Mighty People Garden

In this episode there are no losers! It's the awards ceremony for Rally4Vets at Dominion Raceway in Thornberg, VA on Saturday September 12th. Which branch brings home the trophy?? Let's just say it is the branch I LOVE and identify with because we are all that we can be! But yes, I collected a medal and a certificate too! BWAHAHA! I'm not the best at everything but I sure know how to have fun!

During this episode I was in person at Dominion Raceway in Thornberg, VA for the Rally4Vets annual race! Such an epic adventure in great world of auto racing! Last year I was in person with Rally4Vets and knew that attending this annual event was the right thing to bring media to veteran events! If you have not been into racing I provide some insight into why it is therapy for veterans not just on the track but also in maintaining their cars. No doubt the need for speed is an adrenaline rush and it is a way that keeps you focused right in the here on now. Nothing else but the driver, the machine, and the present. 

Rally4Vets fundraises for a partner nonprofit that provides service dogs for veterans. This event is a dual purpose event and is something you need to plan for in 2027! 

Join me this week as I talk about my journey on the road in my RV! I traveled this week from Texas to Virginia so that I can broadcast live from Dominion Raceway next Saturday! If you have thought about being an expat, then there is an alternative in the states by serving as a camp host through www.volunteer.gov. This is a great opportunity to stay at campsites for free. Sometimes there are locations like a lighthouse or a cabin where you can stay and not need your own RV. 

This week is our final recap of Genesis but surely not the last time we mention the stories of Genesis or its participants. Eva returned from her trip and discussed the correlation between what Noah and the ark inhabitants must have felt when faced with the trials of rain and her own experience with a leaking RV roof. It is tough to manage trials when you are not in your normal surroundings. The choice - lean into God. But then we discussed some more newsworthy topics related to moral disagreement when we talked about the recent court decision that basically states a victim of rape during service is to be expected yet handled as workers compensation but omits the level of responsibility by the bad actor. This topic then correlates with more moral disagreement in the Clancy murder case which last ended in a mistrial. Fortunately the lone male jurist refused to capitulate with the other jurists who celebrated the death of the children and clamored for her freedom and absolution. For those of us watching these events, it can be a type of moral injury and thus we need to continue to focus on God as our True North of our moral compass! 

This is our 52d show! One year on the air and we even earned an award this year too!

This week Eva and Darrell continue to recap the Genesis stories and put them in the context of DSM 5 moral injury to transition into moral healing and recovery by placing God as our True North of our moral compass. 

We prayed for the flood victims in Nepal as this is a reminder of the promise that God made, He will never destroy entire humanity that way again. However, he did not say that no floods would happen. Let this be a reminder that we still have diligence in the lives we lead and to lead our lives right in His eyes on a daily basis as our time could come at any time. 

Eva begins the discussion with covering the 5-Why's of what happened with Noah getting drunk, being found by his grandson passed out on the floor of his tent naked. Why was Noah drunk? Why was he naked? Why did he resort to potentially old behaviors pre-flood and feel the need to make wine (assuming he knew how to grow grapes and make wine pre-flood)? Why was he troubled? Why....???? the questions could be endless but the discussion involves Noah and his family experienced the great flood and then what? This is very similar to many veterans/military members who do great things in the name of the military, perhaps get out of the military, and then what? 

But what about the rest of the discussion about moral injury? The focus remains on God, but in consistency with the rest of the cultural messaging, God remains absent from the discussion. It stays in a very clinical messaging without mentioning God as part of the solution and does not include moral healing and recovery. 

For both of us, obedience to God remains the answer. What is it that God tells us to do in our lives and do we follow what God says? Or do we ignore Him and stay our own gods? It is a choice of obedience or disobedience. If we want true change then we need to change our paths and follow God's directions. 

A new term Eva learned this week was about moral disagreement. Perhaps this is the context of our issues between the clinical response to moral injury versus what The Revivalists mission is in moral disagreement with that view and instead present moral injury into moral healing and recovery via God! Is the "ite mentality" the clinical response? 

Darrell shared some of his personal journey lately with his wife and our collaboration in person is healthy for him to balance life with his caregiving with his wife. 

We are the company we keep and the Revivalist mission - which path do you want to be on? The path to Heaven or Hell? Do you want to go to Heaven or be Left Behind (like in the books and movies)? It's a choice. 

Eva then read a Revivalists mission document that helps explain it all and make some significant connections between the scripture and living life. 

We are still the same people who existed in Genesis - we have not changed! 

 

Russ joins us again this week to discuss more impact of addiction(s) beyond the individual. Others are impacted like family relationships, work situations, and financial concerns. There is a moral injury connection that can often arise from early life trauma, broken or fractured relationships and coping mechanism. Russ had one last final shot to get his life on track through a very narrow path which has tested him in various ways. However, it happened at his bottom and it has kept him on the narrow path to come on the show and talk about his pain to purpose story as an inspiration to others going through similar challenges. 

This week Darrell and Eva begin a short series on the recap of Genesis. We take the high level approach on what some of the characters we covered endured and discuss the overarching context of turning moral injury  (DSM-5) into moral healing and recovery. If we are not having the right conversations about the things in life we are enduring and only focus on a trauma event, or a moral injury, then when do we begin the healing and recovery side of things? It goes beyond the choices we make but also the intent of our actions. Our service in the military often required actions with which we do not morally agree. Those actions were dictated by others, not by choice. How we deal with moral injury actions and giving them to God is part of that healing process. 

This week someone in my extended people garden reached out to me and wanted to come on my show. Russ Blaylock shares his experience on Acceptance and finally realizing "Time" is God's time, Not Mine! Born and raised into the agricultural community of the mid cities in the DFW area. Russ shares his story of riches to rags, resentments to redemption all thru the lens of his primer, The gift of addiction . Yes, Gift. His rock bottom(s) cultivated a relationship with God now calling him to community outreach. Russ offers hope for rehabilitation from Institutions, addiction of self, fear and family chaos. At 50 years old he believes it's never too late to sit all the way down in the chair in silence....so you can hear your Higher Power's vision for you!

Next week he will join us for Part 2 of his story.