Keep Calm And Write On

Credit: EgudinKa for iStock via  Thinkstock No one likes to be taken advantage of. And unfortunately in this world, there are a lot of people who are out to get something from you. Credit card scams abound and people have by and large become far less trusting as a result. An unfortunate side effect of this though, is that we've stopped trusting people when they say they're hurting. "But you don't look sick" is arguably the most heard comment from people with invisible illnesses and chronic pain. It's also one of the most destructive and damaging comments you could say to them. (us). It's the equivalent of telling a young boy who loves wrestling that he doesn't look very strong. But if you did, (which is incredibly rude), he would probably sputter a little and pull out tapes of old wrestling matches. "But I AM strong, SEE?" Unfortunately, there's no cameraman taping my illness, providing me with video evidence to pe...

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13   NIV Astonishingly, I'm fully functional at 7:30 and my caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. I'm sitting at my favorite independent coffee shop and actually eating my breakfast here for once. (usually my latte, bagel and I are flying down the road or installed at my desk for breakfast.) But is this being filled with joy and peace, overflowing in hope? Or is it better to pause, to thank God for all the wonderful things just in this little coffee shop, the volunteer baristas,(this is a unique place indeed) the wonderful coffee, and of course, the cinnamon crunch bagel. The old farmers in the back, talking, laughing swapping stories. The bright sunshine through the window, reflecting on the counter, making it look as though it's much warmer outside than it is.  God has brought all these things together today...

Pause- a poem. Sometimes I sit here Drinking my coffee slowly hitting pause on life Sometimes I stand and I stare at stars above Taking it all in Sometimes I could cry with the frustration of life Then I know to pause I know to pause, reflect I know I will be better after I breathe some So I drink coffee I read a book, or just breathe. and clear my mind out To-do lists, away! Frustrations cease for moments Short moments, but still Now I feel better More like myself again, now I can be stronger I forgot I was never made to do it all Humans need to breathe. I am but human I am not superman or a robot. Too bad. But I am better built to stop and reflect on the things God has done. Copyright Shannon Meiers 2018 Originally Published in the Chimes, fall 2018

(This post was written last year) September 15th was Concussion Awarness Day. Or as I refer to it, every day of my life. I would have posted something on here but...I have a concussion. Sitting down at the computer to write is uncomfortable, and often impossible. So I cranked out a few facebook statuses throughout the day and i called it good. But even my longest post, a free verse poem of sorts, didnt go into the detail of explaining what its like to live with this.  I used to be really uncomfortable with the idea of referring to what I live with as an "injury", it was just my life. few people around me seemed to think it was serious so I didnt either. I expected myself to live up to the ability of others and up to the ability of my pre-concussion self and was intesely frustrated and let down when it didnt happen. Because it rarely does. At the same time, i didnt want to admit the impact that my injury had on me. I knew people who had it worse and so I wouldn't c...

Dear Future Children I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm not like everyone else and I never will be. When I tell you about my college days, I won't be telling you about studying abroad or touring with the choir or the mission trips I went on. I won't tell you about being the president of this club or the secretary of that one. I won't be telling you about my job at the library or at admissions. Because none of that happened. Not to me. I will, however tell you about 6 concussions, countless migraines, sleepless nights, that one class I barely passed, and that one professor I loved and who retired too soon. I'll tell you about my favorite introvert retreat spots, the balconies overlooking the woods and the Beaver River. I'll tell you about 3 school years (4, by the time you hear about it) that I spent in the dining hall as a nondescript dishroom worker. I'll tell you about the opportunities I continually passed up and how I wondered all the time...

Solitude. Solitude, oh solitude, how delicious and sweet do you become when I just need a treat. A time to rest, reconnect and sit. Ask me my favorite thing, this will probably be it. Solitude, oh solitude, won't you be mine? Away from the hustle, the bustle, the grind? Oh solitude, dear solitude, where do you live? On balconies, in coffee cups, a few moments away. In time in devotions, starting or ending my day. Solitude, sweet solitude, I come to you swift. Burdened, worn down, I just need a lift. Solitude, in fact, I may need you more than most. Solitude, my solitude, to you a toast. May you always be refreshing, renewing and mild. May you never be a box to be checked or a task to be filed. May you always be a place I can come to and see. What I've learned, what should be done, to take care of me. Shannon Meiers 2018

It seems that the world of media is quite insistent on reminding me that I am single. Every sitcom, cartoon and commercial seems rife with couples wrapped up in each other.  And in a few short days is the holiday of which I am not fond. Welcome to Valentine's Day, ladies= the day where those of you who have a man will be showered with red roses and expensive chocolate, and those of us who don't will feel like hanging cupid by his bowstring.  Yippe. What's the whole deal about cupid, anyway? Who came up with the idea of a naked baby flying around hitting people with arrows in order to make them fall in love with each other.  Would someone please tell me whats so romantic about an arrow? Nothing says love like a barbed stick fired at your behind, I suppose. The thing that bothers me most about cupid isnt even the badly timed archery. It's his arrogance. He thinks that he has the perfect match for everyone on earth. Forgive me, but I would much rather put my trus...