ShiningLight: my friend Carol Tink

BEYOND MEASURE

"OUR DEEPEST IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE.
OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS, THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US.
WE ASK OURSELVES: WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED, FABULOUS? ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE?
YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOES NOT SERVE THE WORLD.
THERE IS NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON'T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU. WE ARE ALL MEANT TO SHINE, AS CHILDREN DO.
WE WERE BORN TO MAKE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD IN US. IT'S NOT JUST SOME OF US. IT'S IN EVERYONE.
AND AS WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME. AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS"

(Marianne Williamson - and quoted by Nelson Mandela 1994 at his inauguration!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

my friend Carol Tink

"Who wants to be my pen pal? Email me!"

These words were the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Back then I worked at the Disney Store in Frankfurt as a cast member aside from studying French and English. It was my dream job. I loved it. As I read that message from a cast member named Carol Scarpino in Massillon/Ohio, I decided to answer right away. Carol told me later that I had been the first to answer her. We started emailing and getting to know each other. Soon we emailed every other day. I really enjoyed getting to know her. She had such a caring open heart full of joy. I had my first online instant message experience with her. It was the aol messenger (grin). SO fun. We also called each other and sent each other care packages. This all started in 1999. I went overseas to study for 6 months and it was Carol who sent me a care package as I went on to my adventure. Her favorite Disney character was Tinkerbell and mine was Tigger: so she was Carol Tink and I was Tigger girl. One year later I became a Christian and as we chatted, she told me she was too. What joy, now we could even pray together! My highlight was in 2004 when Carol was able to come for a tour with her church choir to Europe. We met for precious few hours for the first time after 5 years of friendship. It was wonderful and I prayed with her in person. Since then I have not seen her again. We kept in contact via email and phone. 2 Years ago, my dear friend told me that they had found colon cancer in her and I have been praying. Sunday the 12th of December, she lost the battle with cancer and went home to Jesus. I am glad we emailed in the month of November. My heart is soar but also really happy for her - no more sorrow, no more pain...she flies on eagles' wings now. FLy Carol Tink, fly......