Jesse

"If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, 'I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.' "

    - Ann Landers (1918-2002), American advice columnist

My friend and fellow journalist Patrick over at Patrick's Place just brought my attention to the plight of a young man named Jesse. You can read Patrick's post about Jesse right here. It is my hope that you will.

Jesse is twenty-one years old and he is battling cancer. He seems to me to be a remarkable young man with an amazingly resilient spirit considering what he is going through. He is an AOL journalist too, and is writing about his perilous journey on his blog Kool Aid and Ramen, even as he faces the possibility of his death:

"I wish there was a way that none of this would be happening. I know I don't deserve this, but then again no one does. Besides, it isn't a matter of me deserving this or not. It is either my time or it isn't...I don't know if I'll be online that much, but please email me and check in and let me know how you all are doing...I'm trying to keep a positive outlook through all of this. I'm trying to keep my strength and trying to keep my hope up." 

There's much more. Do yourself a favor and pay Jesse a visit, and while you're there leave him a note of encouragement. I'm sure it will mean a lot to him, and I'm sure that the power of your collective well-wishing will infuse him with the spiritual strength that he needs at this difficult time in his life.