witness: Mr. Sebian Holiday

Update: it breaks my heart completely that Sebian passed away on 6/20.  https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/06/20/sebs-rec-center-aurora-sebian-holiday/ Please consider giving to Seb's Rec Center and/or the Muscular Dystrophy Association https://www.mda.org/ as the latter looks to find answers to https://www.mda.org/disease/mitochondrial-myopathies.

~~~

Sebian.  When I hear his story and I see his struggle, I am awed by his capacity for bravery.  The strength of spirit where pain and angst and what should be hopelessness are overcome.  My own struggles and concerns are not as much petty as they are dust.

The coalescing of the best is in him.  He is the promise of hope, what is best of humanity.  Pure: he is freed of so many other imperfections.

I long to know more Sebians or his father.  I've been misfortunate to know souls that are slivers of good.  They are shadows of what could be.  Whispers of songs.  Cries for self.  Temples of sand.

Its been much rarer to know good.  Selflessness.  True strength.  The Faithful.  Simple kindness.

Can we do more?  Just a little kindness?  Can we be as transformative in life as he?  Can we pray for a miracle?  That more could see him and care?

https://www.sebsrec.org/donate.html

9News Package

Literary Charities 2016

I like to encourage everyone I know to give to charity.  It's this time of year that I like to give to literary charities, as literature is the vehicle by which we build upon our world.  Imagination pushes us forward, it changes our world.  Sharing ideas through books has been the powerful agency of progress.

Reading is Fundamental (http://www.rif.org/): the premise is simple, provide over 1,800,000 books a year to children that need them.  Through ownership and encouragement, provide the literacy skills to succeed in school and contribute to society.

First Book (https://www.firstbook.org/): has distributed over 135 million books across the US and Canada, serving low income families.  97% of proceeds go to this effort.

GlobalGiving (https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/give-books-to-children-in-the-philippines/): with 11 million functionally illiterate Filipinos, it is imperative that fellow Filipinos find ways to bring the literacy level up across the entirety of the nation.  Books are a path to ownership of knowledge, especially where internet is not as pervasive as it is in fully developed countries.

Children's Literacy Initiative (http://www.cli.org/shop-2/): outside of providing books, CLI provides workshops, coaching and institutes to 'teach the teachers' in ways to improve literacy skills with their students.

When a child receives a new book, he receives a treasury and a wealth that will serve them for all time.  Give today.

...consider giving...14apr14...

http://blindkids.org/2014_5K_Walk 

http://www.sosc.org/orangecounty

http://www.gotyour6.org/

http://booksforthebarrios.org/

http://www.ccoc.org/

http://www.svdpoc.org/html/welcome.htm 

...consider giving...

...consider the gifts in your life and how even the smallest gift can impact more than you realize...help feed a child or help give them a step up.  Right now is as good a moment as any...

Orange County Rescue Mission

Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission

Los Angeles Covenant House

Fullerton Boys and Girls Club - I have a special affinity for this place, since it kept me off of the streets when I was kid.  They provide children activities and pursuits they would otherwise miss if they just sat locked in an apartment all day.