Love Came Down

This just doesn't seem to be the year for me to really enjoy Christmas.  It doesn't seem to be a time to send Christmas cards, to sing the carols, and light the tree.  The last few months have taken it's toll on a heart already worn out from the long months of watching and waiting and grieving the illness of the one who's strength and endurance has surprised us all.

So I'm going through the motions to a season that seems to come and go so quickly.  The tree is up, the music is playing, the trips to see the best of the best of decorations in Music City have been made and all the photos taken.
The gifts, hmmmm, haven't put much thought in those this year.  So the motions continue.

Even in the cold and frigid world around us, a glimpse, a crack in the darkness begins to break through the sadness, the hopelessness, the grieving.  Through all the kaos, a dim light begins to reveal itself and day by day, moment by moment that light grows brighter and stronger.  Searching to see the source of that light, I begin to see and remember the source of the Spirit of Christmas.  Not in the cards, the music, the decorations.  Not in the lighted trees and glowing candles and children's laughter.  Not from Kris Kringle, Old Saint Nick, Santa Clause,,,,,,,

But.......only from the real Reason Of The Season.......

We celebrate each year because of a miracle that happened on that first Christmas Morning.

Love Came Down.................LOVE CAME DOWN

Wrapped in swaddling cloths and laying in a bed of hay.  A Baby, A Miracle, The Son Of God, God's Love Incarnate.

So year to year, season to season we bring out the cards, the lights, the decorations, the carols to Celebrate That Love.  Those who come to celebrate Christmas for the gifts, the warm fuzzy feeling, Santa Clause slowly grow tired of the Season coming so quickly year after year.....

But......those who have experienced that love, held it close in their hearts, let it fill up their lives and guide their steps come to anticipate the season, long for the hope and peace and rejoice in the celebration...

As I go through the heartache, the sadness, the grieving of my moment on this road, I realize that if the cards don't get sent or the songs don't get song......that's ok.
As long as I remember.....and celebrate the Love that came down that first Christmas......the sadness is replaced by joy, the grief by hope, and the darkness by the Light of that Love......

Remember..........and Celebrate..........and Never Forget......

LOVE CAME DOWN

Scratch...Or...Soar...

Most of us have great aspirations on this Journey of Life.  Whether it's being successful  at what we love the most or being successful  in making the big bucks.  Maybe it's being successful  at making a difference in the world around us or just being successful at finding our place in this world.  One thing is for sure.....if we're scratching with the hens in the chicken house we can't expect to soar with the eagles.

WHAT............

I find myself so many times scratching away but wanting to soar.  I wonder why my life hasn't reached MY expectations until I take a closer look at how I spend my days. 

I've always needed an outlet for some creativity, whether it's writing and playing music or snapping photos and turning them into something special.  Yet too many times I'm so caught up with my online life that I've forgotten how to live MY LIFE.  Too many times I'm caught up with the problems of others and have ignored the gnawing in my stomach that's telling me to LIVE....LIVE....LIVE.  It seems that I'm happy....or unhappy as it may be with the complacency of my reality instead of finding that HUNGER I had in my youth.  That HUNGER that opened up the world to all its POSSIBILITIES,  all of its HOPES and DREAMS.  That knowing that we found our way, accomplished the unexpected and found a peace, a purpose, a uniqueness in this world.

So I have to ask myself again, do I want to SOAR WITH THE EAGLES or scratch with the chickens.  It's a day by day, moment by moment decision, choice, outlook, and lifestyle.  As so many have said, THIS IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL..........

THIS IS IT.........

TODAY I CHOOSE TO SOAR............................

Let It Go

When you're tired and frustrated from the world around you....
Let It Go....
When you've made choices that were as dumb as they come...
Let It Go....
When you've been hurt by family, by friends, by strangers....
Let It Go....
When you've cried tears of grief, tears of loneliness, tears of hurt....
Let It Go...
When those memories from your past come back to haunt you...
Let It Go...
When the anger rages inside you....
Let It Go...
When the world throws stones...
Let It Go...
When you were the good guy and they were so wrong...
Let It Go...
When the abuse of others clouds your mind...
Let It Go...
When the depression tries to bring you down...
Let It Go...
When you've been kicked, robbed and beaten to the ground....
Let It Go...
When you feel you can't take any more...
Let It Go...

In All Things Give Thanks
He Has The Peace That Passes All Understanding

Longing

Longing......
Longing for what we don't have....
Longing for a life we wish we had.....
Longing to fill an emptiness in the soul....
Longing for happiness....for peace of mind....for solace....for love.....
Longing for something we conceive as unreachable, unattainable, unrealistic....

When does that longing become complacency....
When do we lose the hunger to keep reaching, keep climbing, keep growing....
When do we let that longing become disappointment, regret, hopelessness....

We long for a purpose but do we waste away the days....
We long for happiness but do we continue to indulge in our self pity...
We long for the new but do we settle for the old...
We long for a life that seemed to have slipped out of our grasp but do we stop living....

Do we continue to long for a new life but just continue to exist....
Do we continue to look for change but neglect to take the first few steps required.
Do we continue to be unhappy without looking for the the glimmer, the hope......
Do we continue to long in regret or long in the wonder of life......

Long......
Long for Love.....
Long for Life.....
Long for Hope.......
Long for that Moment.......

Longing.....
Acting......
Succeeding.....
Living.....

Choices.......
Choices......
Sometimes circumstances.....
But Still Choices.....

We only have One Life......
One Life.......

Longing.......

Living.....

Choices

Stress

Stress is one of those things that you think you have under control and then it hits you like a brick wall knocking you flat on your back.  To say the least, things have been a bit stressful lately for me and if it has for you I understand how it can consume you at times.

Soooooo ...... I offer a time of stress relief, a time to stop, step back, reflect and regroup.  I've added a new video...."His Eye Is On The Sparrow" by Lauryn Hill to my page and I suggest just turning up the volume, clicking play and setting back and taking a moment for YOU.

All The Best Today

Glare Or Glance

An online friend of mine sends me a daily email with positive words of encouragement, uplifting songs, quotes and sometimes devotionals.  Recently he sent one called Glare Or Glance.  The premise of the message was what we Glare at and Glance at in our lives can determine our outlook, our demeanor and our attitude.  If we Glare at the bad things and Glance at the good, we tend to be more negative and pessimistic in life.  If we Glare at the good things and Glance at the bad, we tend to be more upbeat and positive in life.

As I was rereading my last blog entry on politics, I realized I was Glaring at the negative side way too much and thus my view of politics was extremely pessimistic.  I need to change that. So many times in so many areas of our life we tend to Glare at the bad and Glance at the good way too often. 

My Sister has a friend that when you spend just a little time around him you see how depressed, angry and negative he seems.  He's had some struggles in life as most of us have but he spends most of the day watching a television channel where they constantly show the bad in the world. So many times we dwell so much on the bad that we forget to look at the good.

I have to constantly remind myself to dwell more on the good and not the bad.  As crazy as life gets sometimes I have to remind myself a lot.  Too many times I'm drifting off into space and deep in thought on what's ailing me at the moment.  So I have to snap out of it and remind my self again.  Think Positive, Look at the Good, Don't Worry, Be Happy.....as the song says but a song with a lot of Wisdom.

So as we go through the day.....look at your thoughts.  Look at where you are at and what you are thinking about.  See what You are Glaring at and Glancing at and see if there needs to be some changes. Maybe, just maybe we will all find ourselves seeing the world as a much Brighter Place.

No One Wins

I'm not one to usually bring up politics because everyone has their own opinion and usually it's a strong opinion. I've noticed so much the last few years when it comes to Politics....No One Wins.

I know.... I can be a bit of a pessimist when it comes to Politics....OK...maybe a big pessimist. We hear about the power brokers and power plays on the hill. We see when the Republicans are in charge the Democrats take a stance against them and when the Democrats are in charge the Republicans take the same stance. When there's a Republican President people complain and when it's a Democrat they complain as well.

I do have to say I feel for any man or woman that becomes President in our day and time because no matter how much they try to change things in their eyes for the better....there can be no change with the way politics rule our land. I also think that with the title President we forget that the President is a Human Being. He's Human. He's put in a positing where every word is scrutinized, every slip of the tongue is blasted over all the air ways and when things are not going as we think they should, He gets the blame. How can one man get the blame when the Powers on the Hill move into battle mode on everything he tries with no plan on agreeing and No One Wins.

I wonder if when the creators of the two party system started at the beginning they would have ever imagined the way that system would have turned out today. When did our elected officials change their job description from being elected to pursue what's best for our country to pursuing what's best for their party. When that power struggle begins they wave their flags of victory because in some way or another they think they've won something but No One Wins and the country they work for hasn't got a chance.

I'm disappointed in our government, I'm disappointed in the men and women who make so many promises only to join in the constant struggle on the hill. I'm disappointed that year after year the promises for change only hit a brick wall from the opposing party. We hear some talk of working as a bipartisan congress but sadly the power struggle that has been created will never let that happen. I'm disappointed in the total waist of so much money by so many of those men and women who add billions to the deficit with so many programs that are not worth the paper they are printed on

A Congress of Democrats and Republicans will never let go of their power, never try to put their differences aside, never put their sarcasm and anger aside to actually make some good decisions for our country, our people, our families.  It would be interesting to see if a change could be possible if the Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate went to one party.....yep...shocking ....but what would happen if we didn't have to worry about party lines.  When things were up for vote would they vote for what's best for the people  not having to worry about a party . I'm sure there would still be differences as we each have our own opinion on how thing should be done but instead of plotting and scheming to get votes would they actually talk about those differences as we would talk with our friends and keep their eyes on one Goal.....What Would Be The Best Decision For Our Country and It's Citizens.

I guess I must be dreaming because too many times we don't know how to do what's right for our country, we do what we want. We've turned into a prideful people, a greedy people, a people with a lack of understanding, patience, morality and love.

So what is the solution, what can we do, what changes can we make, what influence can we give, what actions and decisions can we make daily to influence those around us to find a way of changing the course of our country's future to the way it was meant to be. Are we going to continue this road where No One Wins or are will we be open to the ideas of coming up with real changes and solutions.

Hmmmmmmm..... I know I get pessimistic when it comes to this,  That's why I don't talk politics much.  Soooooo.... this is my soapbox speech for the year.