Índex per September 2019 a Guideposts

There are so many things I love about this issue. Start with our preview from Daily Guideposts 2020. We feature a devotion from retired Army chaplain Col. Ken Sampson, who is reminded when people thank him for his service that we all contribute to a stronger, better country and that everyone should share in the blessings of Labor Day. Ken cites Psalm 90:17: Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do! Turn page 14 for information on how to order your copy of Daily Guideposts 2020. And why not one for a friend? Christmas is closer than you think. On page 30, meet the extraordinary Dana Smith, whose drug addiction took her about as low as a person can go, spiritually and materially. Lifting herself up from that degradation, she…

Jacques Herzog, M.D. Cochlear Medical Advisor Cochlear Implants – Life Beyond Hearing Aids Do you strain to hear each day, even with powerful hearing aids? Feeling frustrated and sometimes even exhausted from listening? Whether it happens suddenly or gradually, hearing loss can affect you physically and emotionally. Cochlear implants work differently than hearing aids. Rather than amplifying sound, they use state-of-the-art electronic components and software to provide access to the sounds you’ve been missing. Q How do implants differ from hearing aids? Hearing aids help many people by making the sounds they hear louder. Unfortunately as hearing loss progresses, sounds need not only to be made louder, but clearer. Cochlear implants can help give you that clarity, especially in noisy environments.1 Hearing aids are typically worn before a cochlear implant…

YOU PROBABLY SAW PICTURES of me all over social media this past April. I’m the dude who literally crawled across the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I was totally gassed. But nothing on earth was going to keep me from finishing, because it wasn’t just me. My left running shoe had the names of three comrades in Afghanistan whose lives had been destroyed by an IED. “Adapt and overcome” was pounded into us in the Marines. I had to push through. I got down on my hands and knees and crawled to the finish line. For Ballard. For Hamer. For Juarez. Running had never been a thing with me. I had to do it in basic, and I took it up again only at a low point, after returning…

FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, I kept a painful secret. I told no one—not even my wife, Ronda. The secret was my love of music. Not just listening. Playing. Making a living with my instrument. Closing my eyes and becoming one with a piece of music. I’d done all of that once. After learning classical piano and trumpet as a child, I thought I’d found my calling, playing around the world in the U.S. Army Band. It was a dream come true. Until I was abruptly discharged during the post–Cold War drawdown of forces. The loss of my job came right as my second marriage was falling apart. I loved music and felt betrayed by all that happened. I’d grown up in a military family. What would I do now?…

A LESSON FROM LAUREN I smiled when I saw Lauren Daigle on the cover of the February 2019 Guideposts. I had just returned from a weekend retreat in North Carolina. Thirty of us women ministry leaders had gathered for spiritual refreshment and fellowship. One morning, as we prayed in a quiet room, a song floated to the surface of my mind: “You are my revival.Jesus, on you I wait.And I’ll lean on your promise.You will renew my strength.” It was Lauren’s song “My Revival.” We cued it up on an iPad and let the affirming lyrics fill the room. No one said a word—Lauren’s throaty voice was enough. We played it twice, soaking in the beautiful message. I found out in her Guideposts story that Lauren had struggled with illness…

Running Man Marine veteran Micah Herndon (page 24) shares how running is therapy for him as he preps for the New York City Marathon. guideposts.org/mherndon Meet the Regulars Dana Smith (page 30) introduces the diner patrons who helped her on her recovery journey and encouraged her to start her own business. guideposts.org/danasmith September Is National Recovery Month Find hope and inspiration in the stories of people overcoming addiction. guideposts.org/overcomingaddiction Never Forget Guideposts remembers 9/11 in this moving tribute video. guideposts.org/guidepostsremembers Keep Your Guideposts Coming We make it easy to renew your magazine or manage book series shipments. guideposts.org/ecares…

THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, CLAIMED the life of my fiancé, Dennis Mojica, a 50-year-old lieutenant at FDNY Rescue 1, a fire station in Manhattan. Letters of sympathy and support poured into the firehouse from around the world, but one stood out: Charlene Klein, from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, wrote with the invitation to call her anytime. In the depths of my grief, I felt compelled to reach out to her. From our first conversation, it seemed as if we had known each other forever. Soon boxes of plush robes wrapped in bows arrived at the firehouse for all the grieving women. “When I need comfort,” Charlene said, “a big, cozy robe is the best thing.” Since then, I’ve traveled to Wisconsin more than a dozen times and Charlene has…

That Brian Cade found fulfillment later in life when he rediscovered his love of music affirms what Victoria Walker, M.D., has learned as chief medical and quality officer for the Good Samaritan Society. Her work focuses on improving people’s lives by supporting their spirituality, sense of purpose, social connections, financial stability, physical health and community engagement. Here are Dr. Walker’s suggestions for boosting your well-being: Invest in your relationships. “Relationships are very impactful on wellbeing,” Dr. Walker says. How do your family dynamics and workplace and community interactions influence how you feel—and vice versa? Research has shown, for example, that how a caregiver is feeling has an effect on the person receiving care. Include physical activity in your daily routine. “Exercise has great benefits, not just for physical health but…

“I truly believe that no one can close the door that God has opened for you.”singer CIARA, here with husband Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks “Perfectionism is not the path that leads us to our gifts and to our sense of purpose; it’s the hazardous detour.”BRENÉ BROWN, inspirational author and speaker “Brave people don’t let failure define them; they let failure teach them.”ANNIE F. DOWNS, from 100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self “Whoever said revenge is sweet never tasted the yumminess of forget-about-it.”KAREN SALMANSOHN, author and motivational speaker “Attitude is a boomerang: Whatever you throw out there will come back your way.”JOHN CENA, actor and pro wrestler SEND AN UPLIFTING QUOTE from a newsmaker or yourself to upside@guideposts.org or GUIDEPOSTS, The Up Side,…

—PSALM 90:17 (MSG) WITH MILD IRRITATION, I READ the e-mail subject line: “Please tell us what you think.” The message seemed to come from the corporate headquarters of a hotel where I’d stayed recently in Leavenworth, Kansas. My initial response? More in-box clutter. Then I thought back to the lodging experience. Sparkling clean rooms. Pleasant staff. Breakfast buffet of Canadian bacon; fresh cheesy scrambled eggs; guava, cranberry and orange juice drink options. With memories of the delightful stay, I quickly filled out the survey. Gratitude was the theme. I’m a retired chaplain. When a West Point security officer sees my U.S. Army retired ID card, he often says, “Thanks, sir, for your service.” After a TSA agent inspects my ID card and boarding pass at the airport, she’ll frequently say,…

I found the box on a shelf in the basement, covered in a thick layer of dust. My heart leaped when I realized what it was. Danny’s puzzle! It had been almost 20 years since I’d seen it last. I remembered when our son Danny showed up, the box tucked under his arm. My husband, Charles, was recovering from a heart attack. He’d spent 10 days in intensive care before being sent home, with strict instructions to take it easy. Danny stopped by the house every day after work to lend a hand. He also brought things to keep Charles occupied. The jigsaw puzzle was one of them. The box showed a picture of the finished puzzle: a quaint New England town with a cobblestone street and a church. There…

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. Popular media often gives the impression that a 28-day stint in rehab is all it takes. In fact, for most people recovery is a lifelong journey. Inpatient treatment is the start, not the end. One of the most challenging parts of recovery is transitioning from treatment to everyday life. Treatment centers and sober living facilities are typically highly structured with plenty of supervision and accountability. Eventually people in recovery must learn to live with less support. What are the keys to success for people reintegrating into sober life? As Dana Smith learned, two important factors are community and responsibility. Addiction is a disease of isolation. Substance abuse ruptures relationships and erodes people’s abilities to function at home and…

POSTING PRAISE Just a few weeks into summer break and I was already at a breaking point. Five children at home meant being on call 24/7. “Mom, play with me!” seven-year-old Lea called. Before I could even read the game’s instructions, eight-year-old Jordan ran in. “Mom, help me fill these water balloons,” he said. “There’s going to be a battle. An epic battle!” He ran to the kitchen where 12-year-old Austin and five-year-old Julia were waiting for lunch. “I want grilled cheese,” said Austin. “I hate grilled cheese!” Julia said. “You loved it yesterday,” I said. “I hate it now.” In the playpen, baby Nathan was teething. I picked him up to soothe him. Board game opponent, water balloon infantryman, short-order cook. Was there no end to the jobs a…