Posted by Jim Henderson on: 06.20.2006 /
Julie, If I could interrupt this blog and your fascinating interview for a minute I need to tell everyone that it is Helens birthday today!
Please take a minute to tell Helen what you appreciate about her leadership, example and influence.
Helen, you have become a trusted guide to many of us who are trying to make sense out of life.
You are not only smart you are also kind- two attributes that rarely meet in the same person
Thank you for all the hard work you have put into this blog and all the Off The Map blogs over the past few months
You are generous
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Comment by: Julie Marie
1Happy Birthday Helen!
Yes, thanks for your time and attention. I have learned so much from your personal story, and from your questions regarding mine. You have played a large part in my learning how to manage a conversation that could become polarized. I’m still learning!
Your intellectual and experiential honesty was what kept me coming back to this blog in the early days. Just seeing that a woman could keep all of her essential goodness even if she lost her faith gave me the courage to keep at the questions.
I’ve had more honest conversations on this blog over the last few weeks than I’ve had in church for the last few years. Your faithful input into all the conversations (not just mine ;)) has made a significant impact on my life.
Thanks!
Comment by: Pam Hogeweide
2happy birthday helen!
Comment by: Eliza
3Helen, Happy Birthday!!
You’ve been a role model for thoughtful, kind conversation about the sometimes rancorous topics that have come up - whether you are acknowledging someone’s thoughts and comments, which you do so well, or whether you are disagreeing with them (including pointing out an assumption they have made about you). I have not yet been able to soak up enough of your example to keep myself from going on verbal rampages, but I’m trying!
And your reflections on your questions, and the answers you’ve come to so far, and why, have been intriguing and eye-opening. From your ritings, I think you have your finger on the key similarities between faith-based goodness and human goodness, and imo you have pointed out that the differences are so much less important.
Hope you have a great birthday, and some kind of fun celebration!
Comment by: KSG
4Have a great birthday Helen!
Thank you for your conributions to this blog and by extention, to our lives. Enjoy yourself.
Comment by: Keith
5Helen,
Happy Birthday! Hope the day is truly enjoyable for you. Thank you for the contributions you have made to so many of us at the blog - your leadership is appreciated. Your words have impacted me and helped me become a more complete person. Thank you.
Comment by: Lisa W.
6Whoooohooooo! Helen!
I hope your day is as splendid as you are.
Your honesty has been a welcome lamp on my path.
Have a gorgeous, fabulous day!
~Lisa W.
Comment by: Helen M.
7Thanks everyone! :)
I’ve had a great birthday so far. We had birthday cake for breakfast (this has become a tradition in our family)
When my husband gets home from work in a little while we’re going out to dinner to celebrate.
Comment by: NCxian
8Happy Birthday!
Comment by: Steve Schlicht
9Have a great dinner and a wonderful birthday, Helen!
Steve
Comment by: Helen M.
10Thanks Steve!
We’re back now and we did have a great dinner, thanks :)
Comment by: Helen M.
11Thanks NCxian :)
Comment by: Esther
12Hi, Helen,
I’ve been “away” for a while from this site for my job and everything…
Somehow I have this feeling that I should be back tonight…
When I “come back”, it’s your birthday!
Although in your time, it already passed your birthday, mine still is!!
It is now 11:26pm June 20th my time.
I am so happy and honoured to be able to say,
Happy Birthday to you, Helen!
You are a very very crucial person in my life. You “appeared” in my life journey just at the right moment.
I’ve learnt A LOT from you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Comment by: Doreen
13happy birthday.
you are a wonderful listener. and that’s not easy in cyberspace!
doreen