While it\u2019s something we strive for, it doesn\u2019t always happen here. Sometimes we\u2019re not great at it. But our desire is to provide ways for people to come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not a believer that agreement and coming together are mutually exclusive. It\u2019s the difference between encouraging unity or uniformity. Unity is a longtime, consistent component of wisdom within relationship. Unity means we emphasize a sense of togetherness and harmony, even with differences. Uniformity emphasizes sameness. In a world as big as ours, sameness simply doesn\u2019t make sense to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hence, there\u2019s one development this weekend that grabbed my immediate attention that I thought could indeed be a place where we more easily come together because of a sensitivity to the story. If we make what\u2019s most important, most important, there is great potential for unity. Let\u2019s talk about DJ Daniel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DJ, also known as Devarjaye, is the 13 year old boy singled out in the nation\u2019s most recent State of the Union address, in which his father Theodis hoisted him up, and the young boy was sworn in as an official agent of the United States Secret Service. DJ dreams of becoming a police officer, so as the moment was happening, there was first a look of shock; his eyes were huge. And then in perhaps the most beautiful, unscripted moment, DJ spontaneously hugs the Service Director. No politics mattered to me at the moment. That kid just had the night of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of DJ\u2019s story is that he had cancer. In 2018, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given 5 months to live; it was thought to be incurable. That\u2019s much of what made the March moment so meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days ago, DJ\u2019s dad announced that three new tumors have been discovered. His prognosis is not good. Said Theodis, \u201cIt\u2019s rough, there isn\u2019t a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You\u2019re hearing that your child has a nasty disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No class. Just life. And learning how to navigate the hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heartbreaking, indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DJ has undergone 13 brain surgeries in his short-lived 13 years. He has what\u2019s termed anaplastic ependymoma. While there is always hope, there is no current known cure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m fascinated, though, with the young man\u2019s response in the wake of the heartache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Said DJ previously, \u201cI’m gonna keep on going until my gas tank runs out. And that’s when God calls you home. You never know when God’s gonna call you home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And his message to other kids with cancer: \u201cHave faith, believe in God, and listen to your parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is something inside of DJ that I want to know more. There\u2019s just this combination of resilience, faith and fight that is so good and right and true. He possesses a positivity within him that he would have every understandable right to let go\u2026 to be angry, distressed and emotionally paralyzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And yet he\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oft these days it seems we speak of a world \u201cshort of heroes,\u201d a society in which we long for leaders and individuals who embody courage, selflessness, and the ability to inspire positive change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe DJ is an unlikely hero. He\u2019s only 13. And yet, he embodies all of the above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Godspeed, DJ Daniel. We wish you well. We pray for you and your family, too. Thank you for your contagious, authentic example. Thank you for helping us keep what\u2019s most important, most important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blessings\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While it\u2019s something we strive for, it doesn\u2019t always happen here. Sometimes we\u2019re not great at it. But our desire is to provide ways for people to come together. I\u2019m not a believer that agreement and coming together are mutually exclusive. It\u2019s the difference between encouraging unity or uniformity. Unity is a longtime, consistent component … <\/p>\n