Hurricanes, Green Day & Tough Times

It has been a devastating month. We've seen another hurricane hit a number of cities and endanger millions of people.

On a more personal note, I received word that a young man whose wedding I had participated in had been killed in Iraq.

People all over the world are suffering in many different ways. One of the worst things about suffering is the feeling of helplessness and loneliness.

"Where is God?" we wonder.

Punk-Pop music group Green Day won nearly a dozen Video Music Awards for their album that contains a song about loneliness called Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.

Take a look at the intense, picturesque images in their words. "I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes but it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone."

"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me. Till then I walk alone."

Green Day wishes "someone" out there would find them so they don't have to face the world all alone.

Mother Teresa said, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved."

The Bible's book of Philippians was written by a guy named Paul and it was actually a letter. He writes this letter as he is sitting in jail. He's been beaten, arrested and locked up for telling people about God. Soon, he will be executed for the same reason. Paul had every reason to feel alone. He had every reason to feel that life was unfair. Instead of being lost in despair, Paul writes that he is fine and even joyful. Paul shares his secret with us. He says, "I don't know if I am going to live or die but I am not worried. No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to God.

Don't worry about your troubles. Instead, take them all to God in prayer. Tell Him everything. When you do that, He'll give you a peace that is far beyond anything we could ever understand. That peace will soothe your troubled heart and mind. God is near. He's never left you. Choose to think of life's good things.

Put your faith into practice and God's peace will be with you.

Dorothy Bernard said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." Life is not always easy. It may seem like we're walking alone on a boulevard of broken dreams. The good news is that we never have to walk alone. God is near. He invites us to talk to Him in prayer. He promises to give us a peace in spite of all that's happening around us even if the thought of being peaceful in hard times seems illogical.

My prayer for you this week is that you'll remember you're not alone.


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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

When you're going through hell, keep going!

Winston Churchill once said, “When you’re going though hell, keep on going!”

Churchill faced many difficulties in life. He was born with a speech impairment. He was not physically attractive. He was a soldier in a war. He lost elections. He was verbally abused by the press.

Still, he kept fighting on until he proved to his country and the world that he had the abilities to lead them through some of that century’s darkest days of war.

I think I would have liked Winston Churchill had I known him personally. I find encouragement and inspiration in people who face challenges and find a way to the other side, possibly scarred, but still victorious.

Just a few weeks ago, I spent some time with another inspirational person and Florida resident named Kathy Catino.

Kathy was the victim of serious abuse by her first husband. In addition to physical beatings and verbal and mental abuses, Kathy was locked in a closet when her husband went to work, forbidden to speak to anyone in the outside world.

Kathy survived her nightmare, escaped to freedom, found a way to obtain a college education, and went on to manage two shelters for abused women and children.

She is credited with providing a safe haven for over 20,000 women and children who were being abused. Kathy didn’t allow the hell she was facing to keep her.

Kathy is now launching a national organization to teach others how to open shelters for abused women and children.

In the last year, my father passed away, I suffered a near-death experience and lingering illness from inhaled black mold and a toxic reaction to medication, my younger sister passed away, my daughter needed a major reconstructive knee surgery, and I lost my job after reporting my employer to OSHA for black mold which was later found by OSHA in the building.

People I thought were my friends deserted my family.

Did I feel like I was going through a year of hell? Absolutely!

Do I want to stay in that rut of negativity for the rest of my life? No! I want to take the examples of Winston Churchill and Kathy Catino and remember that there is something better waiting on the other side….if I’ll keep fighting toward it and looking for it.

My hope for you this month is that you too will keep on going on through even the toughest of times.

**Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.

Welcome to my blog!

Who is Steven Skelley?

Musician, author and photographer Steven Skelley has been a columnist for nine newspapers, a writer for numerous magazines and a staff features writer for a news service.

Steven's mother and both sisters all passed away before reaching age 50. At age 44, Steven battled his own life-threatening illness but survived with a desire to encourage others through his writing, photography and music.

Though he is legally disabled, he chooses to focus on the joys of family, friends, the beauty of the world around him and the desire that all people deserve equal rights and respect.


He is the co-author of three nonfiction books (so far) with his partner Thomas Routzong

• the best of Hometown Heroes florida
• Every Day Is Mothers Day
• Positive Reflections: Inspiring Thoughts And Photographs From Around The World

He is the co-author of a fantasy novel with his daughter Steffany Skelley

• The Gargoyle Scrolls

Steven Skelley has written and recorded music that has received national and international radio and television air play and he has performed on stage with Grammy Award winners and nominees.


Steven Skelley has released a single of his song Thank You God For Making Moms which received over 98,000 views on youtube.

The song was written about Steven Skelley's mother Sherill and his daughter Steffany Joy. "I was born in Canton, Ohio in 1963 to Sherill May McWilliams Skelley. She taught me the amazing value of hugs and smiles and laughter. Mom’s mom, Virginia Margaret Wheatley McWilliams was her best friend as well as instigator and partner in their many silly and fun adventures. They modeled for me how great family can be. I hope my daughter and I carry on their legacy of love, friendship and shared adventure," Skelley said.

Thank You God For Making Moms is available as an MP3 download at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevenskelley


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Steven Skelley is a published author of several nonfiction works and the novella The Gargoyle Scrolls. He has been a newspaper columnist, travel writer, news writer, ordained minister, music director, creative arts director, theater reviewer and tennis instructor.