The Man in the Ditch Archives

Falling Into the Hands of Robbers and Thieves

It’s a human experience to know the trauma of falling into the hands of robbers and thieves, but there is one who joins us in our ditch. I was robbed a few years ago. I had parked my truck in a parking lot and had gone into a shop to […]

Getting Well Staying Well Spiritual Formation

Why Was I Even Born?

When you’ve hit the brick wall, the question may arise. Why was I even born? But over time, new depth may come through. A new birth may evolve. I want you to imagine that you have a bungee cord tied around your waist. You are flying through the air, and […]

Helping Others Relationships

Why Did the Samaritan Cross the road?

So why did the Samaritan cross the road? Perhaps he wasn’t afraid of the sky falling in. Let’s not be chicken with people like us. I happened to call an acquaintance of mine a few days ago. He does some jobs for me every now and then. As we talked, […]

Getting Well Staying Well Helping Others

The Healing Nest of Kindness and Compassion

I need a nest that I can call home. Actually, digging down a little further, I need a grouping of relationships that know me, love me, and have compassion and kindness when I get things wrong. The other day I was pruning a vine and there high above my head […]

Helping Others Spiritual Formation

Church and Mental Health. A place for the 5%?

Church and Mental Health? How about sitting with someone and being gently curious about the struggles of their soul. Now that is what I call ‘Church.’ I once sat in a church service and seated in front of me were two men. One was a highly paid lawyer, a partner […]

Helping Others

When to Rescue and What Needs to Come Next

There is a time for everything, including rescuing, but let’s focus on the rebuilding through empowerment. It was one of those lightbulb moments for me. I had just discovered something new that threw some new light on an old struggle. Ever had one of those? What I learned is that […]

Getting Well Staying Well Uncategorized

Robbed

We’ve been robbed in more ways than we know. It wasn’t the usual snatch and grab. This was more a subtle insidious taking of life. In the early stages of their depressive illness, they had been put on the new wonder drug Valium. With strong tranquillizing effects, life was muted. Then […]

There are No 'Ordinary People'. Creativity Must Have Its Outlet.

Uncategorized

There are No ‘Ordinary People’. Creativity needs an Outlet.

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Under the thin veneer of supposed ‘ordinary’ is a power of creativity and life. There are no ordinary people. If you saw her in the mall you wouldn’t take a second look. This was probably intentional on her part. Average height, weight, with modest clothes she would slip into the […]