BREAKFAST FOR TWO

"Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you." ( taken from Job 12)

Sitting in my kitchen...mounted on a bar chair...eating breakfast...staring out the back door thru weary eyes...observing the nature of God's beauty...

Then into the picture, and gracefully walking up to my house, there you were. May I freeze your beauty with a picture? Really? Thank you.

And thanks for joining me. Your company made a huge difference. You brought my mind from wandering, to the simplicity yet majesty of nature. I am honored that you chose to visit me.

Breakfast was wonderful.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

(But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve) your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity (of devotion to Christ). So writes Paul in his letters to the Corinthians (2, 11:2-4).

Simple.

Saying yes to too many things clutters my mind, and that clutter leaves insufficient room for devotion to God/Christ, family and friends. Going to the gym or biking is time for myself. Even though I enjoy the time with myself, I never really stop to bask in its joy. Once the time passes, I rush off to the next event/point.

But why am I rushing? Because I have too many things to do and too many places to be. Busy, busy, busy. I found that I filled every little void with something to do. There was so much rush (and stress) that my "me time" wasn't as mentally or spiritually beneficial as I believe it could be.

So to keep things simple, I have decided to unclutter my mind by clearing my schedule, stop rushing, making time for devotion, meditating, experiencing the joys of an accomplishment (Proverbs 13:19 says "a desire accomplished is sweet to the soul) and employing the power of the words "No" and "Yes".

Man, I will be busy trying to keep things simple.

ARE YOU GOING WHERE YOU SHOULD BE GOING?

One ship drives East,
and another drives West,
With the self-same winds that blow;
Tis the set of the sails, and not the gales,
Which tells us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life;
Tis the set of the soul that decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

-Ella Wheeler-Wilcox

Ever wonder why we fall apart when the "winds are against us", but others in similar situations take it all in stride? It's because their sails are set differently.

THE ENEMY AT THE GATE...

I am reminded of Hans Christian Andersen's story of "The Emperor's New Clothes" and of another story, "The Invisible Silk Robe" by "I don't know the author"...

But here are two examples of people pretending to see (the emperor's new clothes and king's silk robe), people pretending not to see (that there existed no robe or clothes) and/or people who were afraid of how they would be seen (only people of high standing could see the garments of these royalties).

The truth about self can be very offensive. The exposure to criticism and oft times bitter taste makes swallowing the truth very difficult. To deal with this, we sometimes pretend to see what does not exist (lie to ourself), pretend not to see what exists (lie to ourself) and/or get so caught up in how we will be seen that we pretend to be who we are not (lie to ourself).

No matter how it is dressed, there is one constant - the lie.

But there is a time to acknowledge the truth about ourselves, regardless of how difficult it may be. We have all sinned (of which lying is one), and he who claims to be without sin, tells a lie. Admit your lies, then seek to be forgiven and offer forgiveness ("Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us").

The fabric of a lie does not change the truth, and lies can be prisons. The truth however, is freedom. It may come at a price, but it is freedom from the prison that is a lie.

All too often we are our own worst enemy.

TELLING YOURSELF STORIES THAT HURT YOU

I think we have all told these stories - the ones where we make up the stories but end up telling a story that hurt us. Example, you ask a friend to hang out for the evening and they say "no". So off you go making up stories - maybe they said no "because they are mad about me going to dinner with another friend last week". Then you go on to extend the story: "they probably don't like my other friend". Or maybe they said no "because I didn't lend them $20" or "because I didn't answer my phone last night". Whatever the story may be, how likely will it make us feel better?

I like to think that I have reached a point, socially, where I embrace the word "no" without a story. In a social setting when dealing with friends, associates and family, "no" is not an issue for me. Maybe you are mad because I didn't lend you the twenty, or you don't like my friend, or you are upset because I said "no" to one of your previous requests. Whatever it may be, I have reached a point where you saying "no" does not create an emotional whirlwind within me.

Yes, I will think of stories that may "explain" your response, and one of them may be true; but, I don't KNOW which one is true,or why you said "no" (and knowing me, I probably won't try to find out either). Regardless, I will not allow these stories to become the truth I tell myself.

However, if next weekend I ask you to hangout, and you say "no", well, that's a different story.

AT EASE – EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING

It's 7:54 a.m., 73 deg F, Sunday and I am seated on my deck. A very light breeze is blowing causing the leaves on the trees to waltz. Every now and then the wind gets excited and encourages the leaves to put some pep in their step. I watch the fog lift its cover from my backyard, and the sun peek through the railings of the deck and branches of the trees. It is a beautiful sight and I felt at ease.

Something compelled me to get up and go outside this morning. While still in bed I read a bible verse (John 17: 16 – 31) about sorrows turning to joy, and reflected on my reading. After a few minutes I yielded to the desire to be outside. I stepped outside with Mark Twain and Tyndale to say hello to the morning and “my birds” who were already in full chorus. Later we were joined by a cup of tea.

I read another verse; this time from Proverbs 5 : 6 – 20 (Tyndale). It spoke about the lessons of life. I also reflected on that verse and felt at ease.

Before “talking” to Twain I looked around my backyard. I see a maple tree that I thought of cutting down due to its size and close proximity to the house. I see rose bushes peek-a-booing through the deck railing. Further in the distance I see a garden patch that blooms iris in the spring, but is now in need of weeding and attention. Beyond that, further in the distance, is a patch of weed that needs to be removed. I am looking at the garden area immediately around the deck and wondering if I should bother myself with mulching it today. I also have a few trees around which I want to put soil and mulch. I felt stirred.

I zoomed out to take a broader view of the sight and take in the sounds which includes the flutter of wings: some visiting the bird feeder while others just flying by. I didn't feel like an intruder. I felt like I was welcomed to be in the picture.

I felt at ease.

I SHALL SING

what is all this ruckus I hear outside my bedroom window?...it is too early (about 4:30 a.m.) in the morning for all this noise...my room would have been such a quiet place had it not been for this commotion...

i poke my head out from under my covers to investigate this intrusion of my space...the first thing I discovered was a calm cool wind seeping in thru my open window, making its way across my room to caress my head (I am bald-headed)...the wind brought with it a fresh earthy scent – reminds me of dirt mixed with rainwater and tinged with vinegar...then I started to focus on the commotion...

It sounded like a demonstration...like folks were trying to out-shout each other...at times it appeared as if they got tired and started to tone things down, only to start shouting again...once in a while, a loud voice booms over a megaphone inciting the chorus to yell even louder...the voices varied from deep bass to high pitch, seemingly covering all ranges within that parameter...

this went on constantly for at least two hours...it is approaching the 3hr marker since I started my investigation...it appears as if the crowd is dispersing causing a significant drop in the noise level and i am ready to assess the physical damage left in their wake...

there is no damage...there was no riot...it was nothing more than a 'bunch' of folks singing from the morning's stage...from the short piercing “chirp” to the repetitive and melodious “stwerrrrrp stwerppp”, they sang at the top of their voices...together they were a noisy bunch, but i welcomed their intrusion...in fact, I invited their intrusion into my space...they disturbed the silence of my room, but not me...I enjoyed the chorus...they sang (term used lightly) with zest and life...

today, the world is my stage...i too shall sing at the top of my voice, even though I cannot carry a musical note if you handed it to me in a basket...but those birds told me to pay no attention to the “haters”...they are just mad cause THEY can't sing...

i have so much to say i don't know where to start...


so for now, enjoy the beautiful sounds of the beautiful goapele...

"BUZZ" OFF - PLEASE

I am not a social butterfly, thus I shy away from social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc etc). I am active on only one message board and I tend to do a lot more reading that posting. I keep a small circle of associates and a smaller circle of friends. Even among my circle of friends, I tend not to open up. I will tell you how my day is going or what I have been up to if we are just shooting the breeze, but to call you and start lamenting is not my style. My tendency is to be quiet about things and not make a fuss. My point is, I share very few details of my life even with close friends, and I appreciate them for respecting my position, and allowing me to be who I am.

However, Google takes an opposing view. Apparently, Google thinks I am okay with my info being shared and accessible by those I don't even know, or care to know. I have heard the buzz about Google's Buzz and decided to be nosey about all the buzz. What did I find out? - that Google decided my email contacts should be made public to other people who use Gmail and/or Buzz. They also decided that I should be able to see my contacts' other contacts - if they are being followed on Buzz...

I share my email info with those who I want contacting me, and I don't consider my information (whatever little or much Google has) to be public record. I believe I should have the option to 'opt-in' if I so desire, as opposed to be thrown into the pit, and have to 'opt-out'. Of course you know that opting-out is not as easy as unchecking a few boxes.

So my dear 'unfriend' Google, please Buzz off. Thank you. I determine my friends, not you (at least that's what I tell myself).