Kingfisher, kingfisher. How beautiful you are. Reminding me of three generations of men I knew who all loved to fish.
They are all in heaven now my Grandpa, my Daddy & my son Derreck. I like to think they are enjoying such things together. Fishing and hunting and cooking and campfire talking, all together once again.
I know that’s just my flesh wishing. Unable to truly comprehend heaven I hold onto images that bring bits of joy, albeit tinged with pain. Understanding that they are all three free of the pains they suffered here and are now enjoying things I cannot imagine in ways hidden from us.
This I believe. They each now have whatever it was they were searching for in this life. Their hearts are full, their minds at peace.
Forget about tradition, religion, or what other people think. Your behavior, thoughts and actions are all up to you. Nobody else can answer for you. Centuries of generations have been raised on “what other people think” and look where that has gotten us.
God gave you a valuable resource that he did not give to any other creature. Your mind. Start using it.
It is uncomfortable to think differently than main stream society, or close friends. It’s as uncomfortable for them as it is for you. Do it anyway. Think for yourself. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Real independent thinking, is required to break free of herd mentality which has been programmed into all nations. It’s not complicated to think for yourself but it does require effort.
The heart is the greatest survivalist I have ever known. Continuing to beat when it is empty. Always believing life is worth living. With each beat willing us to believe, as it does, there is something left worth surviving for. We may not see it, but it is there, somewhere. Searching for us too. Waiting. Believing. Heart stubbornly beating.
Sometimes the heart gets tangled up with the mind and one, or both, lose their way. When this happens it takes unimaginable force to move one, or both, back on track.
My heart has been tangled up with your memory for months. Chasing it around. Seeing you in every room. Hearing you in every song. Missing you with every breath. I lost my way in despair and disillusionment. Sinking into the quicksand of what could have been.
God whacked me good with his mighty hammer until He beat a way back into my heart, where I had been pushing Him out of. I was angry because He took you from me. But you were never really mine, He had only loaned you to me for a time. 💔
The heart can be broken, crushed, almost pulverized. Miraculously it continues to beat, continues to struggle to survive, even when a person doesn’t want to survive. The heart fights for life. It is sort of like when an exhausted fighter is knocked down in the ring. The crowd doesn’t believe the fighter will be able to get back up. Then somehow the fighter struggles to stand and deliver the final winning blow to their opponent. The winning fighter gets a burst of energy from the adrenaline of the win then goes off to rest, heal and prepare to be knocked down again.
I had pushed grief down for months. Trying not to let it win. Then December ushered it in. Knocked me down. Flat out cold. Until God took back His hold on me. Whacked me with His mighty Spirit. Gave me rest inside His loving arms. Assuring me that, even though I will never be as happy as I could have been, joy will return. My eyes will lose their dullness and regain a sparkle if I allow His light to shine through me. Miraculously my broken heart can be made whole through the power of His nail in my soul.
When God has a point to prove He may whack you a few times, harder each time, until you get His point. Which is a lesson that reminds me of a Winston Churchill quote:
“If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”
Let the dogs bark They are irrelevant Most dogs are all bark No bite If you pause to throw stones Every time one barks You will never Reach your destination
So Let the dogs bark Do not slow your pace Look back only to Assess your current situation Navigate the circumstances Pause to throw stones Only when you must If you get bitten Take time to heal the wound Then focus on forward
And Let the dogs bark Ignore their howls and growls Among them You may eventually find A friend that’s true A love that’s real Stay your course Hold onto your beliefs Listen to your Creator Follow your instincts Accept yourself as you are And Let the dogs bark
Life blows sometimes. Life is unpredictable most of the times. If you stop fighting it, and let it just be, it will bring a whole new view that you could never see as long as you resist.
Trust your inner self. Trust that God loves you. Trust that the universe was created for your good. Stop trying to control the outcome. Stop thinking. Feel. Feel the love that wants to engulf you. Feel the rain kissing your skin. Feel the sun feeding you energy. Feel the wind hugging you tightly. Doing more will not satisfy you. Learn how to just be. Be with this moment. This moment is all we have. This moment is your life.
When we have to do What we do not Want to do Frustration and anger Turn to angst
We want to scream out “Hoist the colors!!!!” But it’s not time yet And it may not be Our directive to give
The season is drawing nigh Tensions are growing high Minds being manipulated False words being spoken The goal To leave society broken Faith shattered
Hope rests in a love letter Written to us long ago In the form of a book That tells the story If we only bother to look Peace of mind can be found From our Father’s Word
E. A. Fussell 