Dear Friend Raising Your Child(ren) in the Christian Faith: A friend sent me an article today written by James Clementi, the older brother of Tyler Clementi. Tyler is the Rutgers student who committed suicide in September 2010 after his roommate used a webcam to spy on him. It moved me that poor James had to say things to his little brother that he would never get to say to him in person. I thought of a time in junior high when I thought I might commit suicide. I’d just started to grow uncomfortable with the feelings I was having for boys, I was unpopular and lonely at school, and I faced rejection when I asked girls to “go out” with me (really, where would we go anyway, the mall? “MOM, can you take me to the mall?” Well, yes, I guess that’s what the cool kids did do. Seems silly now.) I remember starting to pen suicide notes in Study Hall. I imagined leaving them unsigned and causing a stir, or I’d imagine actually killing myself at home, and I’d imagine how bad the kid...
Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on men's fashion. How we dress ourselves in the morning says so much about us, but many men are saying "I don't care." Men's fashion changes so little (really, when was the last time someone introduced a new neckline for men?) that if we make smart, simple decisions when we buy, our wardrobes can last a long, long time. With basic colors, most of the items in our wardrobes can also go with almost anything else, making it easy to get dressed in the morning, even in the dark! BUY THE RIGHT SIZE. Try it on. It doesn't have to cling, but it certainly shouldn't hang. If your pants won't stay on without a belt, they're not the right size. If they're loose in the waist but tight in the thigh? Not the right fit or not the right brand. Keep looking. Different brands fit differently, and some retailers offer 10 different fits! There's one that will look great ...
As I prepare to volunteer with Trevor Project’s Lifeguard program, I’ve been thinking about what I would say if a teen asked me: “What is the secret to getting through tough times and believing that ‘It Gets Better?’” I can look back on 3 distinct times in my life when I was “at risk,” and my answer would be this: Community. Community: a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc. ( www.merriam-webster.com ) The word "community" is derived from the Old French communité which is derived from the Latin communitas ( com , "with/together" + munus , "gift"), a broad term for fellowship or organized society. (Wikipedia.com) I like to think of Community as a group of people, united by some shared interest or common thread, who share their gifts with each other! In Junior High, I began to have suicidal thoughts. I was a closeted homosexual who felt isolated and believed that nobody around me could understand my struggle. Worse, I ...
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