Monday, October 31, 2011
We are twice armed if we fight with faith.
Faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve.
--Lillian Smith
I awoke this morning to a gleaming sun, chirping birds, and a familiar emptiness. Something that has followed me my entire life, I am constantly doing battle with. Sheer power of will can breakdown just about any obstacle or wall in your path. The belief in the ability and power of ones self, is the cornerstone of having tremendous will. The will and courage to face the dark, stand tall and know that no matter the outcome you will be victorious. The will to step into the darkness, trusting solely in faith, knowing that your path is guided. The will to embrace the the dark and even take a little bit of it into yourself. So, this familiar emptiness, let's talk about that.
My entire life I have always wanted more. I have always wanted to do better, be better, achieve higher feats, chase after impossible dreams and goals, and make the world mine. I will push myself to the limit of my being to achieve a goal I find worth fighting for, no matter the detriment to myself. It is simply how I roll, and I like it. The issue with my headstrong and balls out philosophy, is a constant weighing, a strain on my faith, on my heart. I need to re-affirm my faith often, believe in myself and my ability, and trust that GOD has my back covered. Call it the Grandest Leap of Faith. Even when things seem their darkest; will depleted, faith strained, heart weakened, mind weary. I lift my head to the LORD, and know it is where my help comes from. I Breathe in knowing, that I am shrouded in his white light and protection. I am twice armed, with the LORD at my side. I let his presence fill me and grow with warmth. The dark, or the uncertainty of the future, holds many chasms. There is only now, not when, for some who wander into the darkness, don't make it back. Even if you're only 24. Maybe that's part of my feeling of emptiness today, Life is intense. Make sure the people you love, the friends you cherish are close to you. Don't let them slip away because of time or fear, or being too busy. Carpe Diem. Make it yours, and those close to you. Life is as fragile as it is wonderful.
And together, we ALL leap into the darkness.
R.I.P Linda Dowling. You will so totally be missed. IU <3
"Oh, how precious time is! Blessed are those who know how to make good use of it. Oh, if only all could understand how precious time is, undoubtedly everyone would do his best to spend it in a praiseworthy manner!" - -Padre Pio
Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.
--Thomas Aquinas
All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired. --Martin Luther
As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit. ---Emmanuel Teney
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
----Saint Augustine
He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.
----B. C. Forbes
In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.
---Benjamin Franklin
That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.
----Albert Einstein
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. ----Thomas Aquinas
If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm. ---Mohandas Gandhi
We are twice armed if we fight with faith. ----Plato
They're my quotes for the day.
Be well unto others, and yourselves.
JD
Monday, October 24, 2011
Raise Your Glasses High!
I find myself sitting amongst glasses, all the time. Some half filled, some half empty, and others bone dry.
“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be.”
― George Carlin
Now, these glasses were not always so, at one point they were quite full. They provided comfort, nurture, satisfaction and fulfillment.. They sit there now, stained from what it was that used to fill them, just waiting for some kind of refreshment. Something to make them have a purpose, to bring them back to their full glory. But the inevitable truth is that the glasses can not fill themselves, they need some kind of outside participation to bring that to fruition. The frustrating part is the glasses start to collect, to build, and it makes the task of rinsing them off and filling them again that much harder. That much more difficult.
So how is it we fill these glasses back up, when what once filled them may no longer be appetizing or available? Some of the glasses will never be filled again, they had their own purpose and must be recycled, sometimes they are the hardest ones to give up. It is when we are able to accept this, that we find new glasses to fill, and old glasses that need a little tender loving care. We are able set the empty, stained glasses aside, knowing that what they once held was important. The task of finding new glasses to fill becomes less daunting, and we find that the uncertain is not so scary anymore, knowing that even if the glass were to spill, it can always be filled again. Maybe not with the same substance but, something even more intriguing. Intriguing, because we have taken it upon ourselves to explore, to experience, and learn. Take the old glasses that still have substance and find a way to nurture them back to health. Know that in time you will find a way to fill it, or a way to let it go.
Do not fear an empty glass, embrace it for what it was and recycle it. Do not fear change or uncertainty, know that the lesson lies in the chase for that truly delectable substance. Do not fear Life. It is truly in-fucking-credible. MY GOD, LOVE LIFE!!!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT THERE AND LOVE IT!!!! Do chase what scares you, because if something honestly frightens you it's because it holds real weight.
So, what am I getting at here?
Say goodbye to what used to be or what was, embrace what is and what will come, know that the future holds no bounds. Most of all trust in those that love you for they will always trust in you. Love. Know that Love transcends everything and is constantly felt in the ether, if you are willing to share it. Find a new glass to share with someone else, and the adventure of filling it together. Share your glasses with eachother, and raise them high!
So, again what am I getting at?
The glass isn't half empty, or full. It's just waiting for a little refreshment.
That's my play on words for the day.
Be well unto others, and yourselves.
JD
“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be.”
― George Carlin
Now, these glasses were not always so, at one point they were quite full. They provided comfort, nurture, satisfaction and fulfillment.. They sit there now, stained from what it was that used to fill them, just waiting for some kind of refreshment. Something to make them have a purpose, to bring them back to their full glory. But the inevitable truth is that the glasses can not fill themselves, they need some kind of outside participation to bring that to fruition. The frustrating part is the glasses start to collect, to build, and it makes the task of rinsing them off and filling them again that much harder. That much more difficult.
So how is it we fill these glasses back up, when what once filled them may no longer be appetizing or available? Some of the glasses will never be filled again, they had their own purpose and must be recycled, sometimes they are the hardest ones to give up. It is when we are able to accept this, that we find new glasses to fill, and old glasses that need a little tender loving care. We are able set the empty, stained glasses aside, knowing that what they once held was important. The task of finding new glasses to fill becomes less daunting, and we find that the uncertain is not so scary anymore, knowing that even if the glass were to spill, it can always be filled again. Maybe not with the same substance but, something even more intriguing. Intriguing, because we have taken it upon ourselves to explore, to experience, and learn. Take the old glasses that still have substance and find a way to nurture them back to health. Know that in time you will find a way to fill it, or a way to let it go.
Do not fear an empty glass, embrace it for what it was and recycle it. Do not fear change or uncertainty, know that the lesson lies in the chase for that truly delectable substance. Do not fear Life. It is truly in-fucking-credible. MY GOD, LOVE LIFE!!!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT THERE AND LOVE IT!!!! Do chase what scares you, because if something honestly frightens you it's because it holds real weight.
So, what am I getting at here?
Say goodbye to what used to be or what was, embrace what is and what will come, know that the future holds no bounds. Most of all trust in those that love you for they will always trust in you. Love. Know that Love transcends everything and is constantly felt in the ether, if you are willing to share it. Find a new glass to share with someone else, and the adventure of filling it together. Share your glasses with eachother, and raise them high!
So, again what am I getting at?
The glass isn't half empty, or full. It's just waiting for a little refreshment.
That's my play on words for the day.
Be well unto others, and yourselves.
JD
Monday, October 17, 2011
Love it, Live it, Enjoy it
LIFE
WHEW. Take a breath, relax, exhale and enjoy. LIFE. <--- Hey look the capitalized words say " Whew, Life." How many times have you found yourself saying or even paraphrasing those words.Yeah, me too. It's incredible, the facets and intricacies that life involves. ever changing opportunity to life altering devastation. You cant have one without the extreme. Life will pass you by, in an instant. Look left, then right, and how about up and down. Take a breath. Appreciate and enjoy what's around you. Weeks to years. There will always be Joy as there will always be sadness, Life. Okay, rambling aside let me continue. Thanks, you're a peach. So, okay here we go. Let's begin. Something I have always admired is the sky, especially in Autumn. You can't beat it.
Not as skies go at least.
Okay maybe an insane party with trapeze artists, an elephant, dancing seals and tricycle riding midget cowboys......
And yes I mean midgets who coincidentally are cowboys.
So basically the circus......on a night...in Autumn. LOVE.
( Insert Awesome Mental Image Here )
Man, see I'm the kind of guy where if the sky is looking impeccable I will stop in my tracks, lie down and stare endlessly at the sky. It makes me think, it lets me dream like an canvas waiting for my inspiration. Possibility. My god, the possibility. Not to mention the beautiful temperature and the texture of fallen, rustling leaves under my body. miniature portraits of growth, of death and LIFE. Why, would you look at that!
"Love Life."
True appreciation of the world around us, it's simple beauties to its most majestic sunsets; creates a genuine passion for the smallest detail it offers. Hmmm I should quote that.
Any who Listen, check this out. Tomorrow when you walk out of door, at whatever time wherever the heck you are, STOP and look around, even for a minute. Find something to appreciate, a mother walking with her children, the dew of morning, old friends eating in a cafe, the rise of the sun over trees and clouds of rouge, the silence and subtly of 3am. ENJOY it all. Check it out. It's fun. I promise. :-) "Stop, Enjoy"?
"Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darlin' so it goes, somethings are meant to be..
Take my hand take my whole life too for I cant help
falling in love with you
for I cant help falling in love with...... you."
Now, imagine a couple in their 80's, locked in a gaze, speaking into each others eyes, singing together as if it was the moment they fell in love.
Talk about appreciation
Oh and as for the "Stop, Enjoy" part, it goes with the theme.
LIFE
---Man, it's sweet. Love it, live it, enjoy it.---
Be well unto others, and yourselves.
JD
WHEW. Take a breath, relax, exhale and enjoy. LIFE. <--- Hey look the capitalized words say " Whew, Life." How many times have you found yourself saying or even paraphrasing those words.Yeah, me too. It's incredible, the facets and intricacies that life involves. ever changing opportunity to life altering devastation. You cant have one without the extreme. Life will pass you by, in an instant. Look left, then right, and how about up and down. Take a breath. Appreciate and enjoy what's around you. Weeks to years. There will always be Joy as there will always be sadness, Life. Okay, rambling aside let me continue. Thanks, you're a peach. So, okay here we go. Let's begin. Something I have always admired is the sky, especially in Autumn. You can't beat it.
Not as skies go at least.
Okay maybe an insane party with trapeze artists, an elephant, dancing seals and tricycle riding midget cowboys......
And yes I mean midgets who coincidentally are cowboys.
So basically the circus......on a night...in Autumn. LOVE.
( Insert Awesome Mental Image Here )
Man, see I'm the kind of guy where if the sky is looking impeccable I will stop in my tracks, lie down and stare endlessly at the sky. It makes me think, it lets me dream like an canvas waiting for my inspiration. Possibility. My god, the possibility. Not to mention the beautiful temperature and the texture of fallen, rustling leaves under my body. miniature portraits of growth, of death and LIFE. Why, would you look at that!
"Love Life."
True appreciation of the world around us, it's simple beauties to its most majestic sunsets; creates a genuine passion for the smallest detail it offers. Hmmm I should quote that.
Any who Listen, check this out. Tomorrow when you walk out of door, at whatever time wherever the heck you are, STOP and look around, even for a minute. Find something to appreciate, a mother walking with her children, the dew of morning, old friends eating in a cafe, the rise of the sun over trees and clouds of rouge, the silence and subtly of 3am. ENJOY it all. Check it out. It's fun. I promise. :-) "Stop, Enjoy"?
"Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darlin' so it goes, somethings are meant to be..
Take my hand take my whole life too for I cant help
falling in love with you
for I cant help falling in love with...... you."
Now, imagine a couple in their 80's, locked in a gaze, speaking into each others eyes, singing together as if it was the moment they fell in love.
Talk about appreciation
Oh and as for the "Stop, Enjoy" part, it goes with the theme.
LIFE
---Man, it's sweet. Love it, live it, enjoy it.---
Be well unto others, and yourselves.
JD
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