to those whom I love. I will focus on being simultaneously intimate and autonomous with the people whom I love. I will define myself in every area of my life or others will feel somewhat compelled to do it for me.

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Attitudes to embrace and improve mental health

-From here – wherever I am – I shall reach my world with love, joy, acceptance, not with judgment, disdain or rejection. 

-I will look beyond the horizons others will set for me and aim high, not for fame or wealth, but to make a meaningful contribution to those around me. 

-I will define myself because, if I do not, others certainly will and it’s unlikely I will enjoy their designs for me. 

-I understand that no one is all-good, no one is all-bad – including, of course, me. I will be truthful with praise and light on condemnations.

-I will exercise all my very limited powers to empower others – even if it means they will get ahead of me.

-I know that love and control cannot co-exist in any relationship and so I will relinquish all attempts to control all other adults.  

-I will stay out of control and keep the rules – I will neither be intimidating nor will I attempt to intimidate others. 

-I will respect and honor invisible loyalties and pre-existing relationships because I know people are deeply connected in ways that do not meet the eye.  

-I know that all behavior has meaning but only some of the meaning is of any significance – I will not over-read everything I see. 

-I will be a peacemaker, not peacekeeper – necessary conflict is an asset and not to be avoided. 

I would like to remind you that you are endowed with superpowers. 

While you may not feel powerful or think of yourself as powerful, you are. 

It comes with your humanity. 

The superpowers to which I refer have nothing to do with money or status or what are generally considered necessary to be influential and, and this is most important,  they cannot be taken from you. 

You can only give them away. 

When you use them, by giving them away, they are immediately replenished so you will never run out.  

You have the superpower of friendship. This is the capacity to reach out to people with kindness and a welcome.  

You have the superpower of generosity – the power to give of your time and talents to others and the ability to share what you have. 

You have the superpower of grace – the ability to offer others room for error and failings and the privilege of being as imperfect as each of us is. 

You have the superpower of forgiveness. You can offer people, even those who do not deserve it or ask for it, a clean slate and the opportunity to “start over.”

You have the superpower of hospitality – the capacity to be open and welcoming to others, all others. 

Five radical powers all wrapped up in one person, you.

With the approach of Fathers Day I want to express a few things I really appreciate about my sons……

Five things I appreciate about my sons…..

• Both young men check in with me by text or with a phone call several times a week, especially when I am traveling. I do the same with each son but they often beat me to it. I enjoy even the brief snippets of news and I even like it if it’s a request for cash to fill a tank or to buy lunch. 

• Both use “please” and “thank you” with much frequency and ease despite a few years when I had to sometimes offer reminders.

• Both are comfortable with peers and adults and with adults of advanced age. While one son tends to be a little shy he can certainly hold his own in company.  

• My sons are in regular contact with each other – despite living about 1000ks apart – and they contact each other without my suggesting they do so. 

• They tend to buy each other what I regard as rather expensive gifts for birthdays and Christmases.

Please, send me your list and I will try to publish a few before Sunday.  

“I am stronger than I usually think I am.” 

This is not some proud arrogant assertion – unless it is. Self-declared, in humility, it is the truth and key to taking responsibility for whatever we are called to face. 

“I can learn new things, helpful things, and I can unlearn old things, things unhelpful to others and to me.”

This is key when we find ourselves repeating unwanted behaviors or we find ourselves lost in familiar, uncomfortable ruts. 

“No matter what happens I will not return evil for evil or inhabit a world of payback.”

Energy spent playing tit-for-tat or payback is far better used more creatively no matter how tempting the desire for retribution.  

“Under all circumstances I get to decide what kind of person I want to be.”

This essential self-talk question removes all others from the equations and demands we face ourselves. 

“The issue is hardly ever another person or group of people. I have to ask myself what my role is in all the dilemmas I face.”

The common denominator in all of my relationships and entanglements is me. What do I need to do differently next time?   

If you do not tell people who you are they will decide who you are. Which do you want? Your version or theirs? Show up. Speak up. Advocate for yourself – always. This is your thoroughly human, spiritual, adult privilege and responsibility. The healthy people in your spheres of family, friendships, faith, and workplace will endorse and honor this unique human joy that is yours and be similarly showing up and speaking up and advocating for themselves – which will, of course, get your support.

Do your part in reducing guesswork (withholding needed information) and crossovers (speaking for other adults rather than for yourself) and unnecessary entanglements (perpetuating gossip or “juicy” news or tidbits about others) in all of your relationships in all of the many spheres of your life.  Clarity now – today – reduces future confusions and unnecessary misunderstandings.

Look for opportunities to “see” others for who and what they really are. FInd opportunities to empower others to achieve their dreams and goals. Neither activity on your part can be rushed. Seeing and listening to both what is said and not said takes time, determination. The rewards are mutually mind-blowing for those whom you will empower and the person who gets behind others and their endeavors.