"Scouring the web so you don't have to"
Taking a cue from Jennifer over on Conversion Diary, today I'm introducing 7 Quick Takes Friday, a hodge-podge of items for your reading pleasure. Hope you find something interesting, inspirational, or humorous!
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From the If This Doesn't Inspire You, Nothing Will file:
While driving home from work yesterday, I switched to a radio station I rarely listen to. I was surprised to hear the voice of someone I hadn't heard about for many years. Her name is Joni Eareckson Tada. Years ago, I purchased one of her books (she's written many), but I don't know that I've ever actually heard her speak.
As I listened, I was moved to tears. Really, she is that amazing. Her voice (and message) is so full of hope, encouragement, sincerity, love, and just plain LIFE that you can't help but be inspired by her! If you don't know her story, the upshot is that she became a quadriplegic as a teenager when she dove into a lake and broke her neck. She went through some harrowing times, as you can imagine, and wanted to commit suicide.
Instead, however, she found hope and spiritual healing and has been a committed advocate for those with disabilities, as well as an outspoken Christian witness. Oh, yeah, and she taught herself to paint by holding a paintbrush in her teeth. Her artwork is amazing. She has accomplished more with her disabilities than most of us accomplish in an entire lifetime with all of our faculties! (Check out her art here.)
On top of everything she's been through, I was astounded to learn that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. If you can spare less than 10 minutes, I encourage you to hear her speak for herself in this short PBS video about Joni. I hope you'll be inspired to more gratitude, as I was.
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From the You Can't Make This Stuff Up file:
Hearing stories about spontaneous human combustion and alien abductions stretches the bounds of credulity, but have you heard of this one? Foreign Accent Syndrome. Yep, apparently, as the result of a brain injury (or some other random cause), a person can begin speaking with a foreign accent with no conscious effort on their part. In fact, they hear themselves as "normal," but their listeners hear the accent.
Here's a story in this week's news about an Oregon woman who went to her dentist with an Oregonian accent and came out speaking like a Transylvanian! She says that it has changed her life, not necessarily for the worse. I especially loved the part of the video where her daughter begged her to repeat, "I vont to suck your blood!"
I can think of all kinds of ways this could give a person a new lease on life--a whole new identity. Personally, I'd like to wake up with a British accent. It might open up all kinds of new careers for me . . . like narrating Biblical movies or doing the phone navigation voice for Droid. I'm sure I'd be taken more seriously in life.
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From the Where Are They Now? file:
I ran across a story this week about actor James Caviezel, best known for his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ. I had an interest in his career long before he took on the role of Christ, however. You see, James hails from the town where I live and attended the high school where I worked for 10 years (Mount Vernon High).
Additionally, his dad is a well known chiropractor in our community and I once applied for a receptionist position at his office (a friend got the job instead). I was also good friends with James' uncle in the days before I was married.
Of course, that was all before James Caviezel became well known as an actor. He's played quite a variety of roles since then and always brings a certain intensity to each one. My favorites are: The Thin Red Line, G.I. Jane, Frequency, The Count of Monte Cristo, Deja Vu, The Stoning of Soraya M., Wyatt Earp, and Pay It Forward.
I hadn't seen James in any movies recently and was disheartened to read that his career spiraled after playing the part of Christ. Sadly, he says that he has been "rejected by my own industry" since making The Passion. Reading this article just makes me like him all the more. I miss seeing him in movies, but it's nice to know that he is not your stereotypical, preening, Hollywood actor.
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From the Read Any Good Books Lately? file:
I just finished reading the book, 365 Thank Yous, subtitled: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life. In keeping with my former blog post about finding ways to be grateful every day, I thought this book might inspire me (it did).
It's a true story written by a man who, at the age of 53, found himself divorced for the second time, 40 pounds overweight, losing contact with his children, and trying to keep his struggling law firm from going under.
Inspired by a simple thank you note from his ex-girlfriend, he sets out to write 365 thank you notes in the coming year and, in the process, it changes his life.
One could understand the changes that might happen to a person on the inside, but the extraordinary revelation is how it changes his circumstances. A short read at 210 pages, it's well worth the read. It sure made me think about all of the people in my life who deserve "thank yous" for deeds great and small.
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From the Betcha Can't Watch This Without Laughing file:
I love dogs! I love food! I love laughing! I love this video! What's not to like? Hope this makes you smile.
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From the Beating A News Story To Death file:
I first heard about the death of Osama Bin Laden when my daughter interrupted me at the computer the night the news came out. She'd read about it on Facebook. (We don't have television, so we get our news from the internet and radio.)
As the expression goes, "Opinions are like navels; everyone has one." I thought about writing my thoughts on the subject, but why add to the cacophony of opinions? From reading the sentiments of my Facebook friends, most of us have very conflicting feelings about Osama Bin Laden's death--ranging from relief and satisfaction in a mission accomplished to sadness and revulsion at the celebration of another human being's death.
The interesting thing is that I found myself relating to BOTH sides at once. Maybe it's because I'm an Orthodox Christian and believe that, in spite of man's propensity for great evil, every human being is loved by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. So yeah, I'm torn.
Here are two entries on the topic. I found this excerpt from The Philosopher Mom's entry particularly thought-provoking:
"There are men and women alive today whose lives were destroyed in any meaningful sense by bin Laden. I cannot expect them, if I am merciful, to pray for him. Forgiveness is not a human action--it is divine. I did not lose anyone close to me on 9/11: Rage is rightly theirs. Because I was spared on that horrible day, however, I have the obligation to do what perhaps the bereaved cannot yet do. I must pray for mercy on his soul. The day will come when I cannot forgive someone, and I will need the prayers of others who can forgive."
For another opinion (from someone who is not a spokesman for the Orthodox Church), read what this priest has to say on his blog, The Sounding.
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From the Yiayia Knows Best file:
Although we aren't Greek, becoming Orthodox has broadened our cultural and ethnic awareness (no joke). We've met some authentic "Yiayias" (Greek for Grandma), so I can fully appreciate the spot-on humor of this commercial (kind of like "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding"). Hope you enjoy.
Yiayia on Relationships
Yiayia on Fashion