flowers in her hair

Awakening:

I’m extremely ill at seeing some things going on, as are we all. I’m referring to recent news stories that are more horrifying than usual. I must first admit that I believe surrounding yourself in all the horrible stories within the media, has extreme potential to ruin your hope for humanity and awaken so many discouraging emotions in you that it can practically paralyze you and therefore I recommend it not be a constant. I also realize ignorance is bliss, and I don’t want to be ignorant in this world, but in order to keep my peace I’d rather search and share the positive stories in light of all the bad in the world. We all know we’ll get exactly that when turning on the tv’s, bad news. We ask where all the good stories are, well they’re out there. I promise there are just as many stories of hope and goodness that inspire and uplift us, empower and encourage us to identify problems in the world and use what we’ve been given to work together and define these victorious stories. Stories of communities being supplied with clean water for the first time, people being rescued from CURRENT slavery and rehabilitated into society while emotional wounds are being treated and their captors being served justice, stories of two friends using what they had and what they knew to begin a company that is consistently giving so much to others. 

I see now hollywood has done a fine job of raising excitement for the beginning of zombie apocalypse, don’t get me wrong I myself enjoy intense episode watching of The Walking Dead. (You paid for the whole seat, but you’re only gonna need the edge) But why are we begging for it? Why are we making jokes about the hope of enduring such an incredibly awful scenario (when you step back and really understand what that would mean)? I just pray that everyone is as concerned that something real and evident would possess real human beings to do such things as we’ve been exposed to recently. 

I’m not coming to you from over here in la-la land, I know things are not all rainbows and unicorns in this world. They haven’t been in a very long time, and may never be. There is an evil in this world that will bring a lot of despair. But how we react to these happenings is what defines us as individuals, as a whole, as a generation in history. We were born for such a time as this, and there are a few choices that we have been entrusted to make in order to do something with our lives at this point in history. 

“It is man’s ability to remember that sets us apart. We are the only species concerned with the past. Our memories give us voice and to bear witness to history so that others might learn so they might celebrate our triumphs and be warned of our failures.” - Mohinder Saresh 

We could BE or Lead the generation that finally breaks the chains, we were made to be courageous. This generation is picking up and the choice now is to step up or get swept away in the mainstream and become content with commonplace. Now is the time to become something more, to live for something more and different. Use what we’re given, share what we know, share what we have and ultimately work lovingly and peacefully with everyone to make an incredible, joint difference. 

But how? Ahh, that is the question. One thing I know is it’s not just for fairytales, it’s a possible positive way of life and starts only. with. YOU.

It’s coming. An awakening, do you feel it?

Holidays

are a wonderfully nostalgic current event in my life. I’m trying to put on the celebration of each however, to be able to really see them as they are. Truthfully, only the specific events that get us to stop at one point each year and reflect on the precepts that each “holiday” instills in us to encourage us in these areas throughout the year. Christmas, I experienced so fully this past year, is not about Santie Claus nor any of his reindeer, it’s about the birth of Christ and what that means for humanity. Easter comes exactly the same, even more so really. Today is the day that we recognize God’s fulfillment of His will for His Son’s life on earth. Now, not only has Christ’s birth that had been prophesied come to pass, but also the death and resurrection he spoke of. And the things to come… well I can’t even begin to imagine, but I’m EXCITED, and I’m ready. 

Meanwhile, regarding earthly matters…

Lethargically reflecting on this day. I began the day being so incredibly thankful for the Sacrifice that was made for all through Christ, but so quickly the day came and went and literally now seems like a flash. So..much…family… so little time. Everyone kept saying this is how the holidays are with big family, especially now that Travis and I are quite invested in each other’s. All I can remember is sunrise, coffee and worship, a whirlwind of women clothed in jewel tones, ham, sweets, sunshine, oak trees, lots of hugs, newborns, kippahs, potted flowered plants, silverware, garden, memories of the past, observations of the present, dreams of the future.

It’s like my brain went around and took pictures of particular moments of the day and is sending signals to me now so I can observe what was noticeable about the day… if that makes sense. So basically it feels like my body when through the day and I was there at each place (sunrise service, brunch at moms, lunch at dads, dinner at in laws) and as much as I felt like I tried to be emotionally and socially present, my mind was already thinking about what time it was and having to get to the next spot.

It’s amazing now that I’m sitting down resting I can tell that would be an unpleasant routine day in and out and also a stressful way of life. That is, living passively through each day and worrying so much about what is yet to come that you can’t even enjoy being exactly where you are. So it reminded me to be ever present and content in each moment and be mindful of the future but never focusing so hard on what may come that is brings me to worry. 

Christ is Risen, Folks! Hoppy Easter ^_-

I fell off…

the blogosphere for a short while. Is that even current blogging vernacular? Who am I kidding? This isn’t my livelihood nor do I have a parade fan club, ok by me. But I do need some place to share stories just the way I would with myself in the books I write… to myself. I guess it’s a journal of sorts, but really only I can decipher the codes between all the random pages and know what each part was written about, and when, and where. This is my other source, and it’s truthfully because I don’t have any sort of Word program on my computer and I’ve always been too cheap to buy a copy and too lazy to download it… sad story. So instead I publicly rant about my random life discoveries and meditations. That’s unusual in modern times…

For those of you who may ever make it this far in these wordy posts, I’m really glad for that. Because not every one may be able to relate to each post, but I hope that between the lines you realize a sense of self or spiritual discovery whether it be in how far you’ve come or how far you’ve yet to go. I might eventually in the relatively near future kick it up a notch and get really philosophical with you and ask for you to do the same in return. I promise you that I’m truly interested to see things through others that I’ve experienced and to understand other perspectives. But that’s for another time. I can’t promise when I’ll devote another 20 or so minutes to share anything, but a “moment” tonight got me to break the ice again when I hadn’t been able to just jump back in. 

In brief, the last time I really remember wanting to write was when my Grandma Ruby passed away. Is it really awful to ask which day that was? Time has flown since then. I remember pretty vividly all that was on my mind then and it’s funny because something really changed in me from that moment I first heard. I can’t sum up what my grandmother meant to my family in just a few lines. Her life was a legacy to us and because of her, my wonderful family is made up of all the unique, kind, loving members that it is. The day she was buried was an incredibly beautiful and marvelous day and all I remember was peace in it. Life has been spiritually filled and childlike wonderment has returned and increases every day, and each day has more hope than the last and the things happening around us are heavenly. Literally. God is so incredible and what he is making out of every situation we encounter never ceases to amaze us. I am excited to see where this road continues to take us and ever trusting in His lead. I know He will be faithful in awakening all those sleepy heads around us to be able to see the beauty and freedom in an ABUNDANT LIFE!

I don’t have anything important that can’t wait to share, but I will say one thing (that I’ve probably said once or twice before…) exciting things are happening all around each of us and right now at this very moment but greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in THIS CITY. I hope you’ll be a part of it with me!! 

ooh, so secretive and confusing…