Heroes Among Us – Join me on a blessed and heartfelt journey of discovery!

The Hero Making Something Beautiful from Broken Glass

August 17, 2023August 2, 2023
by admin

Guided drift. A term coined by the late Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers fame to describe his life’s path, and as Ann Saunders McCarty’s story unfolded, I kept hearing these two words. Guided drift. A path previously unseen making itself known. A trajectory changed. A willingness to follow new opportunities. A resilience to learn from plans that didn’t work out and take a different tack. Ann ultimately understands that previous experiences, good and bad, joyful and painful, lead her to where she is today. Read more “The Hero Making Something Beautiful from Broken Glass” →

The Hero Who Believes in Serving Our Community

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023
by admin

Many years ago, at an evening meeting to discuss recreational opportunities for the youth in our community, I first became acquainted with Pastor Bernie Federmann, or Pastor B, as he is affectionately known. I knew little about him, so I had no preconceived ideas of who he was apart from his profession, but Pastor B didn’t quite fit the pattern of a religious leader I had determined from others with whom I had worked. His compassion for people, whether a part of his congregation or not, was so apparent that the air practically vibrated with this belief. His peaceful, measured tone was reassuring and hopeful, even when relaying undesirable information. It was a brief encounter, one that didn’t occur again until many years later, but one that I kept close to my heart, aspiring to emulate when possible.

A Hero Among Us Seeing Things Differently

June 14, 2023June 7, 2023
by admin

Engaging with joy. When I met Alexander Murkison in person, engaging with joy was my first impression and, upon reflection, a lasting one. Like many in our community, I first learned who Alexander was when he ran for a seat on the Lompoc School Board as a recent high school graduate with a mental health platform. I quickly learned what Alexander may have lacked in life experience for the position; he made up for with his energy, compassion, ability to look at things differently, and courage to address issues that are important to him but are not always as readily accepted by society.

A Hero Among Us and a Mother of the…

May 26, 2023May 17, 2023
by admin

I believe every person’s story could be made into a major motion picture, complete with all the things we hold dear. Joyous celebration, heart-rending grief, challenges to overcome, and lessons to learn. These are the things that make a movie enjoyable, and these are the moments that comprise our lives. As Veronica Williams generously shared her story with me, it reminded me of this. She also reminded me how each of our stories matters because we matter. A reminder we matter not for what we have done, but for who we are. Read more “A Hero Among Us and a Mother of the Community” →

A Hero Among Us – The Faithful One

March 2, 2022
by admin

It’s not easy to follow a dream, to take those steps off the cliff edge and surrender to the unknown. It is even more daunting to do so when others depend on you, you are faced with family loss or have health challenges. Yet, Annette Hernandez has followed her dream despite all she has met with courage, strength, determination, grace, and kindness.

A Hero Among Us and the Hometown Boy

September 23, 2021September 23, 2021
by admin

I truly am not sure when I first met Charles Sommer, aka Mr. Lompoc, but it seems it must have been at a youth sporting event of some sort. Perhaps it was at his mother’s deli, but it was definitely through sports that I got to know Charles a bit better and came to witness and appreciate how he interacted with the youth in our community, giving them respect and genuinely listening to their concerns, hopes and dreams. And yet, it took many years for me to learn how involved Charles was in this community into which he was born.

A Hero, An Artist and the Tiny Prints

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021
by admin

‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.’ I first encountered these words in a little framed picture of a butterfly that had been left on the counter where I work. Despite asking several people, no one could account for how this miniature piece of artwork had found its way to its new home where it has remained for several years. Simple and profound words that, unbeknownst to me at the time, built a connection between Nita Streetman and I. A reminder of the importance of kindness and soon I would learn, a reminder as well, at how we are all connected, unknowingly impacting each other.

The Hero and The Little Fishes

January 14, 2021
by admin

It is always interesting to me how the people that make the greatest impact on my life are brought into it and for John McReynolds it was a skateboard competition that was the catalyst. A unique setting for two adults that were not proficient skateboarders. He was a sports reporter for the Lompoc Record and was the tasked with promoting Lompoc’s first skateboard competition at the new skate park. I was just trying to figure out how to run a skateboard competition. And so our paths crossed. What initially struck me about John was how he cared about the human element of the event. The tricks to be performed, the venue itself, what type of boards or wheels were not important in his approach. It was the participants, the competitors, the persons involved in making the event happen that he focused on and wrote about. I remember observing this with interest and realizing later this tells you much about who John is fundamentally.

A Hero Among Us and the Dancer

November 18, 2020
by admin

Watching Sabrina dance on stage is pure joy but it also reveals a lot about who she is as a person. She dances with grace, agility and strength but it is her heart that shines through the most. These somewhat opposing characteristics are also apparent when she is dealing with socially sensitive issues. She has so much compassion, particularly for those that don’t have a voice, and yet don’t mistake this for weakness for this is where her power is. She is very willing to listen but will not relinquish her values because someone believes differently. She is helpful and supportive beyond measure but will not be taken advantage of. Just like a dancer’s flexibility, her grace is supported by an inner strength that is not apparent to the casual observer.

A Hero Among Us and the Fearless Voice

August 27, 2020August 24, 2020
by admin

Though we had lived in the same small community for many years the first time my path crossed with Ashley Costa was just after she had won a seat to Lompoc’s City Council. The Council for many years had been comprised primarily of middle-aged males from our community with the occasional middle-aged female, but never someone in their twenties. To essentially be a lone representative in both gender and age as well as probably ideals was a challenge I couldn’t fathom anyone desiring but I admired her for taking on those challenges. When she did win my first thought was, “Awesome! You go girl!” but that was followed with thoughts of how much work she had before her. Little did I know at the time how Ashley thrives on challenge and hard work.

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