When think of the YMCA, most of us think of exercising, swimming, working out in the weight room, attending classes or having our children take lessons. But it is so much more than that in serving the community.
For example, the Valpo Y is helping the Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana by providing a box (or boxes) to collect much needed baby supplies. The time to fill those boxes will be from May 4 through May 15. Any and all supplies are welcome.
And in honoring the National Day Of Prayer on May 7, the YMCA will provide two prayer stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for anyone to come in and have someone pray for and with us. Whether it is a personal burden or a time of sharing your faith, whether it is a deep concern or joining in a prayer for our world, this is a special time to bring God to the forefront.
If you don’t want to talk about your concerns, a prayer box will be available where you can place your written needs anonymously, and the Faith Committee will pray for each request. Or if you want to speak privately with someone about your problems, there will be a special room for that, as well.
At noon, Chaplain David Neville will lead a prayer service in the gathering space.
Although it would appear, at times, that there are many people who no longer attend church, this day gives anyone of any faith a chance to unburden their hearts and hurts with “strangers” who are there only to serve through prayer. When our lives get heavy with problems, it’s a great help to take it to the Lord in prayer, and this day is about just that. A sincere thank you to all the staff and volunteers at the Y who will be there to listen and pray.
The Family and Youth Service Bureau is constantly opening its doors to help families learn how to deal with what their children face. The next Life Series workshop will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the Service Bureau office, 253 W. Lincolnway in Valparaiso. “Adolescent Behavior: What’s Normal, What’s Not” will help those in attendance learn how to recognize the difference between normal teenage behavior and mental illness, what the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders are, and how to cope with youngsters with a mental illness.
As always, the workshop is free, and open to all, but please register by calling 464-9585 or go to [email protected]. Leading the group will be Tony Panozzo and Ann van Dyk. Panozzo is a licensed mental health counselor whose practice focuses on children, teens and families. Van Dyk is a licensed clinical social worker who provides services to elementary school children and provides mental health services to all ages.
The workshop is an opportunity to learn about how adolescence changes children, how to cope with this path into adulthood, and ways to lead your children in the right way. Please take advantage of these workshop gifts for the sake of the children you love.
I really am having a hard time understanding what people do to people any more, and I can’t help but believe that the lack of person-to-person contact, which has been replaced by texting, Facebook and other social media, has contributed to the lack of thinking about reality, about relating to persons, not machines that just can be turned off.
Many of us just watch the horror, or read about it, and then just go on about our days not really thinking about what it is doing to the minds and thoughts of our young children. And when I read that the worst may yet to come, as summer usually brings more violent crime, it fills me with sadness.
No matter whether you are a believer in God, it sure seems to me it’s a time to pray for guidance and for people to come together, regardless of race, color, gender or any differences, so that our country truly becomes one nation under God. I sure hope some of you agree with me, and then I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance reporter. Contact her at [email protected]et.