Lifetree Cafe to explore overcoming difficulties

Strategies for coping with difficult times will be shared at Lifetree Cafe, 10 a.m., Sunday, August 24, and at 7 p.m., Thursday, August 28 at the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, 720 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa.

The program, titled “Bouncing Back: Turning Disasters Into Opportunities,” features a screening of the award-winning short film Dancing Outside the Box. The film features Ray Leight, whose near-fatal motorcycle accident left him permanently in a wheelchair.

“You’re 20 years old and think you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. The next thing you know, tubes are sticking out of you, and doctors are telling you they know how you feel. Let me take a baseball bat to you-then you’ll know how I feel,” Leight said.

Leight’s months of depression turned toward hope when a friend invited him to attend a ballroom dancing class.

Participants in the Lifetree program will explore how to overcome the challenges in their lives by applying the principles learned by Leight.

Admission to the 60-minute events are free. Snacks and beverages are available.

To get to the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, located in the western part of the Des Moines, Iowa, area, take Interstate-235 to the 73rd Street/8th Street exit (Exit 3). Go south on 8th Street to Grand Avenue. The West Des Moines United Methodist Church is on the southeast corner of 8th and Grand Avenue. Parking is available behind the church building.

Lifetree Café is a place where people gather for conversation on life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting. For questions about Lifetree may be directed to Paige Chapman at 515-279-0826 or info@lifetreecafe.com. More information is available at Lifetreecafe.com.