Book Review: Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, by Susan Jeffers

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
Susan Jeffers, Ph,D

I had an intern with a fear of birds. We had a stuffed pheasant donated and it really rattled her feathers! Every day, as she came up the stairs to what was my apartment/office, I would holler: "Touch the bird, Sherry!" At first, she wouldn't touch it, but gingerly she made her way to tapping it slightly. Eventually, she would hop up the stairs, and, with no prompting, give the stuffed pheasant a pat on the way by.

This is the concept of "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway."

We teach our LifeChange residents to do the right thing. The right thing is usually defined as the most difficult of the two choices. It requires more effort, physically, emotionally, or both. It often requires more grace and humility.

"Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway."

I listened to a one-CD audio version of the book, which doesn't state that it is abridged, but made me wonder, as it is a primer written in layman's language. But maybe that is the point. You don't need 99 steps to conquering fear. You just need the determination to admit your feelings and move forward in spite of them.

What do you fear today?

Laughing With, by Regina Spektor

LAUGHING WITH, by REGINA SPEKTOR

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Bambi learns about "Twitterpated"

Ah, the promise of young love. The days when you are "twitterpated," not "twittering," and when fooling around meant something different than facebook and computer games. But then comes this warmth and security. This acceptance of someone who isn't perfect, but is perfect for you.

I love having a life partner. That is, someone to "do life" with--for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. Sounds wonderful in those first years! Sounds ominous as soon as trouble strikes! That's when the well meaning friends and relatives chime in with their advice, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

Today is our 20th anniversary. How great to look back and see all the things we were meant to do and were only able to do together. Ten years in training: Bible college, Rescue College,and an entire realm of experience at a large Canadian mission all prepared us for the next decade.

With nothing but a few boxes and our bed, we travelled to Regina to start Regina RESCUE Mission. We used our own savings to start the Mission, refusing a salary for a year, and refusing the board's offer to give us raises for many years. We made friends and gained supporters and three years ago, we were able to merge with an amazing little soup kitchen, and became the Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission! Our little Mission plant was no longer our own, but had taken a life of its own.

And ownership of this RESCUE Ship is now proudly claimed by staff, volunteers, board members, businesses, churches, donors and prayer partners.

So, if anyone asks what we've been doing for our 20 years of marriage, now you know!

I love you, Ken!

2009 Canada's Diversity Awards Finalists

I was pretty excited to be chosen as a finalist from so many
nominees all across our country!

Congratulations

2009 Canada's Diversity Awards

Finalists

City of Gatineau, QC

Empowering Student Partnership, Toronto, ON

Ron & Grace Lang, North Battleford, SK

Jaimee Marks, Regina SK

Dr. Karen Mock, Toronto, ON

Okiyapi Partnership, Saskatoon, SK

Dorn Oshoowa, Regina, SK

Lata Pada, Mississauga, ON

Michelle Porter, Regina, SK

Manisha Rhetarpal, Swift Current, SK

Regina Police Service

Saskatchewan Gaming Commission

Saskatchean Government Insurance

SaskPower

2009 Canada's Diversity Awards Gala

Thursday October 15, 2009 - 6:00 pm

Conexus Arts Centre, Regina

Guest Speaker: Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL,D.

Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB

Call 781-4429 for tickets.

Thanksgiving Campaign Kicks Off!

As our Thanksgiving fund raising campaign is kicking off, I thought it might be fitting to post part of some notes from my City Vision College days: a document on Prison Fellowship fund raising policies. Now, this is from 1999 so I can't say they are current policies, but this brief section of notes as a training tool are very good, and reflect my feelings about this amazing inner city work that we do at Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.

We are compelled to be passionate, persuasive, and urgent about our fundraising efforts because:

The task is urgent.
The task is great.
Our product has integrity.
Our programs change lives and make a difference. Our programs are worthy of support - we need not be shy about urging people to help fund them.
Giving is an act of biblical obedience.
(Heb 13:16; Prov 3:9; 2 Cor. 9:7)
Therefore, we may boldly encourage people to give.

Job Openings

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission is looking for Christian workers! Salary commensurate with experience. Benefit package & potential housing options included. 3 weeks vacation to start. Must have valid drivers licence.


Women’s Resident Manager - Women & Family Home LifeChange Program. Will be responsible for staff & volunteers. Charge & oversight of the LifeChange Program, a long-term, residential program for 9 female residents & their children. The program is for women with life controlling problems such addiction, mental illness, homelessness & joblessness. The Resident Manager is an advocate for them, and must be able to enforce rules in a loving manner. Must be computer savvy.


Shift Supervisor – A woman to work evenings and weekends with our female guests and residents. This position is primarily at the Women & Family Home (see above) but may include shift filling at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Must be able to enforce rules, keep progress notes, & have a listening ear. (Some janitorial, stairs & lifting.)


Public Relations Manager – A gregarious, yet organized person to be the face of the Mission. Must be able to remember facts, analyze numbers & make projections, and ask for money. Must be well spoken & clean cut, and have a passion for the poor & needy, as well as a heart for sales & marketing. Experience in public speaking & media required. Must not be camera or crowd shy.


Daycare Director – Start up Inner city daycare for 60 children. Must have ECE 3. Will be responsible to create a program and hire the staff to maintain it. Must be highly administrative, computer savvy, & have a love for children.


Daycare Assistant Director – ECE 2


Daycare Workers – ECE 1



Call Melanie at 543-0011 for more information or submit your resume to mhack.shrm@gmail.com or drop it off 24/7 at 3535 – 8th Avenue.