Blessed to have been considered by a Fortune 500 company for an EVP position although their selection was made in a direction of more current experience although the length of my experience is surely sufficient. Unfortunately, length of time away from that level of participation is a detriment to those of us who have been incapacitated by chronic pain. God will lead in another direction. Additionally, I feel blessed to have been approached by a recruiter of faith who truly felt sad to deliver news of my being set aside.

Onward, oui?
Mark56

Mark, Since we don't see the full picture; things we had hoped for were not to be; but the inspiration you received will keep you full speed ahead. God Bless!!

Hi Mark,

I'm sorry to hear about this , I had been thinking about you the last few days but i've just been too sore to turn the laptop on never mind the TV.

Other positions will come up and there will be one out there for you, I do believe in fate and I do think that these things happen for a reason.

Hopefully something else will come along sonner rather than later, have you anything else lined up, what about the other two positions you were looking at nearer to home?

Best of luck

Love

Sinéad xxxx

This is the 4th time ive tried to post this message as this site is crashing on me. So plse forgive me if it's posted often... S

Blessed to have you ALL within my life as friends, confidants, those who care! Blessed to be able to go with Cleo down to Taste of Colorado 2011 and actually see and hear Hermans Hermits perform. Blessed that our company, Inspri, posted a 26% profit for the month of August, best it has ever done, and God has blessed it throughout this year with black ink.

Blessed be,
Mark56

There comes a time in every life when sorrow emerges from the dark corner of the heart and seems to consume the sky. This was the case last Sunday as a friend and former work associate and her husband on vacation perhaps were distracted or drowsy on a road in northern California, left the road in their vehicle and departed this life together. Despite the breakup of the company among which I labored for decades, it amazes me how closely we cling one to another and my inbox was flooded with messages of "Mark, did you know this?"

Before my SCS surgery, I would have mused at my incapacity due to pain to make it to the memorial. NOW, I am committed to definite participation among those who mourn, and offered as a parting gift to my dear friend to sing at the graveside service. The Dad of my friend called me, choked up, and said that would be beautiful if I would. My response, you know? Bonnie was my friend, and I would be honored to do this for her and her husband as my parting gift to them.

So, courtesy of this miracle in my back, I will drive to Canon City and stand there with grieving family and friends, raising voice to bring God into focus for those who need something to which they may cling in grief. In this I am blessed indeed.

Mark56

Blessed
Mark56 20110910

Blessed, be a blessing, make a mark in this world
you've nothing to lose, so give it a whirl.
Make kindness your tone and bring good to "withouts"
then notice the ripples your good brings with a shout.
I tired of answering greetings with just an OK
and have striven to let know I feel blessed on this day.
Amazing the ripples three words make in the pond
of life for these others who have lived all along
pacing FAST oh so quickly that scarce can they see
the faces of others, barely pausing to greet.
Missed blossoms, the rainbows, and sunsets galore,
when pacing disrupted may be seen and MORE!
It's interesting such pacers when greeted as above
are startled and pause, even think a greeting of
such words to be provoking and clearly they cause
conversation, or more introspection, and very much draws
mere faces of this crowd, in that store or upon the street
to ponder their blessings, maybe change up their greet!

I have written of my Mentor before. It was he who took a fresh newbie who had sorta learned how to read the law from law school and through the years taught me the real practice of the profession. I never worked "for" my mentor; rather he was retained by the firm in which I ultimately ascended to Executive VP and General Counsel, helping govern the conduct of over 7000 employees spread among many states from coast to coast. My Mentor was available to me and taught me beyond those days when I began to teach classes for lawyers and judges in continuing education as part of my "give back to the profession" calling. 27 of those years I worked in the same organization, followed by the last four and a half having founded my own company manufacturing products for people injured like me.

Tonight, I sat for two hours with my Mentor. He no longer lives "at home." He is within an assisted care facility not far from wife and kin. He lays in bed a mere shell of the giant in the courtroom who once taught law to me. Now he teaches me of the process of making that shift in being from here among us, as he is suffering with cancer, to that Heavenly embrace which awaits. I was told he was suffering severe dementia. Tonight he was very clear... he recognized me, cried at my coming. We held hands. I kissed his hands, folded over mine. We spoke of our friendship. We shared thoughts regarding God's sure embrace. He told me he was looking for the sky to open wide. He asked whether I had visited with friends who are already departed. I told him, no, they have gone before you and are waiting even now for your arrival. We spoke of how Jesus in His great glory is waiting to embrace him and that he may even go before I do. I told my friend I love him. He espressed love for me, for my family, for his blessed wife and family.

I said, I must go now, but I will return tomorrow..... he said he did not think he would be there....... I left my friend watching the Colts and Steelers hammer it out in a football game. No wave, no goodbye, just out the door...... gone.

I sat in the car a good while reflecting on the time with my friend. We had shared tears, deep feelings...... I KNEW I was blessed. So, I took out the iPhone and put down a poem. Here it is:

Passing
MRidder 20110925

Alone I lie
in bed so not alike
the home I'd known for years
where in life so full of cheer
the fam'ly we did raise
'til all were gone their ways

Astricken sick, so ill
I cry alone awaiting God's will
to open up the very sky
so bright its light doth shine
and God will call me unto Him
where peace reigns supreme, no place for something grim
and I shall soar on eagle's wings His blessing to receive
a place in glory there with Him, no more alone to be.


So, there you have it. I went to bless and came away having been blessed, taught another lesson by my most dear and passing teacher.

Sleep well my friend,
Mark56

Don't want to see THIS thread sink down too far!

I just wanted to share that I have been making it a concious effort to utilize Mark's wonderful tactic of replying to the question "How are you?"
Answering with "I am BLESSED, thank you very much" always seems to bring out a smile from both parties.

There is some 'scientific proof' somewhere which states that 'we are what we SAY we are'......isn't that just profound?! Gotta love it!

We all are so happy for you, dear Mark, that you are back in the working world, doing what you do best and continuing to bless those around you.
Congratulations, Mark! You've worked so very hard to get where you are.
You deserve this and so much more.

Big huggs go out to you and Cleo!

Rae

For me, it was having the ability to bring together and complete a large project today, although I had to stay late at work. Work!! Imagine reveling in the fact of being engaged to help others once again. I thank God. Then I returned home this evening to hug my artist wife, enjoy dinner with our college daughter and catch up on her day because I missed dinner with the family. A day that seemed almost normal compared to what I knew before the wreck.....

Blessed, Yup,
How about you?
Mark56

Hi Mark,

I bet you were tired after your day but I bet it felt so good to be able to work all day and feel like you accomplished something both professional and personal.

Happy for you Batman

Sinéad