Ebenezer or Santa

Tis the season to reflect back and move forward in ones life. The shortfall on reflecting back can lead to regret and sorrow, if not done with a light hand and a sound heart. The balance of life is summed up by our mistakes and victories; our gains and losses.

I have recently learned that by applying a hefty dose of gratitude in the area of loss or in the area others would label failure; your point of view switches from negative to positive. When you feel thankful for however much you have and have accomplished you can move forward to accomplish even greater.

The morale of the story is you make the choice of having an Ebenezer heart; which is someone who has a hoarding spirit - who gives with a slack hand, or you can choose to have a bountiful heart like Santa - who lives with a spirit to give.

This year embrace the spirit of the season - Give from the riches of your heart and spread some good cheer!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

P.s. My New Year's resolution is real simple - I want to LOL and LMAO more!

ho, ho, ho!
0 comments   • like  •

New Beginnings

Perhaps the first revelation I had when I began reading "The Four Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz which teaches us Toltec Wisdom is that 'Wisdom' is God and the teachings are based on the Word of God; illustrated for daily application.  I appreciate that it is presented in a different package, for simple application.

While I am incorporating these agreements to improve myself and my relationships, I have implemented daily prayers to compliment the new agreements.

1.  First Agreement - "Be impeccable with your word"- May I speak truth and show forth righteousness. Proverbs 12:17

2.  Second Agreement - "Don't take things personally"- Help me Lord to resist offense and abound in the love of Christ.  Phil 1:9-10

3.  Third Agreement - "Don't make assumptions"- Help me Lord not judge myself or others, but seek truth, and follow peace.  Show truth, mercy, and kindness to me and my family.

4.  Fourth Agreement - "Do your best always" - May I stand strong in your grace, covered in your favor as a shield.  For I am nothing apart from you and can do nothing without you, but can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.

White Lace

Since I am only nine days away from getting married, I laughed when I came across this paper I wrote in College for an English assignment. 

Early in life, girls begin dreaming of white gowns and wedding cakes. Long ago, at bedtime, my mother read me stories of princes and princesses, living happily ever after in a far away land. As a little girl, that is when I began to desire to marry a prince.

Today, there is more than one type of wedding to choose from. For instance, you may choose traditional, modern, or storybook. To determine which type of wedding will be best suited for you, it is wise to look at the variations of each type of ceremony and reception.

Traditional weddings bring up images of Victorian lace gowns, biblical vows, and three-tier wedding cakes. As a result, traditional weddings are the mother’s favorite. Perhaps because she has a chance to save money if she can convince her daughter to wear her old gown. Everything is traditional or old way, meaning the wedding is traditionally done according to the family’s old way. Years ago, I attended a traditional orthodox Jewish wedding. The bride appeared in a traditional white lace gown embroidered with pink roses. As the bride met the groom they grasped each other’s hands and stepped towards a floral Chupah (covering), where a rabbi stood waiting. The rabbi spoke Hebrew vows, joining them in matrimony. Afterwards the bride and groom each stepped on a handkerchief covered bottle, breaking it; symbolizing the Jews are never to forget the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem.

While I remember this being the most beautiful ceremony, it was also the longest I experienced. Following the ceremony, the celebration began. What better way to celebrate than with good food and music? As the bride and groom sat on chairs, their friends and family lifted them up over their heads while they danced and sang joyously. This is an example of a traditional Jewish wedding. Each culture has a tradition to be honored at each wedding.

Another option is the modern wedding, which is also the most casual and inexpensive to choose from. Because of this it is popular among young adults. Recently, for example, I saw a beach wedding on Sanibel Island. As the dawn set over the horizon, the couple gathered at the water’s edge with friends and family. The brides dress was a verse above a bikini. As the bride watched the tide, she sank her barefoot toes in the sand, as she entwined daisies into her sun-bleached hair. The groom arrived clothed in Speedos and sandals. A female Indian guru stood under a sun umbrella as she announced the vows and brought this couple together. The reception was a keg of beer and a clambake at the wedding site: the beach.

Storybook weddings are a little girls dream come true, all paid for by Daddy. A girl’s chance to dress up like Cinderella and have her groom (which is dressed in tights) places her tender foot into the glass slipper. The last time I witnessed this type of wedding, it was almost too perfect. Until the cake cutting ceremony arrived. With anticipation, the bride cut the cake and shoved it into the groom’s upper lip, through his moustache. The groom retaliated with placing the cake gently between his bride’s lip-glossed lips.

As time passes from early evening to late evening, all eyes are on the happy couple as they glide across the dance floor to the tune of “Cinderella’s Ball.” Towards the end of the reception, the women are anticipating two things: the throwing of the bride’s bouquet and the throwing of the rice. By delaying my reaction time, I avoided catching the bride’s bouquet. Moving outside to throw rice, I see the newlyweds run from the reception into their awaiting white limousine. As the couple settle themselves in the back seat, the bride begins to cry because she realizes fantasy life is over, and reality begins. As that thought wrestles in her mind, her husband turns to her and enthralls her in passion. A new thought enters her mind: perhaps this is when fantasy begins!

The limo disappears along the edges of the page where it reads, “They lived happily ever after.”

Inspiration

We are a people who are moved by inspiration.  What sets each one of us apart is by what inspires us.

For some it is location; a landscape, an ocean, or serene surroundings.  For me, it is the seasons of life.

The wisest man who lived, King Solomon, said, "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  I have learned recently that just as creation expresses its' beauty differantly with each changing season, we too, express beauty in our willingness to embrace change with every season of life.

I am inspired to express my emotions and experiences of adversity to others through my writing.  I can take the pain I am feeling in the present situation and create the future outcome through plot, characters, and whatever twists and turns I would like to transpire to bring forth my desired outcome.  By doing this I have a creative outlet to help me see my current situation in a differant perspective and I am inspiring the reader to have a quasi-experience. 

Today, we go to the movies and choose our emotion -  do we want to laugh and see a comedy, do we want to cry and see a romance, or do we want to hold our breath in fright and see a suspense/thriller?    And, it is no differant with our reading choices.

Why?  Because we want to be moved.  We are a people who are moved by inspiration.

As an artist success to me is when the art inspires others to feel the same emotion it was created in.

English Author, Joseph Conrad said it best, "My task is by the power of the written word is to make you hear, to make you feel, and before all to make you see.  That and no more - and it's everything."

Running Shadows

We are all running from the shadows of our past. What we fail to realize is whatever we have left behind will become more than a shadow on the wall of our memory. It will become a mirror image to our present frail reality.

Broken love is like a shadow it is behind us, but we always know it is there. Similiar to the fallen petals of a rose, its fading fragrance and beauty left to be pressed between the pages of a book; to somehow preserve it.

Ultimately, when fear and trauma mingle; memories and nightmares cojele together forming a twisted reality. At that point shadow and light dance together to compose a corrupt perspective of life and death. The eternal struggle of creation itself. Light versus darkness, good versus evil. Isn't this what Disney built its animated empire on? Perhaps to somehow prepare children for this struggle and to fill our hearts with the belief good always triumphs at the end, and the wicked never win. Nevertheless, this is a real battle, not exclusive for heroes and villains; rather it is present in each of our daily lives.


Good and evil does co-exist among us. Rest assured our control comes by the wise choices we make which one triumphs today.

Heritage or History

Gold and Silver -
Commodities or the currency of life?

Oil -
A Resource, or a ransom paid by the nations?

Creation -
Created in love; by Love.
Polluted with hate, and destroyed by the created.

We will possess what our children are to inherit.
The battles we fight now are so our children can enjoy a brigher future.

Therefore, the battles we refuse to fight,
and do not gain the victory, we leave for our children to battle with.

What are you leaving behind?

The Art of Seduction

She will find your weakness, and play with it until your eyes water.
In her hands...
soft and strong,
big and brutal.

Hold on to her,
until she lets go.
Never fall into her eyes, the color alone is brown venom.

With a grin, you will walk with her,
But she is always ahead of you.
She will smile while crying,
lie while loving.
You will cry with her love,
and smile by her lies.

You will love to hate her!