"I Never Knew I Could..."

Alright, I’ll admit it… I watch Dancing with The Stars. Whew! Glad to get that out of my closet. While Bruno is a hoot, and the professional dancers are incredible, what I like best about the show is watching the stars… talented people develop, in most cases, a new skill set. And occasionally a star finds her self.

When this season began, Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Ozzie and Sharon, was not a person I knew much about, or even cared to know anything about. But as the drama has unfolded, she has become my favorite… I’m pulling for her to win the competition. The high point for me was when she responded to the affirmation of the judges, her partner, and the applause of the crowd with words that caused my eyes to take a shower… “I never knew I could be a lady.” Before the watching eyes of the world, she has discovered what she didn’t know that she didn’t know.

In a way, we are all like Kelly Osbourne. We have dreams, but we do not believe them to be a possibility for us. Or due to heavy doses of discouragement from people close to us, we have simply quit dreaming, thrown up our hands in frustration, and settled for something less than what we could be. What we don’t know that we don’t know is choking the very life out of us.

It doesn’t have to be this way. God created us for a purpose and He desires for us to live up to the potential He has placed within us. To do so we must change. We must allow His Spirit to coach us… to bring out of us the person God desires us to be. My friends, if we will submit ourselves to Him, there will come a day when we will say, “I never knew I could...”

Just Reminiscing...

She was the second friend that I have memory of. I met her when I was 4 or 5 years old. We lived in the same neighborhood, which was nothing more than a couple of houses on a city block. Though we had played together many times, it wasn't until a hot August day in 1967 that I realized we were the same age.... the first day of first grade.

After a couple of years, her family moved from town to their farm, but our friendship continued. Along with our other classmates, we enjoyed our days as students of Arapaho Public Schools, which all too soon segued to adulthood.

Today I received word that, after a lengthy and courageous battle, Pam Carpenter Cabiness lost her physical life to cancer. Like many of you, I knew she was ill, but didn't realize she was so close to death. I am glad we had been friends, but sad that I didn't talk with her more during the course of her illness.

She leaves behind a husband, two daughters, a son, extended family, and many friends who will no doubt greatly miss her. I can't even imagine the pain they must each feel today. So... as I reminisce I am doing the only thing I can do... I am praying for them. May the God of all comfort hug them close today and in the days and years to come.

Good bye Pam... Godspeed.

Wordless Wednesday