Introduction

Dum Spiro Spero
While I breathe, I hope






I

found this Latin phrase on the internet a few years ago. It’s the state motto for one of the 50 states in the US. When I stumbled on it, I thought immediately of my ex-wife Tammy. She loves the line from Ever After Drew says as she first arrives at the gala ball; “Just breathe.” I love the line, actress and movie too, but I really like this motto.

With every breath I take, I hope many things. These are the things I hope the most.

I hope for smiles and happiness of my students. Nothing warms my heart more than the smile of a child. I love seeing the fascination, discovery, wonder and thrill in the faces of the kids I teach. Even when I taught high school students, the expressions I remember most are the smiles of love, life and learning that awaken the youthful adventurous spirit in me.

I hope for wisdom and knowledge. I hunger for knowledge and revere true wisdom. Though not all my decisions are wise, I know that everything I learn and every discovery I make expands my knowledge base and experience base. I love the process of thinking and love listening to, if not participating in, a good conversation.

I hope for peace. We all have too much pain and strife. Stress is an element in every person’s life. War, distress, and hate are things that aggravate the normal tension of just living and breathing. Though we all can’t be fawn resting in a glade beside a sparkling stream, being at peace with the world can bring us closer to that calm soothing state.

There can be no peace without faith and salvation so I hope for these as well. The love of God, the realization of heaven, and the freedom of salvation are all mine. I only hope my loved ones find it too. For me these things are not hoped for, they are a reality, since October 13, 1988.

I hope for love. Love is the single most powerful experience any human can have. We experience love in different degrees and intensities but I hope always to build loving relationships with those around me. I hope all those that know me feel and experience love. Though I know not everybody will always love me, I can always take my favorite Bible verse seriously 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be strong, be men of courage. Do everything in love.

I hope for health. Mine isn’t good. It hasn’t been for a very long time. Long before I graduated from high school, I put others before me. I have learned to take care of myself in many ways, but one way I still have to learn, is to take care of my health. Tammy has awakened in me a desire to heal and a will to protect my health. Though I have a lot to do and a lot to learn, I am now learning to take care of my body the way God intended. I also have many family members and loved ones who suffer from different health conditions. I hope for them and myself better health.

I hope for happiness. Happiness is a feeling of contentment with life the way it is. Happiness exists when we realize our gifts and blessings despite our poverty, humility, or failure. Success, riches, and popularity cannot make us happy. Only appreciation for God’s blessings can bring true happiness. I don’t want to sound pious here so I add that happiness brings around that smile that always warms my heart and moves the spirit of every living thing that witnesses true serenity.

I hope for beauty. I love beautiful things. All beautiful things give me pause to reflect and appreciate the wonder and power of shape, form and motion. As an artist I appreciate these things. Sometimes I am good at capturing beauty. I am always good at appreciating it. I can find beauty in every vision given the time to experience it. I hope that my eye for beauty continues to be content, and I hope all people can learn to appreciate beauty in every shape, form and movement it takes. Beautiful people, beautiful places, and beautiful animals fascinate me most. The most impressive beauty transcends physical appearance. Beauty is enhanced by character and attitude.

I hope for many things. I know that as I continue to breathe I will hope for many more things and that no matter how long I breathe, hope will keep my spirit alive. I hope I inspire all to breathe a little longer and hope always for everything that seems important.