Tag: poet

Watermelon and Love

Watermelon has always represented love to me. One of my favorite memories as a child is eating an iced down watermelon. Daddy or Grandpa would get a watermelon from one of the local South Florida farmers, put it in a cooler and cover it in ice. Anticipating the sweetness to come would occupy my thoughts as I played and tried to forget the deliciousness chilling in the cooler on the porch. Eventually, after several hours, usually in the heat of the mid-afternoon, one of them would take out the glorious treat, slice it up and each family member would get a delicious piece.

Daddy and grandpa are no longer in this dimension of life but I picked up a watermelon Friday and have been enjoying the sweetness of the fruit and the priceless memories. Daddy played an instrumental part in my relationship with God. He taught me many things, especially how to turn from this world and seek my Heavenly Father.

This world will work to tear you down, your family, your relationships, your Spirit. This Father’s Day I offer a prayer for you:

Lord, please be with the person reading this, bless them in a special way. You know their needs, You know their struggles, You know their unspoken pain. Answer their needs Lord. Help them to remember that You are their Heavenly Father, provider, protector, guide. Comfort them, encourage them, enlighten them, give them the answers they seek, draw them close to You. Let them feel Your presence. Let them know they are loved and they are precious to You.

E.A. Fussell
06.18.2023

Think for yourself

Sometimes we come to realize something we have been taught isn’t completely accurate. Maybe it was distorted by cultural, religious or generational beliefs. Maybe the person who taught us wasn’t properly taught themselves.

Did you ever think about the fact that most of our understanding was taught to us by someone else. When we were learning to speak others taught us what to say, the names of people and objects, and how to act (probably the same way others taught them). We started school and others taught us how to use our brain and how to act (probably the same way others had taught them). We went out into the workforce and others taught us what to think, what to do, how to act (probably the same way others taught them).

Most of the interpreting our mind does is based on what others have taught us. We seldom have a truly original idea of our own. We look at our future filtered by our past teaching and experiences and seldom give ourselves space to quiet our frantic chattering mind and look with fresh new insight.

As I grow older I realize I see nothing as it really is, I see it the way others taught me to see it. This can be overwhelming to my soul.

A practice of prayer and meditation help clear or clarify the decades of others understanding we have been taught with. As we ask for Divine guidance, setting aside our initial programmed reactions to the thoughts that come up and allowing ourselves to hear the ancient wisdom within, we are able to determine what we think and not just what others have taught us to think.

You’re never too old to start thinking for yourself. 💕

E.A. Fussell

06.16.2023

Someone is waiting on you

It’s easy to get caught up in using circumstances as excuses. Excuses hold us back, keep us stuck, prevent us from realizing our dreams.

It’s not selfish to have dreams. When we hold ourselves back from attaining them we miss out on helping someone who needs the person we could be.

When we let go of excuses and look past our circumstances we open the door to miracles. Opportunities begin to appear, we think of new ways to get where we want to go, helpful people show up, and new insight comes in.

Difficulty only limits our dreams if we let it. Release excuses, think outside the box, embrace your possibilities. Someone somewhere is waiting. They need help from the person you might be when you attain your dreams.

E.A. Fussell

06.14.2023

Hold onto the promise

When things aren’t going great it’s difficult to believe things are rigged in our favor. When our health deteriorates, when relationships sever, when business fails, when loved ones pass on, we may not be able to see past the pain, disappointment, discouragement. But Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When I’m going through a challenging time I have to remind myself that it doesn’t say some things. It says all things. Even the difficult things. Just because I can’t see the favor, doesn’t change the fact that it’s still there. When I hold onto that promise it helps calm the turmoil inside my heart and mind and gives me hope.

E.A. Fussell
06.13.2023

God is the strength in which I trust.

When we are trusting in our own strength, we have every reason to feel apprehensive, anxious and fearful. What can we really predict or control? Nothing.

When we let go of all the things that keep our mind in constant motion and turmoil, even for a brief moment, we are able to reach deep into our stillness and find peace that passes all understanding.

Inside each Believer there is a place where perfect peace abides. A place where all things are possible. A temple inside where the strength of God sits, waiting for us to ask, seek, and receive. When we feel confused, exhausted, weak, or afraid we must remind ourselves:

God is the strength in which I trust.

E.A. Fussell
06.12.2023

Perception vs Truth

Perception. An idea, a belief or an image we have as a result of how we see or understand something.

Jumping to conclusions because of perception can be dangerous. We get ourselves into mental and Spiritual trouble with mis-perceptions. Others hurt us with their mis-perceptions of us.

Many things influence our perception. Upbringing, religion, education, race, experiences, beliefs, physical appearance, peer pressure, social messages. How can we ever know the truth with so much confusion?

Have you ever realized that perception does not exist in God. He knows. He never has a mis-perception. He knows. Good or bad, He knows. He is the only one who ever truly knows us.

As Believers we have access to His Divine guidance. The Holy Spirit residing in us can see through all of our social filters and programming straight to the truth in any situation, if we listen. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to see and hear without judgement, release attachment to outcome and neutrally view any situation.

When we look at something or listen to something without judgment our emotions stay at bay. We don’t get lost in feelings; our feelings don’t get hurt, and we don’t hurt others.

It requires diligent practice to walk in the Spirit. It’s not a one-and-done kind of thing. But if we take time to practice seeing and hearing through God’s guidance, we may find things are different than we originally thought they were. Through the Spirit our perception gets purified which leads to knowledge of the truth.

Let’s try it today. We will pause our reactions and take a moment to look and listen through the Spirit. In placing our feelings on a brief hold before reacting to any situation we give ourselves an opportunity to see the truth (not our perception), we protect our integrity, and we may prevent ourselves from unwitting hurting another.

E.A. Fussell
06.08.2023

Structural flaws

The sculpture sometimes
Has a built in weakness
A slight imperfection
A structural flaw
That may be hidden and
Only observable when
Moved about in certain ways

The great Creator sculpted me
With one of those unseen flaws
Appearing when I move
A certain way and suddenly
Structural weakness is seen
In my lower back

Walking around
Stiff, like a statue
I am reminded of how much
We take movement
For granted

Care should always be taken
When lifting things
Or loss of freedom will ensue
Hindering mobility

Fortunately a chiropractor
Will manipulate my structure
Back into place

Easing the pain currently
Etched across my face

Back, no longer displaced

E.A. Fussell
06.06.2023

Find something that reinvigorates you

Remember playing outside when we were kids? Running around playing games, riding bikes, swimming, fishing, or just laying in the grass looking up at the clouds as they floated by. Then one day we grew up and movement was called exercise and seemed to be more of a chore than a pleasure. What would it take to reinvigorate movement that once brought you joy? Working out does not have to be cumbersome. Find something you enjoy that moves your body, even if it’s just a little bit… and if it gets you outside into nature that’s a priceless bonus.

Video taken on my evening jog in Lago Vista, Texas. (my run times are naturally slow 🐢 but they would be a little better if I didn’t pause so much to enjoy the scenery; oh well, I’ll never be a fast runner so I might as well be a joyful one)

Move Forward

Photo taken on a hike in Montana

Message from a dream last night:

“Your inner guide can give you guidance but it’s up to you to take the steps.”

What if the most uncertain path can lead to your greatest destination? Keep stepping forward.

E.A. Fussell

06.01.2023