“If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.” – Dr. Viktor Frankl Christmas is about hope coming into the world. It’s about the birth of Christ and the hope his life and death brought with it. Hope carries with it the idea of meaning. That is, we put our hope in something meaningful. But the unavoidable nature of suffering brings confusion into the human experience. So, we are asked to find hope and meaning in the midst of suffering, and not a

A few years ago, I went to pick up a kiddo from his classroom for his in-school counseling session. He shot up from his seat the moment I arrived (I tend to have that affect since I take them from class) and dashed back to his backpack, rummaging around until he produced a gaudy mesh-y green bracelet filled with fake gems and crystals. Beaming with pride he stated “Ms. Lindsay, I went to the student store last week and I got this for you!” Bewildered, I said “Oh buddy, that’s