Music is universal. It can inspire, soothe, and challenge. It can speak to the soul. In many ways life is very much like music. Rob Bell believes that all human beings can hear God's song and are either in tune or out of tune with his beautiful song.

He states in his Nooma DVD series Rhythm, "The song is playing all around us all the time, the song is playing everywhere, it's written on our hearts, and everybody is playing the song. See, the question isn't whether or not you're playing a song, the question is 'Are you in tune?'"

We all have experienced fear in our lives. For some of us it has had crippling affects. Before dealing with fear it is important to distinguish between fear being defined as a thought or a feeling. In order to deal with fear and uncover what is behind it, it is essential to define it as a feeling.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was in touch with how easy it is to create in our mind "thoughts of fear" and how they can so easily paralyze us when he said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

We can very easily add more fear upon fear when we start thinking about the fear relentlessly.

There is no doubt that society, family and our environment plays a big part in constructing our initial self-image. Every human being has the potential to blossom a personality and self-image that is filled with grace and beauty but many times something goes awry.

Sometimes when love is withheld from a parent or emotional support is deprived a child's self-image and personality are affected in a profound way. Traumatic experiences where abuse is present or where there is abandonment or rejection can deeply affect a child's self-image as well.

For instance if a parent tells their child that he (or she) is a nobody, or incompetent the child will many times project this image as reality and embrace it. This image can affect the child's social skills, grades, and emotional temperament.

A story as told by the mother ...

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I watched the "Adventures of Louis and Clark" on television almost 10 years ago, I realized then that, at times, I played the role of Clark Kent in my life.

At times I would find myself falling over chairs and desks, clumsily trying to keep myself from falling on my face. Yet, at other times, I might fall in love with someone and never let the her know (back in my college days).

But what I found I had the most in common with Clark was that, I, too was hiding a secret identity. On October 28, 1995 my father, Max Zacapa, passed away and I was trying to live my life as it was before his death.