By's Musings

By Leave a Comment

Living in the World of Visual Thinking

I can’t believe tha it’s been almost two years since I published the post Living in a Metaphoric World and Trying to Communicate with the Academy.  Although many things have changed, many have remained the same. In October 2011, I was living almost exclusively in a metaphoric and visual thought pattern world. Over the two intervening years, I have worked very hard to regain some of my life in the verbal, analytic, quantitative, and sequential thought world. Today in August 2013, the best I can say is that “Some days are better than others.”  This, of course, drove me to the U2 song, Some Days Are Better Than Others, particularly the verse

Some days it all adds up
And what you got is not enough
Some days are better than others.

When faced with any question, situation, or problem, my thinking still immediately goes to a picture or a scene. Prior to my TBIs, I would have attempted to formulate a verbal description, before piecing together a verbal, analytic, quantitative, sequential explanation or solution. Today, I begin with a picture around which I build a scene. I will then put together a storyboard, and eventually a script. It is as if I am scripting and directing a movie.

Some of my movie productions are visual travelogues, focusing on the scenery. Other productions are closer to documentaries, where I attempt to present a verbal description of what I see. In these I attempt to translate the pictures into words.  However, to use words, you have to have a ready supply of words. Here is where I experience the down side of aphasia. Sometimes I must struggle to find the best word. I know what I want to say because I see the pictures. Nevertheless, the right words don’t leap out at me as they used to do. It takes me back to one of my first posts, Words Are More Like Cats Than Dogs.

One criticism of living in a movie, is that one is always living in a fantasy, a make-believe world. It is not real. Having lived in this fantasy land now for more than two years, I would counter that living in a world of words, analysis, numbers and sequence, is not living in the real world either. The words, analysis, numbers and sequences are only representations of the real world. If analogies congeal into dogmas, metaphors and pictures are easily mistaken for reality. C.S. Lewis said that the danger of using a metaphor is not that it may be wrong, but that people forget it is an analogy and not necessarily reality.

Which is the better description of reality? Having been a resident of both worlds, my answer would have to be, “It depends!” James Geary, New York Times Bestselling author of “I is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How it Shapes the Way We See the World” gives us an answer. The answer is that it depends upon the audience. In his book Geary introduces us to the concept of expectancy bias. Individuals bring their own biases to bear upon any communication. Those differing expectations will cause individuals to create their own interpretations of your story. However, you can help lead individuals in particular directions by the  words, analyses, numbers, sequences, pictures, and metaphors that you select.

What’s left to say? Quiet on the set! ACTION!

By Leave a Comment

The Bart Simpson Defense

This post is drawn from an Op-Ed piece that I wrote in 2008 for The Herald, the student newspaper at Cornerstone University. At the time I was provost of Cornerstone and regularly wrote opinion pieces for the paper. The only real change that I have made from my 2008 piece is some updating of the Hall of Shame.

I begin with an admission that although The Simpson is the longest running scripted show in television history, it is definitely not one of my favorites. I can count on one hand the number of times that I have actually watched an episode all the way through. However, if one watches any Fox network programming such as NFL games or NASCAR races, which I do, one will be exposed to Simpson commercials. In one unforgettable commercial, Bart is accused of doing something wrong. His response has become known as the infamous Bart Simpson Defense: “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”

Within the context of a cartoon family such a statement may appear funny. I must admit that on occasion when asked by my wife the whereabouts of the iced tea that she had made, I will reply, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.” Both my wife and I understood completely what I was saying. It was obvious that my statement was an attempt at a humorous confession of guilt.

Unfortunately, almost every day, we hear entertainers, athletes, politicians, and even ministers say in effect in all seriousness, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”  Are they really trying to convince us that they didn’t do it? The hall of shame list seems unending — Brittany Spears, Floyd Landis, Mel GIbson, Marion Jones, Spiro Agnew, Jim Bakker, Mark Mcquire, Lindsay Lohan, Pete Rose and Martha Stewart are names almost everyone recognizes. There are other names that are somewhat less familiar. However, if we were to attach particular descriptors to these names most people would recognize the situation — Ken Lay and Jeff Skiling with Enron; Charles Graner and Lynndie England wtih Abu Ghraib; Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken with insider trading; William Jefferson with “$90,000 of frozen assets” found in his freezer; Jayson Blair and the New York Times with a revoked Pultizer Prize; Ted Haggard and his removal from the leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals. Over the years related to this phenomenon, we have been introduced to expressions that will always be associated with the speaker. Richard Nixon will always be remembered for his statement, “I am not a crook.” BIll Clinton will go down in history for his assertion, “I did not have sex with that woman.”

“I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”  This trio of expressions begins with a personal denial. The speaker is asking the recipient to trust him or her. The ability to trust the speaker depends upon his or her reputation and relationship with the recipient. The second expression throws the burden of proof onto the recipient. Did the recipient actually see any transgressions? If not, the speaker is claiming his or her innocence. The third expression raises the level of proof even higher. It throws the case into a legal sense, where the burden of proof is even higher. It must be “beyond a shadow of doubt” as judged by a jury of one’s peers.

Since I wrote the first version of this essay in 2008, unfortunately the Hall of Shame has added a number of new celebrities from all areas of public life. The most tested cyclist of all time, Lance Armstrong finally gave up defending himself, essentially admitting blood doping. He was stripped of his Tour de France wins and banned from all competitive sports. In baseball, all-star and MVP, Ryan Braun accepted a suspension, and in effect admitted use of a banned substance. In line right behind Braun is Alex Rodriquez. The evidence is piling up against A-Rod, who is now facing a stiffer suspension than Braun. In football, college star and potential NFL star, Manti Te’o had to admit lying about a fake girlfriend. Another football star, Aaron Hernandez is facing direct murder charges and possible charges in two other murders. Tyson Gay, Olympic track and field star, has failed a number of recent drug tests and been suspended from upcoming track participation.NY politician Anthony Weiner, who had already admitted inappropriate texting of explicit photos, has been caught again in the same behavior. San Diego major Bob Filner is under fire for inappropriate behavior toward women. He has admitted “having a problem” and checked himself into a rehab program. He has indicated that he hopes this will satisfy his critics and that he will be able to maintain his political career. Celebrity cook Paula Dean had admitted using racial insensitive language. As a result she has lost her television show and many endorsement deals. Actress Amanda Bynes is facing hospitalization for her wild behavior.

For those who use the Bart Simpson defense something very important is missing. That something is the realization of personal responsibility. Some individuals eventually reach the point of saying, “I did it and I’m sorry.” Many do not. Track star Marion Jones finally admitted the use of performance-enhancing drugs and plead guilty to lying to federal investigators. In a tearful apology, Jones said, “It’s with a great shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust….”  On the other hand in a letter asking for leniency just prior to a sentencing hearing, football star Michael Vick wrote “I am not the bad person or the beast I’ve been made out to be.”

In chapter 12 of II Samuel, the prophet Nathan tells King David a story of a rich man taking advantage of a poor man. David is incensed and demands to know the identity of this rich man. Nathan tells him that he is the culprit himself. Nathan then confronts David with what he did with Uriah and Bathsheba. David immediately recognizes what he had done and says, “I have sinned against the Lord.” David does not try to claim his innocence, indict his accuser, or challenge the evidence against him. David did not use the Bart Simpson defense. David accepted full responsibility and asked God for forgiveness.

We see what happens to public figures when they are caught doing something they shouldn’t. We see what happens when they claim, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.” What will happen the next time that you or I do something wrong and we are confronted with it? What should we expect of ourselves? What does God expect of us?

By Leave a Comment

What is a Hallmark?

In a very unscientific survey, I asked 20 people what was the first thing they thought of when I said the word, “Hallmark.” Almost everyone (95%) said a “card” or “greeting card”, which I assumed to be the same answer. The one person who answered differently said, “A television channel.”  We can guess what this individual most often watches on television, and it’s probably not sports on the ESPN network.

Hallmark Cards, Inc. has had a huge impact on American society. It is a brand name that has become almost synonymous with its main product. Its branding phrases are used far beyond the realms of the use of its products. The phrase “Life is a special occasion” summarizes an upbeat, philosophical point of view that is used at joyous occasions and as a celebration of life at those time that may not be completely joyous.

The phrase, “When you care enough to send the very best” has been Hallmark’s official slogan since 1944. It became a pass phrase for excellence, and drove Hallmark to the position of being the number one card company in the world. With the demand for greeting cards it helped develop, this one phrase may have also changed the whole industry of greeting cards. It opened the door to other niche card companies to become successful as well.

What is the original of the name and word Hallmark? There are two primary dictionary definitions of the word. The first is a “signature characteristic.”  What does that mean? A signature characteristic is that one distinctive trait that “says it all.”  It describes the essence of the object or organization. The second definition is a “mark or indication of excellence, quality or purity.” It is the sign that guarantees the purity, origin or genuineness of an object.

I found the etymology of the word very interesting. It all began with the “Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths”, first chartered in London in 1327. In addition to being a livery company, they were also entrusted with the task of ensuring the quality and purity of gold and silver objects that were sold in Great Britain. The Goldsmith’s Company has operated out of the same location since they built the first of three  Goldsmiths’ Halls in 1339. To show people that a particular object had been tested and its purity and origin were verified, a seal of approval was stamped into the object or attached to it. That seal became known as the Hallmark.

Five years ago, I would have loved these word games associated with the term Hallmark. Today thinking visually, I have my own definition of Hallmark. FIrst, what’s a hall? It can be a large building that can serve as a meeting place for large groups of people, or for special purposes such as a classroom building on a college campus. However, a  hall is also a passage way within a building to allow people to go from one area to another.

Although I can envisioned a hallway in a college classroom or administration building, the hall to which I was drawn was a hall of a large castle. If one walks down a hall in a castle, what does one see? Scattered on the walls are portraits of family members or ancestors of the family that owns the castle. These portraits celebrate the people of the family and their greatest accomplishments. The second thing one sees as one walks down the hall are mementos of the family celebrating the great events of the family. The portraits and mementos are hallmarks, celebrating the origin, the quality and the excellent achievements of the family of the castle. This is my visual definition of the term hallmark.

By Leave a Comment

Judgment Day is Coming

Recently, our pastor, Rev. Greg Wahlberg, at Calvary Baptist Church in York PA,  used the idea of a family reunion as the introduction to his Sunday morning message. Pastor Wahlberg began his message on June 30, 2013,  by recounting the joys and sorrows of family reunions. The biggest joy has to be seeing again our family and those that we love. The biggest sorrow, aside from missing those who couldn’t attend,  has to be feeling and seeing the disappointment in the faces of family members that we have failed to please.

Pastor Wahlberg used the parable of the Parable of the Talents from chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel, as the scriptural text for his message. In particular, he focused his message on one verse, Matthew 25:21

His lord said unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (KJV)

Pastor Wahlberg made the point that a reunion day is coming for the family of God, that is all individuals who have accepted the gift of salvation offered through the sacrifice of Christ. This reunion will occur at the judgment day of Christ where our works will be judged to determine if they are gold, silver, wood, hay or stubble. If they are gold and silver, we will be rewarded with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If they are wood, hay or stubble, they will be burnt up. We will be saved, but so as by fire as Paul noted in I Corinthians 3:11 – 15:

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)

Returning to the verse Matthew 25:21, Pastor Wahlberg noted that there are three things the words “well” and “good” modify.He continued by focusing our attention on those three ideas.

The first idea to which “well” referred was the quality of our work. The servants that had been given the two and five talents doubled their master’s money. The quality of their work was excellent. It met or exceeded the normal human expectations for return on investment.

This point got me to thinking about the motivational basis of our work. There has been an ongoing discussion on an academic discussion board in which I participate about whether faculty members should be motivated by rewards or duty. In this summer season, as we have celebrated Memorial Day, Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, it is a question that many are asking about service to our country, the United States of America. No matter what season, this is a question we need to ask ourselves about our service to God. Should we be motivated by a sense of obligation, a sense of duty, an expectation of reward, or a sense of love? I believe we can find the answer in I John 4:10 – 19.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV)

The second idea to which “well” referred was the completion or completeness of one’s work. The word “done” says it all. Pastor Wahlberg reminded us of Christ’s prayer, in John 17:4, just before his crucifixion,

I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (KJV)

Completion of work in a timely fashion and the completeness of one’s work in academic circles usually raises many debates and arguments. At Judgment Day, there will be no extra time allowed. There will be no opportunity to make up work. There will be no extra credit allowed. The assignment will be judged on its quality and whether it is completed, at the given due date.

If those two aspects weren’t enough, Matthew 25:21 suggests at least one more factor on which we will be judged. That factor is the quality is our character. Note the verse praises the servant as a “good and faithful” servant. Good and faithful are attributes of one’s character.

Can people count on you “to be good”?  “To be good” is usually understood  to do what is right, even if that is not convenient or advantageous for you to do so. Do you have a reputation for being good? Proverbs 22:1 suggests one very good reason for seeking a good reputation

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (KJV)

 I Peter 2:11 – 16 is more specific:

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (KJV)

There in verse 16 is that word “servant” again. We must be “good servants.”

Now the second desirable attribute of our character suggested in Matthew 25 was the trait of being “faithful.” What does it mean to be faithful? Two ideas came to my mind. The first is the idea of loyalty. Are we loyal to our God and Saviour?

One scriptural passage that speaks to loyalty is Luke 16:12 & 13:

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The second idea associated with loyalty was the idea of being committed to another. It is as in the marriage ceremony where the bride and groom pledge their troth (or trust) to each other. Troth is a Norse word that means true or truth.

The questions then remain: Are  we good and faithful? Is our work good and done well? Judgment day is coming!

By Leave a Comment

My Favorite Soups: Appetizer Soups – Part I

The typical definition of soup suggests that it is primarily a liquid form of food which begins with a stock prepared from meat, fish or vegetables to which other ingredients are added, often in the form of solid pieces.

I love soups. However, as I think about soups, I have a great difficulty in naming my absolute favorites. Why? Because, I picture four distinct kinds or categories of soups and I have favorites in each of the categories.

The four categories of soup are: 1) Appetizer soups; 2) Meal soups; 3) Dessert soups; and 4) Cross-over soups. In this post, I will talk about some of my favorite appetizer soups. My lists of favorites will be in no particular order, because I enjoy all of them equally. In certain settings, some are more appropriate than others.

In my list, I will attempt to describe the soup and, if possible, name a particular restaurant where this soup is featured. In some cases, I must apologize because the restaurant is no longer open. Thus you won’t be able to necessarily savor the same flavors that I did. I still recommend the soup and encourage you to try to find a restaurant that prepares the dish well.

1.  Baked French Onion Soup:  This particular soup is made with beef or poultry stock or a combination of the two stocks. Beef stock gives it body and a rich taste. Poultry stock inparts a sweeter taste to the soup. The primary ingredient is sweet onions, chopped coarsely, and carmelized until tender. Add the onions to the stock; add herbs and spices to taste. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Take the hot stock and onion mixture and ladle it into crocks. Add croutons to each crock, making sure to immerse each crouton to soften and soak them thoroughly. Cover each crock with your choice of sliced or shredded Provolone, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gruyere or Swiss cheese. Place the crocks under a hot broiler until the cheese melts and bubbles.

Because this soup is so easy to prepare, it is difficult to find a fine dining restaurant that doesn’t have a good French Onion Soup. There are also some fast casual restaurants that have very good French Onion Soup. These include: Applebee’s, an international chain with more than 2,000 locations in the US; Panera Bread, operates almost 1,700 Cafe & Bakery locations in 44 states; and Arnie’s Bakery and Restaurants, a chain of four cafes and bakeries in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, that also offers baked goods and frozen entrees in grocery stores across the Western Michigan region.

2. Rhode Island Red Chowder:  Rhode Island Red Chowder is the precursor to Manhattan Clam Chowder. It is a tomato-based clam chowder made with quahog clams,spicy Portuguese sausage, potatoes and other vegetables.  Tradition says It originated in Rhode Island among the Portuguese fishing community as an alternative to the cream-based New England Clam Chowder. The Boston crowd, in order to show their disdain for anyone diluting their perfect seafood chowder, nick-named it Manhattan Clam Chowder, since Manhattan was the worst dig that they could imagine. With spicy sausage and lots of Old Bay Seasoning, it does have a bite to it. I found it to be the perfect appetizer, as a segue way or contrast  to a light seafood  or a hearty steak dinner, followed by a sweet dessert.

The best Rhode Island Red Chowder that I have ever found in a restaurant is ironically from the Boston based seafood chain Legal Seafood, which has gone nationwide with restaurants in 10 different states, from the east coast to the west coast.Unfortunately, Rhode Island Red Chowder is not on the menu of every one of their restaurants every day. You have to hit it just right. However, you can purchase it online from their seafood catalog.

One note about Legal Seafood that I can’t fail to mention is their motto: “If it’s not fresh, it’s not legal.”  Is that a great motto, or what?

3. Hot and Sour Soup: Hot and sour soups come from several Oriental traditions. They get their name from the fact that they are made with both spicy (hot) and bitter or vinegary (sour) ingredients. I prefer the classic Szechuan variety made with a pork broth, shredded pork, tofu, dried or fresh mushrooms, bamboo shoots, finely chopped green onions, a fried egg and a variety of Oriental spices and vinegars.

Most any Asian restaurant will have its own variation of hot and sour soup. I will admit that I have been spoiled by two Western Michigan restaurants. The first is the Golden Wok in the Knapp Corner Shopping Center in Grand Rapids, MIchigan. Their spices “favor” the spicy side, so it is “hot.” The second is The Blue Dragon in Caledonia, Michigan. They tend to use more soy and vinegar, so their flavor is more sour. Both restaurants are quite liberal with the shredded pork, chopped onions and peas, giving the diner something to chew on. The Golden Wok uses a little bit more of the tofu and fried egg, so the diner has something to mash in his or her mouth.

4. Reuben Soup: What are your thoughts about a cream-based soup made with corned beef, sauerkraut or cooked cabbage, rye bread croutons, chopped onions and caraway seeds?  It is definitely different. I love it.  It is a heavy, but yet smooth soup. I think it serves as an excellent appetizer for a dinner featuring a deep fried entree like breaded white fish or chicken or a juicy hamburger, and french fries.

I was introduced to reuben soup at a small Western Michigan chain of a dozen restaurants featuring American family and comfort foods, some with a Dutch twist. The restaurant is Russ’ Restaurants. A unique feature of the two oldest Russ’es are the telephones located at each booth. The customers look over the menus that remain at the booths and then place their orders over these phones. Drinks and food are then served by waiters or waitresses. It is a system that has been in use for more than 30 years and seems to be effective for them.

5. Pasta e Fagioli: This is obviously an Italian bean and pasta soup. It is made with a tomato base, various varieties of beans and different pastas. It is an excellent start to a hearty Italian dinner. I was introduced to it more than 30 years ago at a small Italian restaurant, Steffano’s in Peekskill, NY. Steffano, owner and executive chef made his pasto e fagioli with fresh Roma tomatoes, prosciutto sauteed in a savory olive oil,  home made penne pasta, along with northern, kidney and garbanzo beans.   I have sampled pasta faioli at many other Italian restaurants. Most of them were good. However, none compared to that first pasta e fagioli from Steffano’s. Unfortunately, after we moved from NY, I heard the restaurant had closed.

In Appetizer Soups – Part II, I will highlight some more of my favorite opening acts to great meals.        

By Leave a Comment

An Unexpected Joy

One of my favorite bloggers, Tara Fall, in a recent series of posts on her blog “Finding Strength To Stand Again” raised the topic of resiliency. She did it with the seemingly benign question of whether there is something in some people that makes them more resilient than others.

One of the unexpected joys that I have experienced with my aphasia is the excitement of discovering new words or rediscovering lost words. When I read Tara’s post “Question and Answer Week 2-b,”  the word resilient just jumped off the screen at me. My immediate reaction was I know that word from my recent battles with epilepsy, hallucinations, dysenesthesia, and aphasia. However, I also had a feeling that I was missing something. My academic background kicked in and I started researching the concept of resiliency.

Very quickly, I realized what had bothered me with the word “resilient.” A number of different definitions are in common use. I found this somewhat ironic in that the same day I read Tara’s post, I became part of a discussion thread that involved academics and professional people from all over the world. The thread began with the question, “What is a professor?”

Immediately people jumped into the discussion arguing about whether the word represented a title or a job position. In the course of the thread, as happens so often in academic discussions, some one raised the question about the difference between colleges and universities. At this point a contributor suggested that what we needed were certain words with “reserved definitions” so that confusions like this would be avoided. My reaction was, “That would be nice, but it isn’t going to happen.”

Returning to the word resilient, the first use that came to my mind was the ability to take a blow or weather the storm and bounce right back up. The victim comes back stronger than before. We see it in television commercials and news reports all the time. We are reminded of the 9/11 tragedy and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. Immediately after the Boston Marathon Bombing, news reports, especially sports reports, highlighted the idea of being Boston-strong. Every evening, we are reminded that the New Jersey shore is open again for tourists, because “we’re stronger than the storm.” We’ve seen the same sentiment in New Orleans and Oklahoma.

What were the other definitions and questions that were running around in my head? The first involved the research that I had done about the idea of neuro-plasticity in relation to my situation. In my readings I found a number of scientists who said that my condition “was what it was, and I should learn to live with it.” Other scientists said that it was possible for people to change their brains to relearn skills or learn new skills to replace the ones that were lost. In a sense, this was a type of recovery. However, the scientist took great pains to emphasize that it wasn’t the former individual. In a real sense, it was a new individual. This is a slightly different view of resiliency. It still holds some hope for victims that they can become new individuals with new skills that in some sense may replace the ones that they lost. However, they will not be their “old selves.”  They will be someone different with different strengths and skills.

Many of the neuroscientists  I read concerning brain plasticity, referenced a new growing science of resiliency. As I researched this, I found it has quite a following among environmentalists, entomologists, and medical researchers studying bacteria and viruses. For these scientists, the primary idea is that one species or environmental state changes or evolves in ways that ensure the survival of the species or environmental state. Resiliency refers to the survival of the whole, not the survival or well-being of the individual. I am still trying to figure out what this has to do with neuro-plasticity.

More research on resiliency lead me to a fourth definition. This definition came from the popular psychologists associated with Psychology Today. In a series of posts they suggested that pyschology has identified factors that make some people resilient, while others wilt under pressure. The resilience factors were an optimistic outlook on life. These individuals are almost always positive. They have the power to regulate their emotions. This struck me hard. Prior to my TBI, I was always known as being even keeled, with my emotion under control. After the TBI with damage to my right temporal lobe, I have much more trouble controlling my emotions. I erupt much more easily. The third attribute of resilient people was that they could accept criticism  well, and could see failure as a form of helpful feedback. When Edison was asked if he was discouraged when experiment after experiment failed when he was trying to invent the light bulb, his answer could have been the battle cry of the resilient ones: “Of course not. I now know a thousand things that won’t work. I will soon find the one that works.”

But I wasn’t done with resiliency. Some lines from a hymn kept playing in my head. As usual, I had only part of the words, so I had to do a search to find the hymn. The words that were echoing in my head were, “When sea billows roll.,” I was more than slightly embarrassed when I discovered it was one of the most popular hymns of all of Christianity, “It Is Well with My Soul.”  

The words of the first stanza are

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know [say], It is well; it is well with my soul.

The story behind this hymn involves a tragic sea accident. The words were written by Horatio Spafford just after he got a telegram from his wife informing him that only she was safe. She had to tell him that all four of his children were killed when the ship on which they were traveling to Europe sank. Spafford was a modern day Job. Almost everything he loved was taken from him. His response was “Praise be to God.”

I don’t believe that it is inherent to us. It is a gift of a loving father to his children. If we accept God’s grace, we like Job can say,

…, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:21 KJV)

This final type of resiliency is a resiliency built upon faith in a power outside of ourselves. I have seen it my life. I can truly say, “We serve a God of miracles, not a God dedicated to our convenience.” We should reply with our tears, like the father asking Jesus to heal his sick child. When asked if he believed,  the father replied,

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24b KJV)

“Lord, give me your resiliency. Help me in my unbelief.”