Category Archives: Suffering

A Full Feeling

Posted on July 10, 2017 by richrockwood

Over this past weekend, my wife and I opened our house to a college buddy and his wife whom I have known for over fifty years. They flew into town for the celebration of another couple we know who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Attitude, Commitment, Contentment, Feelings, Friends, Happiness, Life, love, Marriage, Old Age, Priorities, relationships, Retirement, Suffering, Thankfulness, Values, Wisdom | 4 Comments

It’s a Test!

Posted on May 21, 2013 by richrockwood

Do you remember dreading tests in school?  I was never fond of the cramming method and was always looking for the best way to take a test.   One fellow I met suggested having a drink beforehand because it helped … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Focus, Learning, Letting Go, Medical, Morale, Patience, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Providence, Questioning, Relaxation, School grades, Self-Discovery, Study, Suffering, Teacher, Temptations, Tests, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Second Look at Life-Every Sunrise Brings a New Day

Posted on April 25, 2013 by richrockwood

An experience with despair need not end there.  Every sunrise brings a new day. A Second Look While I traveled through The back pages of my mind In search of something meaningful To calm my awareness of failure, I realized … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Adaptability, Adventures, Adversity, Appreciation, Contentment, Creation, Darkness, Depression, Despair, Enjoyment, Feelings, Grief, Healing, Letting Go, Life, Miracles, Morale, Perseverance, Perspective, Providence, Restoration, Spirituality, Stress, Suffering, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Friday

Posted on March 29, 2013 by richrockwood

What is happening:  Jesus was interrogated last night before the ruling body of Elders, the Sanhedrin, where they tried to figure out what to do with him.  Finally he was locked away in a dungeon at the home of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Adversity, Atonement, Bible, Courage, Crucifixion, Darkness, Evil, Faithfulness, Good Friday, Holy Week, Jesus, Manliness, Mission, New Covenant, Passion, Perseverance, Priorities, Prophecy, Rejection, Sacrificial Lamb, Salvation, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy/Maundy Thursday-New Covenant

Posted on March 28, 2013 by richrockwood

What is Happening:  We don’t know anything about what happens earlier in the day other than Jesus is focusing on the Passover Meal (start reading at Matthew 26:17).  At some point his disciples come to him and ask where he would … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Atonement, Belief, Bondage, Christ, Communion, Darkness, Evil, Grace, Happiness, Healing, Jesus, Maundy Thursday, mercy, Messiah, New Covenant, Passion, Passover, Sacrificial Lamb, Salvation, Suffering, Thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spy Wednesday or Holy Wednesday

Posted on March 27, 2013 by richrockwood

What is Happening  On Wednesday Jesus remains in Bethany.  According to Wikipedia “Bethany has traditionally been identified with the present-day West Bank city of al-Eizariya (Arabic (العيزرية), meaning “Place of Lazarus”), site of the reputed Tomb of Lazarus, located about … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptability, Adversity, Belief, Bible, Bondage, Christ, Darkness, Focus, Guidance, Holy Week, Jesus, Mission, Peace, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Priorities, Suffering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Promise of the Rainbow

Posted on February 6, 2013 by richrockwood

Living in the Past:  Back in the late 1970’s I was returning to Michigan from California.  I had lived out there for almost two years and was now heading home.  I was driving through New Mexico when it started to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Appearance, Faith, Fear, Heaven, Nature, Perseverance, Perspective, Providence, Religion, Stress, Suffering, The Past, Trust, Visual, Weather, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dealing with Loss At Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2012 by richrockwood

Experience as a Flashlight:  The woman was beside herself with grief.  It was only a few months since her husband had died.  She was not looking forward to Christmas.  How could she deal with that loss at Christmas when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Christmas, Courage, Creativity, Fear, Feelings, Focus, Grief, Health, Holidays, Letting Go, Life, love, Memory, relationships, Suffering, Thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Am An Optimist and a Pessimist

Posted on December 17, 2012 by richrockwood

Lessons I Have Learned:  I suspect the notion that life has it’s ups and downs came as a surprise to me.  I am the kind of person that likes things to be positive and happy.  I guess that makes me … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Adaptability, Appreciation, Contentment, Courage, Faith, Fear, Focus, Grief, Holidays, Letting Go, Life, Nature, Perseverance, Perspective, Stress, Suffering, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From 9/11 to 12/7

Posted on December 5, 2012 by richrockwood

Living in the Past:  The terrorist attack of 911 gave every American, old enough to understand, the feeling Americans must have had when Pearl Harbor was attacked December 7, 1941.  We’ll soon mark the 71st anniversary of that surprise attack. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apocalyptic, Country, Evil, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Imagination, Life, Military, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Priorities, Soldier, Suffering, Tasks, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment