Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me my friend. You are always welcome around my table. Merry Christmas to you and your family. While watching the tail end of the movie Elf starring Will Ferrell — amongst a host of other distinguished actors — I thought about a familiar song that is sung at Christmas time “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”.
As a youth I heard this song sung and thought the song was a happy song.
As I have grown older the words of the song have taken on a different meaning. One of the main characters in the song is Rudolph. As the song begins we are drawn to the names of Santa’s reindeer. Special attention is then drawn to Rudolph — one of the reindeer — who had a bright red shiny nose. The song goes on to tell us that Rudolph was not allowed to play in reindeer games, laughed at and called names.
Although the reason (s) for Rudolph being shunned, laughed at and called names is not clear, the song draws attention to the fact that Rudolph was the only reindeer — amongst the herd — who had a bright red shiny nose.
Although Rudolph is merely a fictional character in a Christmas song his plight can easily be identified with by individuals who have experienced similar rejection and ridicule — because they are different than the herd. As an individual with a disability I could easily identify with Randolph’s position in the herd. For many years I found myself rejected, ridiculed and ostracized because I — too — was different than the members of many herds.
My traumatic brain injury and invisible disability left me ill equipped to fit in with the herd. You may also have a traumatic brain injury or some other disability that has left you ill equipped to “fit in ” with the herd. Consequently, you also may be able to identify with Rudolph’s plight.
The song goes on to say, “then one foggy Christmas night Santa came to say…” . In this part of the song the obvious becomes clear. Santa recognized what the herd choose to ridicule…the gift that Rudolph had to give…a bright red shiny nose. Consequently, Santa asked Rudolph “won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” Santa both recognized, valued and appreciated Rudolph’s gift. What was mocked by the other reindeer came center stage as essential.
What made Rudolph different from the herd drew him to a unique place of service. Rudolph’s gift drew him to his destiny. What made Rudolph different empowered Rudolph to be of maximum service to Santa, his fellow reindeer and many other people.
What makes you and I different from the herd also makes you and I very special. Our gifts, talents and abilities will make room for us and we will find ourselves being of maximum service to a loving God and to those individuals who God brings into our lives. We can rest assured that we will be drawn to a unique place of service and in the process become a beacon of hope.
Today’s Thought
If the “herd” chooses to reject, laugh at us or call us names we can let them go. We can choose to practice live and let live. We no longer need to convince any of the herd (s) that we come across of our significance or value. Instead we can go about the business of developing our gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for us. We can therefore let go of the outcomes and trust the process because our worth is not connected to a herd.
Be encouraged my friend. More will be revealed to you. Stay committed to your vision and your mission. Stay committed to who you are and what you bring to the table of life. Stay the course.
Be bold and courageous for your toil is not in vain.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mahatma Ghandi
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You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however please attribute me as being the author of the article (s) video presentation (s), and provide a link back to the article (s) on Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Copyright 2007-2015.
It is fascianting to realize that as you evolve, you raise awareness and notice different things in people and the world around you. That is, you can watch a movie or a book a second time and get something compeltely different out of the experience than you had before. Some people ask how this could be? Other people accept this as part of their process to gaining new insight into the world and themselves. As you share your insight and perception, you are unknowingly triggering a domino effect of revelations in the minds of people you have never met. That is part of the extraordinary experience of being alive in the physical body you have right now. You have no idea how many poeple who’s lives you touch in a positive and uplifting way, and yet you do this every moment. You send out energy vibrations and they are received. People alive at this moment are choosing to heal. They benefit from your stories.
Thank you Liara for taking the time to leave a comment and for sharing your words of encouragement. Your words add to the domino effect. Your words encourage, motivate and empower my process.
You are a blessing to me my friend. May God richly bless you.
Thank you Liara and have a simply phenomenal New Year!
Craig
I started fishing around looking for Vietnam vets that are still around so I could see if any of them had read “Dispatches” to see if it was even close to reality, but then I started feeling guilty for even asking a question like that. I don’t think the viet experience is over for us, as an American I am saying this. It seems to me the heart and soul of people as whole was layed out there. I’m trying to get it. ?? I hope I’m not creeping any one out, Man.
And another breath! Yeah!
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Thank you for your service to our country my friend. I salute you!!! I am sorry for the way many veterans are being treated. On July 4, 2007 I wrote an article, Traumatic Brain Injury — 4th of July — Independence Day https://secondchancetolive.org/2007/07/04/traumatic-brain-injury-4th-of-july-%e2%80%94independence-day/ I share your sentiments Jeff. Give that article a read and let me know what you think. I am advocating for veterans. Please tell your fellow veteran brothers and sisters about my Second Chance to Live as the articles that I have written — which can be found in my Site Map https://secondchancetolive.org/site-map/ — may give them hope and answers that they have been looking for — in their recovery process.
Jeff, you are not creeping anyone out. You are a blessing to me Sir. Thank you for writing and leaving a comment. God bless you my friend.
Happy New Year!
Craig
May God draw you closer to His Love for you.
Craig? I don’t know what to think of you. My first impulse is to think you are a psychologist trying to make a buck. I read some more of your web sight and it seems you have a very good grasp of brain-shock. Yet, you didn’t answer my questions about Vietnam. I can see that you are saying violence shocks, but it is not the same thing. I can see how you were “in the world, and then you came back to the world,” but is there a separation? I’m reading drunk, of course, but I don’t want a salesman’s pitch about how I can excuse my trauma – I want to know why I thought it was O.K. to dive into it!! Goddammit! God damn it! I can’t think anymore!!!
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for writing. I am not sure why you think I am attempting to make a buck, because all the material on Second Chance to Live is offered with out charge to anyone who visits. I share from what I have to give…my experience, strength and hope. I am not sure what you are asking my friend. Could you please help me understand and I will answer you to the best of my ability. Thank you Jeff.
Craig