I have been working on this labor of love on an empty stomach while under the cloud of many distractions. If I told you that what held me up was the foreward, you'd probably laugh but it is true. The simplest piece became the most difficult. It became a beautiful dedication instead...as are most things these days.
It's funny but some that know me may ask why do this? A question that requires me to share a truth about myself some will never understand. Simply, I intend to live forever...in every way that I can. As will those lives that I have touched and those lives I have been touched by. I've written about many things and many loves. My family, my friends and lovers. I hold them in my heart today and when I reach heaven standing before the throne, God will remember them too as being part of the fabric that held my soul together. You will know them and honor them as I do. My love will stand all tests of time breathed out into this plain of heaven. It doesn't matter if I gain notoriety for this work nor do I care if anyone buys it. My fame can never exceed the love I have shared in my writings. For me, that's more than enough. So who or what is "pretty"? That is mine to know and I'm sure if you read deep enough...you'll see someone or something you too can call "pretty". Now...to all else that needs doin...
At least 19 people were killed and about 50 others were injured in what British Prime Minister Theresa May called "an appalling suicide attack" after an Ariana Grande concert Monday night at Manchester Arena in England, authorities said.
Tonight, I write about the anger I feel. The hatred others would place in my heart and my righteous cause to not allow it to rein in me.
This anger is not about what happened. It exists because I should be appalled and I can no longer find it in me. As though this age of capitulation has stolen a part of my humanity so as not to offend those that wave the same banner the killer wave. I have watched honor killings on youtube and have seen people that believe as I do beheaded. My anger was pure once and now it is reserved for those that have decided not to fight this blatant evil fearing it would offend those that worship under the same banner. I remember the days when the same voices of capitulation raved about what they thought was an intimation of murder in the name of my Christian God. A libelous claim against the Man that said "Love your enemies and do good to those that hate you". To watch them cower now to accept those that actually murder in the name of their God is a shock to my sense of logic. They have created a safe zone in our society by claiming discrimination where none existed for the effect that they have received. My anger is to them that call themselves our protectors and allow this to happen. They turn a blind eye to the cancer and treat the symptoms knowing it will do nothing to kill it. This blood is now on their hands...
While I stew I see the word Islam being thrown around as the main issue and in part this is correct but I can see my Muslim neighbors that call me "habibi" never wanting such a thing. I understand that all the images they see are forcing them into a choice they would rather not have to make. The choice to live in peace as they choose and be seen as apostates to their faith or to see every non-believer as someone they must one day kill. I have to believe there is a better way. My humanity and Christian history compels me to remember the reforms that Christians faced were at times bloody. They were not easy to face but we managed to endure in Christ. I know that there are many Muslims that seek a reformation but they fear there are not enough of them to pursue it. They are excluded from the public forum because their voices don't carry headlines and headlines today are rife with blood. Maybe...just maybe...it's time they got bloody too. As for me? My neighbors remain the peace loving kind that greet me with a smile but they too will have to choose but I will never capitulate for the falsity that is political correctness. Choose life...and do so with a transparency that is palpable.
I choose to separate the wheat from the tares in this regard as should our leaders and they must do so without reserve or mercy. They must include those peace loving Muslims and offer them the same protections anyone seeking a righteous cause deserves but they MUST reveal themselves or be counted with the rest. I ask all Muslims that want peace...to fight for it. Get indignant and angry at those that would send your sons and daughters into a death you didn't ask for while they sit with the billions given them to feed you. Rise up and fight. Do all you can to shout to the rest of the world that you are willing to die for this peace as every truly great civilization has done in times past. Then do as the Christians did...reform and live your lives knowing with pride that you fought for the peace you can one day take part in.
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares..."
A cute quip about his tiny waist found way to becoming a look into his eyes at all he still is...and is yet to be. This 72 year young lady looked inside with a look he's seen before. A look of acknowledgement and fear that shook him because he thought it could no longer be seen. A stranger served as a reminder with a whisper...
"I'm still there and so are you...just as strong..."
What God creates inside is not easily tossed aside. He knows his purpose is as yet bigger than him. My people, we will all come to understand a truth. We are not just beautiful accidents. We have place and purpose in this world. Even if it means that you are only meant to stop someone in the middle of a busy street to pray for them. You don't know what impact your words will have. Like a pebble in a pond that is meant to begin the ripple that becomes a tidal wave that is meant to change the world...you played your part. She played her part in reminding him that the sword he carries isn't just a showpiece. Someday...it will be used as it was meant to. If I never see her again...she is now an eternal light that will always serve to point my way home...you dig ;-)
When dealing with a serious issue that consumes you, all else becomes petty and small. We acclimate to the hardship by accepting its weight. As the load lightens, all that was once petty takes on an undeserved psychosomatic weight and we start reacting to what we had accepted as petty and light. What was rightfully small grows into something big without merit and the only weapon we have against such a thing is called...awareness.
Heavy trials remind us of many things and one of the most important lessons we learn is to stop sweating the small stuff. We learn gratitude for the things we take for granted enabling us to find peace in every corner of our lives. Stay awake...stay hip. Be at peace and learn to accept that peace.
Even after we have been acclimated to hardship....learn that's it's ok to be ok. Tonight...I'm working on just that...God bless
Today I saw something beautiful...the chance to bring life where there wasn't. I pray the planted seeds take root and produce good fruit. Enough for the day's lifetime and the eternal found in the morrow.
More than just a phrase. More than just a smile. More than just an image. More than my beliefs. More than life itself...just more. More than just a want, a need or an empty desire...I have to find it...so I will. I pray you do to...
"It’s who we are; Doesn’t matter if we’ve gone too far; Doesn’t matter if it’s all okay
Doesn’t matter if it’s not our day...So won’t you save us"
Calculations and deductions are the norm for humans always looking to gain the upper hand but what about the soul that's been used to the upper hand? The soul that has grown tired of fighting for place and just wants to live? Well he isn't so naive to believe that anyone will simply allow that to happen without challenging what they deem "a threat". Yes, I said "a threat" (as ridiculous as it may sound)...but to whom? Their own self-image. Does this mean I think myself above others? False humility will tell me to say "no" but true humility will demand I say "no, but I am beyond some and behind others". I offer myself no praise nor accolade for simply allowing growth to take it's course but the insecure will always find cause to pull one back to their own state of growth. You know, the stagnant kind. When this happens, never give them power...it's just too easy to get sucked into a game designed by fools...
Now, I understand that my life has taken me in many directions. Forcing me to become a "thing" that can fit anywhere without compromising who I am in any way yet even in this...I am judged. No need to complain or cry "foul" because I am a man. I am not a naive child that needs to believe that people can actually cease doing what is naturally inherit to them and it is this "judgement" that allows me to discern who is with me for "me" and who is with me for "themselves". I purposely place three options before a mind. The superficial, the esoteric and the ethereal. Which one draws them lets me know what they want and allows me to exclude what is not edifying to me straight away.
If all you see is a picture, that is not me being vain yet some would think me so. They will judge me straight away as a "show-off" and respond as one would to someone that uses their body as bait or they would take what they consider bait to try their hand at the lure. Neither benefit me.
If all you read is a piece on a certain subject, that is not my attempt at convincing you that what I believe is a surety but most would think so. They will judge me "mean" or judgemental in the most brutal way or they would seek to know my mind to either prove me wrong or find validation in their own minds in agreement. Neither benefit me.
If all you read is a poem, that is not me "trying" to feign being a romantic yet some would think me so. They will judge me straight away as a cad that lures women with useless words of enchantment or they would fall in love with a man that expressed a moment in time through creativity's entitled spirit. Again...neither of these benefit me. Although I must add that when it comes to the artistic, something powerful can actually occur when a like-hearted soul "catches" what you are writing. It's even stronger when you actually "perceive" it & they come to mirror the same perception. Not many have experienced this but my "tuning fork" is...different. Apparently...so is theirs to almost the same degree & frequency. Rare experiences like that go beyond a simple "benefit" & are so special they're hard to quantify in words.
Three pieces to a puzzle with every piece having several pieces of their own. Which one draws you will always let me know how long you will stay and the reasons for it. If all three should draw you? Well at that point you may fear that I may be false and doubt will creep in which is something I cannot control or assuage. You may stick around or not but at least I know I have truly been "seen". To me, that is an enrichment to my soul. Something I find is of great benefit to me.
Folks, Kings and Queens earn their titles through honor and it is this very honor that does not allow room for arrogance. Yet you must understand that the royalty I speak of is not based on inheritance or race but it is instead based on the world we carry within. In our innermost, are we a slave to vice? Or have we overthrown the inner vices that kept us slaves to them? True Kings and Queens grow into royalty by identifying & understanding their "masters" which in turn allows them to officiate themselves as "Masters" above the very vices they were once enslaved by. A feat anyone sincere can accomplish. Now, as a king, you can reign loud or you can reign in silence but make no mistake about it...you will reign one way or the other. I need no place in anyone's eyes so I choose to reign in silence and leave my safeguards on the screen before you as well as in the image I present you with at meeting. Yet don't ever get it twisted...I am more than all you can read or see. One piece does not define me and never think I can ever be judged so easily. If you do? You will always get me wrong...
