Punishment or Divine Gift?, By Joyce and Barry Vissell

FEATURED COLUMNIST Punishment or Divine Gift?

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

When tragedy, death of a loved one, or extreme disappointment strikes, do you ever wonder if our Divine Creator is punishing you? A lot of people feel this way and close their heart to the divine love that is always pouring to us.

I have a dear friend, named Jim, who had a golden retriever, Max, for 16 years. Jim loved Max like he was a son and he took excellent care of him. Max went everywhere with his owner, even expensive hotel rooms. Max went to the best vets and was monitored often for any problems. The life expectancy for a golden retriever is from 10-13 years old, so Max had lived way beyond that.

One day, Max had trouble standing up and was immediately taken to the veterinary emergency hospital. Within a few hours, he died. Our friend was devastated and, after a few days of crying, he reported to me that he could no longer believe in a loving creator.

Why would a loving God take from this world a pet that was bringing so much love and beauty to his life? Jim felt he was being punished. I urged him to be grateful for all the wonderful years that he had with Max and to begin to look for a gift in the experience. In time, Jim realized Max had had an extraordinary life and that, if he had lived even two weeks more, Jim would have been in Europe working and would not have been able to be with him for his final hours on earth. As it was, Jim was able to hold him every second, and tell him over and over again how much he loved him, and to thank him for all the joy he brought.

We know people who lost their home and community to the Paradise fire in northern California in 2018. In just one short day, an entire small town completely burned. This was heartbreaking for all of us who watched, and even more so for the people who were there and lost so much. These people told us at the time that they felt completely abandoned by God and they could never trust again. They felt they also were being punished.

We urged them to try to be grateful for one thing each day and over time to look for the gift in this tragedy. It took two years of them feeling lost and abandoned to finally feel the gift of the fire. Yes, they lost so much and the trauma of that day will live with them forever, but they have found a new life together in another place and they are at peace. The gift is they learned it is possible to start over and that peace can be found again even under such tragic circumstances.

In 1986, I was pregnant with our third child, a girl whom we named Anjel. When I was six months pregnant, my midwife told me it was important for me to go to the hospital for an ultrasound. She was concerned but did not tell me. While driving to the hospital with Barry and our two little girls, I got out my little box of cards from Findhorn. On each card was printed one word of encouragement. The card I picked said, “Gratitude.” I knew that, whatever happened, I needed to be grateful.

At the hospital in a very clumsy and hurtful way, I was told by the examining doctor that our baby had died. I felt devastated!!!! Never had the pain of loss touched me so deeply. My parents, who were visiting us from Buffalo, came to the hospital to take our girls home with them while Barry and I went to another doctor to discuss my options for the removal of the baby.

In the brief time of seeing my mother as we brought the girls out to their car, my mother gave me a hug and said she understood. She had had twin boys that died at six months old. She told me to keep trusting and to know that a gift would be coming as a result of this loss. She told me there would be times when I would have difficulty knowing that a gift was coming, but that I should continue to give thanks that one day I would understand why this happened.

There were times when I too felt like I was being punished by God. Why would a loving God give me a baby only to have it die inside of me six months later? Whenever I saw a pregnant woman, I would cry as it felt so unfair that they should be able to have their baby and mine was taken away. Gradually,

I came to peace with my life with Barry and our two little girls. But my heart was definitely closed to having any more children. I wondered what the gift was that my mother was talking about.

Then two years later we received a total surprise when we found out that I was pregnant with our son. The way he was conceived seemed like a miracle.

And so, our son John-Nuri came to us as the gift from the very painful loss of Anjel. His presence has brought so much love and joy to all four of us. He was not planned, but our loving creator had the plan all along.

We are never punished by our creator; the love flows toward us all of the time. It is we who block it from coming. The gift and the plan have always been there. We just couldn’t see it.

The gift for my mother when she lost her twin boys was that two years later, I was born. She would have never had me if those twins had lived. My mother and I were indeed a lasting gift to each other. n •••

Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for information on counseling sessions by phone, online, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart. org for their free monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart.

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 26

We have also invested extensively in our security camera systems. There is a limit to the number of cameras that each school’s system can support, which means it is not possible to cover every outdoor space across school campuses. This is especially true for the larger campuses.

With the guidance of school Administrators, we have installed, moved, and directed cameras into the most needed locations on each school campus. We continue to upgrade server storage, replace cameras with new high-resolution cameras, and add multi-lens cameras in order to improve coverage and security.

Unfortunately, every school campus has outdoor spaces that do not have facilities with network infrastructure. This makes it impossible for us to install cameras in those remote locations.

PVUSD has been in contact with cell providers requesting that they deploy cellular infrastructure to improve cell reception at our schools with limited cellular coverage. We are moving forward with next steps to improve cell service.

We also encourage staff and students to enable WiFi calling on their cell phones so they are able to make and receive calls when connected to the PVUSD WiFi network even in locations with limited cell coverage. n

LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY ACTIVITIES La Selva Beach Library Branch announces upcoming activities.

Adult Book Discussion Group: 2nd Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14, “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro

Passionate Readers Book

Discussion: 4th Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23, “Veraby” by Carol Edgarian, Oct. 28, “Nomadland” by Jessica Bruder Afterschool STEAM: Minecraft starts Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. Information: 831-427-7710. Stories for Bedtime: Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Join via Facebook or Youtube for Bedtime Stories. Librarian Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families. New programs every other Wednesday and on the library’s YouTube Channel afterward (https://tinyurl. com/SCPL-stories-for-bedtime) Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11-6, Friday & Saturday, 12-5, closed Sunday-Monday. Book drops are open 24/7. Call: 831-427-7713 Text: 831-264-0647.

WRITING MENTORS NEEDED Wendy Thompson of the Young Writers Project is recruiting mentors for students at Branciforte Middle School and Costanoa Continuation High School.

Mentors will work with Jessica Brown’s 8th graders at Branciforte on poetry about restoring balance and equity and Maria Diaz Perez’s 10th through 12th graders at Costanoa, writing on empowerment. Mentors must commit to two days a week either from Oct. 4, thru Nov. 2 or Oct. 18 thru Nov. 23.

Need a refresher on working with student writers? Two inperson trainings for volunteers are scheduled at Branciforte : Best Practices Training on Sept. 25, and Traits of Good Writing Training on Oct. 9. Each class is 10 a.m-1 p.m. Contact Wendy Thompson at wendy@youngwriterssc.org for more info. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/YWP-fall-2021 FREE MUSIC EDUCATION SERIES With the start of the school year, the Monterey Symphony has released four new episodes of Music To YOUR Ears. This is an open-source virtual education series, with the first four episodes released in April 2021 still available. • Episode 5: Alone features the world-premiere of the award-winning performance of ‘Alone’ for Solo Violin, Live EFX, and Electronica by the Emmy-award winning MSO composer-in-residence John Christopher Wineglass. The piece is performed by MSO’s concertmaster Christina Mok and is filmed with the empty Sunset Center seats as a backdrop. • Episode 6: A “Suite” Musical Offering features MSO cellist Isaac Pastor-Chermak at the Winfield Art Gallery in Carmel. Pastor-Chermak plays a stunning Bach suite with the paintings and statues as his only audience members. • Episode 7: Making Music at Home features MSO’s principal flautist Dawn Walker, cellist Mark Walker, and MSO’s Executive Director Nicola Reilly in the gorgeous and newly renovated Pacific Grove Library. • Episode 8: Holiday Cheer celebrates local singer,

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by September 24

songwriter, and actress Malinda DeRouen and her new Christmas song and music video Christmas This Year.

The Monterey Symphony is offering this series featuring the animation style of local artist Rory Glass at no charge with language options in Spanish and English. The narrator is musicologist and MSO assistant principal horn player Dr. Alicia Mastromonaco. To view see https://www.montereysymphony.org/musicto-your-ears.htm where episodes can be viewed online or downloaded and shared. Each episode includes three worksheets in English and Spanish printable from the website.

FIRE RECOVERY WEBINARS United Policyholders offers webinars and virtual survivor forums for people affected by wildfires in California in 2020.

Roadmap to Recovery Virtual Workshops

Tuesday, Sept. 21 • 7 p.m. — Survivor to Survivor Forums: Connect and confer with trained UP volunteers who navigated recovery after previous wildfires

Register: www.uphelp.org/Sept14 • www.uphelp.org/ Sept21 DRIVE FOR SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER Tickets are now on sale for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drive for Schools, a fundraiser in its 17th year. The top prize is $25,000, with dozen more prizes to be given out in a drawing at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24.

Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25. Tickets are sold through participating schools through Sunday, Oct. 17.

Purchased tickets must be returned to your school by the school’s posted deadline. Purchased tickets will not be accepted at the Boardwalk.

Tickets sold on Oct. 24 at the Boardwalk will benefit the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Special Education Department. Since starting in 2005, Drive for Schools has raised more than $7 million in support of local schools.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES As Covid-19 cases increase due to the Delta variant, the Red Cross is concerned about meeting hospital demand for lifesaving blood and platelets during hurricane season.

In recent weeks, the Red Cross has seen blood donor turnout decline by nearly 10% while hospital demand outpaces donations. Factors in the decline include blood drive cancellations due to the pandemic and back-toschool preparations for many families.

Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). •••

Ben Lomond

Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9

Santa Cruz

Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Sept. 30, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Sponsored by IATSE Local 611, the stage workers’ union, at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St.

Scotts Valley

Sept. 25, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive

Watsonville

Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St. SCULPTURE IS: IN THE GARDEN 2021 On display thru Oct. 31 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden, 2660 East Lake Ave., Watsonville Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2021, is the 15th sculpture exhibit in partnership with Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden.

The jurors, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale, selected more than 100 sculptures created by 42 artists and collaborators.

Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden, relax under the umbrellas, and spend an afternoon enjoying the outdoor exhibit.

Admission is free. SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

TECH TALKS WITH THE LIBRARY 11 a.m., Online Zoom Meetings Santa Cruz Public Libraries presents Tech Talks designed for people at all learning levels to increase their ability to safely and effectively use their mobile devices.

For some help using Zoom for the first time, visit the tutorial at bit.ly/SCPL-ZOOM. Registration is required. Dates are: • Sept. 23: Search Strategies for Android and Apple. Register: bit.ly/TechTalk923 • Sept. 30: Device and Account Security for Android and Apple. Register: bit.ly/TechTalk930

ONGOING EVENTS

First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE 4 p.m., Online Meeting Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a presentation by a local expert. View the full schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentactivities/.

Next date: Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. with Karen Kefauver talking about social media (No meeting on Labor Day).

To participate, you need an Internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone.

A one-time preregistration is required at https:// tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763. Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. Tuesdays FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley.

There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and wellness screenings. Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente and Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for more info. Third Thursday Each Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Fridays MIDTOWN FRIDAYS Ongoing thru Oct. 29, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (next to the fire station) Event Santa Cruz is hosting a Friday festival through the end of October. Called “Midtown Fridays,” the event will have a featured musical act plus food, artists, vendors, and more. Admission is free. Saturdays ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Capacity is limited due to physical distancing requirements, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. For more information, visit http://www.elkhornslough.org/ esnerr/tours/

One Saturday Each Month COOKING WITH GREY BEARS’ POPPY DEGARMO 11 a.m. Online Class Cooking with Grey Bears next few classes will be online only.

Upcoming classes: Sept. 18 and Oct. 23 Use this Zoom link to participate in your home at time of class: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92906805068.

First Sunday Every Month WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz 95060 The Westside Marketplace is an exciting monthly market where local art, handmade and vintage shopping meet delicious food! This collaboration between Food Trucks A Go Go and the SCM Makers Market presents a great mix of creators of all kinds! There is also live music at each event!

The music on Sept 5. will be provided by Ancestree.

Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays.

The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

All local and state health guidelines will be followed. Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. For more information, go to the event page: https://www. facebook.com/events/170470481551895; Food Trucks A Go Go: https://www.foodtrucksagogo.com/; or SCM Makers Market https://scmmakersmarket.com/ for a list of all of the vendors.

Second Sundays SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave. between Lincoln and Cedar Streets The Santa Cruz Antique Street Faire features more than 40 outdoor vendors. Visit https://www.facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire/ for more information