Listen to the Silence

Listen

Evening sun has come.
Shadows lengthen.
Silence beckons me to listen.
Bristling hair on my arm.

What is it 'Silence'?
"Listen to the loneliness,
Of missing the laughter and the tears,
Of conversation and unspoken words."

My eyes search the shadows.
Where are the smiles and eyes of love?
The priceless moments of gazing     
Into another's soul.

Darkness is harsh.
Your touch is gone.
Arms reach out.
And no one to hold.

The night sets in.
Overtaken by silence.
No sights I see.
No touch I feel.

Done with politics

It’s been two days now since protests got out of hand in Washington D.C. and the halls of Congress were breached by protesters. I won’t get into what I believe were the cause(s) that led to the incident. This act of lawlessness did confirm one thing for me. That one thing is my evolution or journey to becoming a voluntarist. According to Wikipedia, “Voluntarism, sometimes referred to as voluntary action, is the principle that individuals are free to choose goals and how to achieve them within the bounds of certain societal and cultural constraints, as opposed to actions that are coerced or predetermined.”

I’m not going to bore you with the story of my evolution to voluntarism. Suffice it to say is that I have traveled the spectrum of political affiliation (except the extremist ends) and I have found that in the end I get nothing out of it. “Wait till next election.” “We can’t let them win.” “That other side is evil.” Does any of that sound familiar. I never gain anything.

I don’t want to be involved in choosing my earthly master anymore. I have more important things to do than choosing a side. I’m not going to say that I won’t vote at all in the local elections. Government on a local scale can be the most oppressive of them all.

I’m not writing this to bring you into the voluntarism fold. The only thing I suggest is that we should all embrace humanity when it comes to others you may disagree with. I struggle with that sometimes. Sometimes I just have to walk away. We better start building more personal relationships and offering value to others in the form of knowledge, experience, products, or services.
In this world there is a “ruling class” far above what we see in government in our country and in other countries. Their aim and objective is to strip people of their humanity and their identity. Perhaps I should say their very soul. They are the unseen hand that moves our leaders. This is not some “tin hat” conspiracy. Google “The Great Reset”. Or better yet use Duckduckgo.

Embrace your identity as the unique human being that you are. Love your family. Educate yourself. And finally never forget biblical wisdom and guidance. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, NKJV)

Ch-ch-changes

October is the month of changes here in Kentucky. Beauty can surround you as the trees and bushes withdraw their chloropyhyll and reveal the color left in their leaves. Autumn beckons with its reds, oranges, and golden yellows. Autumn is but a brief pause as the year unwinds with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Autumn beckons me this year with change. I wasn’t looking for it as I visited General Butler Park nearby in Carrollton, KY. I sat by the lake while admiring the lake and the beauty of the autumn foliage. I reminisced as I remembered how we used to come to the lake and enjoy the swimming area as a child. I remembered the times we had Sunday School picnic there, too.

I moved away from the lake to sit at another picnic table. I mused to myself how the park used to have several tables sitting on this concrete pad and a trash can, too. Then it hit me. I came to the park looking for direction from where I am in life. Instead it was a reminder of what is constant in life – change.

Life is all about change. Change comes in phases. The innocent childhood phase with its playfulness and questions. The rebelliousness teenage years. The college years of explorations of self and new horizons. Post college it was a time of turmoil and acceptance. Then came love and a higher calling to something more than myself. For the past eight years or so changes have come at a grievous pace culminating in acceptance.

Now I’m about to turn 60. I’ve been at my present job for over 25 years. Changes beckons me in several areas. I must change or change will come to me in ways I may not like. I must summon the courage to act on this moment. I have the gift of wisdom and patience. I am confident and up to the task of moving forward.

My Debut Single — LIVING FORWARD: New Rules

Squeeeeee…… Today is the day my debut song is available! (link below) This is the kickoff song to my upcoming CD. So yes, please buy it and help me help others. As a community that comes together for one or a thousand who have fallen, we CAN make the changes happen! PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE […]

via My Debut Single — LIVING FORWARD: New Rules

Fork In The Road

Answers come
     When you least expect them.
A simple query
     Yields big answers.

No more ambiguity.
     It’s all black and white.
No more guesses.
     No longer in the dark.

Disappointed?
     Yes and no.
But, I’d rather know
     And then move on.

Life has brought me
     To another fork in the road.
I think I’ll take it
     And not look back.

Moment Like This

Where would I meet you?
In a crowded coffee shop.
Or, a retro burger joint.
In a quiet café.
Or a peaceful church.
 
    Would I stand still
    Like a statue in the park?
    Would I muster a smile?
    Or cry a river of tears
    Of gratitude and happiness.
    Would we embrace like old friends?

Let me search for treasures
For my mental snap shot.
Of sights and sounds.
Of music and laughter.
Of peace and solitude.
From the moment we met.
 
    Would my words come out right?
    Would my voice fall silent?
    Could I find the right words
    To utter in a moment like this?
    Can mere words describe the moment
    When I meet you?
    
Patiently I await for that moment.
Searching my heart and mind
Wondering if it will ever happen.
Praying for the right time and place.
Digging deep within me to discover
A moment like this.

Touch of the Saints

Fond memories drift to mind
Take me back to my childhood.
To summertime in June and Bible school.
To green grass and that big old maple tree.
To the Methodist Church in Port Royal.

Let me get back in line to march inside the church.
Following the banners of country and the cross,
Singing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers”.
Opening each day with songs and a prayer.

Help me to listen to the teacher,
Teaching me stories from God’s Holy Word.
Let me work on a craft once again
To illustrate the stories from His Word.

I want to drink the Kool-Aid and eat the cookies once again
And to see Rose’s smile as she serves us.
Let me jump and play upon the church yard grass.
Dare me again in the game of Red Rover.

Leave me beneath the old maple tree
To listen to laughter and the birds singing.
‘Deep and Wide’, ‘The B-I-B-L-E’, ‘This Little Lamp of Mine’, and ‘Give Me Oil in My Lamp’.
Sing them over and over again.

Let me linger awhile in those precious memories.
With a thankful heart I do remember
The dedication of those saints from my childhood
To touch me with the love of Jesus.

In memory of Linda Sanders, Nancy Hayden, Pearl Hawkins, Rose Bruce, Wilma Suter, and so many more saints from my childhood.

Lick The Beaters

I made some pumpkin spice cake muffins this afternoon. Nothing special about that, right? But, it was only when I lifted the beaters out of the batter that I became like an anxious little boy. I was reminded of the memories of my mom baking cakes and such when I was young. We would gather around to get a lick off the beaters when she was done with the batter. Ah, such fond memories of simpler times.

Then, I had to think of children today and wonder how many of them ever get to experience the simple thrill of licking the beaters. Whether it be their mother, an aunt, or their grandmother. Oh, and I guess I should include male cooks, too. Yes, the batter tastes good. But, what is important is the time spent between the child and the loved ones in their life. These are times when stories are told and laughter is shared. Memories are made and you remember your roots and where you came from.

We live in a world now where the food we eat is already made and all you do is get it out of the package, box, can, or sack and heat it up or consume it on the spot. I make no criticism of this habit. But, sometime make the time for the little ones you love and have them come and watch you make some yummies. Share the laughter and the good times. Then, they can lick the beaters and clean the bowl out, too. Slow down and share the simple times. You’ll be richer for it.

Purposeful Work

Yesterday I watched ‘The Bucket List’ movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. I enjoyed the movie very much. As I sit here in my living room I reflect on the movie. I identify with Carter (Morgan Freeman) in the movie. Like him I haven’t seen much financial success in my life, yet. I have been loyal to one job for a substantial portion of my life (19 1/2 years). Carter turned wrenches for 45 years in the movie. He talked about how his work had provided for his family. 

I am thankful that I have my job. It has kept a roof over my head and food on the table. It has kept my late wife and I clothed and warm. My job has kept my cats fed all these years.  What has my job done for me? I don’t know. Some might call me a stable family man. My dad would have said that’s the way things work. “You live, work, pay the bills, and die.”  I want more than that in life.

I find myself longing for something more out of life. I want to have some kind of purposeful work that does more than just pay the bills. To win the lottery and not have to work again is what many people aspire to do. Yes, it would be nice to win the lottery. But, I want to have some type of purposeful work that is congruent with my personality whether I win the lottery or not.

My work is so easy it’s like falling off a log. I can make most any tile floor shine like a new penny. It’s so easy and yet there is not much challenge to it anymore. Perhaps I need to build challenge into a purposeful line of work.

I know that my work has the aspect of structure to it. I work pre-set hours. I know the process of refinishing floors from beginning to end. I work best with the discipline of structure in work.

What is my purpose at work? Hospitals should be clean environments. My work is a part of the task of provision of a clean environment. My work is appreciated by fellow employees, management, and visitors. I like the compliments that I get. But, there are certainly times when I wonder, “Is this all there is to this job?”

Watching this movie doesn’t inspire me to rush into making my own bucket list. It has caused me to reflect on what I can do to create purposeful work in my life. The results of this reflection should do more than just pay the bills.  My work should be challenging me. It should have the discipline of structure. Most of all purpose should be interwoven throughout my work. My bucket list? Continue my journey toward purposeful work.

What A Difference A Year Makes

A year ago today I was getting ready for church and my cell phone rang. It was Bonnie’s good friend, Tiffany. Tiffany put Bonnie on the phone. I could barely make out what she said, but I knew she told me, “Happy Birthday”.  Nine days later Bonnie left this world behind dead from breast cancer. I will always treasure that phone call. The memory will never leave me.

What do have I to say as I sit here one year later? Grief has had its way. Sometimes I wished it would go away. I tried to block it and it didn’t work. Grief still came back as my constant companion. Grief comes and goes now.

I have been able to get rid of most of her clothes. Bonnie was a bit of a pack rat. She liked the bargains. Her bargains will eventually be passed on to someone else. I do have the intent of passing on some of her bargains to the Methodist Children’s Home in Versailles. I have donated lots of things for our church’s effort for Operation Christmas Child. I still have lots more things to donate for that worthy cause.

I did my year-end assessment of myself. I know that I need to broaden my social and family network. I took a step last night to come to the church’s Bible study. The primary goal right now is the social connection. The spiritual benefits will come in time.

Yes, it’s been a long road from this time last year. I don’t see how I could have gotten here without God’s help. He must have been quite busy with all of my bungling and clumsiness in my life. I know that in time I shall see how it all fits together. I just have to take things one step at a time and trust God with the rest.