In 1998 I received a brutal
beating by five men with baseball bats, it was due to this beating
that I spent 32 days on life support, three months in the hospital
and three years in a nursing home. It was during this time on life
support that I experienced my second Near Death Experience of my
life. It was truly my path of destiny, and on this path, the birth
of Reaching For Joy (inspired by my daughters business, Joys House)
not only became a vision and a gift from the Other Side, but mostly
a reality on the Earthly plane.
It was during my three-year stay
in the nursing home, where I was continuing my Spiritual Pilgrimage,
along with my physical rehabilitation, That Reaching For Joy was
born. The elderly, the disabled, and the lost souls, all with the
feeling that they had no self-worth or self-pride. As one man once
told me, I have nothing to contribute to society anymore. How wrong
he was. I explained to him that he had his life to share with
others, and even just to listen, was sharing. Life's experiences and
lessons, truly a gift that should be shared.
We then started group discussions
which I named, Reaching For Joy, because thats exactly what we would
be doing, reaching out to others. The group even grew so much, that
other nursing homes adopted my program. We even started taking
residents from one nursing home to another, so they could interact
with each other. It was also in the nursing home, that the bond
between myself (Reaching For Joy) and a Hospice organization was
formed. I started counseling the terminally ill, right in the
nursing home were I was a resident. I was also given an office in
the nursing home, to use for Bereavement counseling with families
left behind after the loss of a loved one. It was also during my
stay in the nursing home, that I started volunteer classes at the
local Zoo, to become a Docent (educator of animals) Reaching for Joy
was starting to grow and mature, even in the nursing home. We were
growing together.
Then one day I told everybody, I
was making a trip to Colorado. I was Wheelchair bound and the
doctors told me I would never walk again, but deep down in my soul I
knew different, because I had been given a message on the Other
Side, that on my return to the Earthly plane, that I was to follow
my visions. That to find the answers, I would only have to look
within. So in a vision, a mountain and a lake I saw. So Colorado,
here I come. I spent two wonderful weeks in Colorado with my best
friend and his family. I found my mountain and my lake, and with it
came the wisdom and knowledge, that I had found the answers within,
and with these answers of wisdom and knowledge of the Other Side, I
should share with others.
It was made very clear to me to
take everything that was negative in my life, and teach and share it
with others. Then I would be shown it was now positive, and it was
always positive, because it was my path of destiny. To be able to
help and teach from your negative experiences in life on this
Earthly plane, is the greatest teachings of all. On my return from
Colorado, I had a very special surprise for everyone at the nursing
home. It was in the afternoon, the nurses and doctors where milling
up and down the hall, when I looked at them from my Wheelchair, and
said. Hey guys, I brought a gift back from Colorado for everybody.
It was at that point, I got out of the Wheelchair, and walked. One
nurse almost fainted and said, He's been given a gift. WOW! If they
only knew who had given me that gift.
Reaching For Joy is not only about
people helping others, but showing by helping others, you are mostly
helping yourself, grow and mature, and realizing that this is our
purpose on this Earthly plane, to share with others. I have been out
of the nursing home for two years and Reaching For Joy has become
Internationally known, and with the help of our local Zoo and other
volunteers, Reaching For Joy is now taking Zoo critters up to our
local Children's Hospital to visit with very sick children, and
their parents who are with them. We even upon request, make visits
into the ICU rooms. This program is very rewarding to everybody
involved.
It's the sole purpose of this
website, not to judge anyone by their beliefs, religion, or faith.
But to in turn, let and show everyone that they have an individual
Spirit that dwells within, and how to nurture and mature their
Spirituality. I am also listing a profile of Reaching For Joy, and a
list of the counseling services that I share with others.
Let it be known that Reaching For
Joy is a volunteer program, with volunteers working within the
program. I am also a writer of poetry and inspirational short
stories, and will have a message board where you can post poetry and
stories in a tribute to your loved ones who have crossed to the
Other Side. There are only two limitations on this website, and that
is NO PROFANITY, and RESPECT the beliefs of others.
In closing, I would like to
dedicate this website to my three children, Tina, Corrina, and
Brian. They are the love of my life, and when times were bad, and I
didn't even care for myself, they were there to care for me. They
are my love, my joy, and my inspiration. They are my life. Love Dad.
