..and thy neighbor as thyself.

Some few little pieces of dreariness have been brought to my attention today. These are sins we are all guilty of; until declared innocent by ourselves. In some reading today I have stumbled plainly upon a subject that usually we strive for but never put forward; Recognition. How often have you whether at work or in your personal life felt badly because this was not received? The bigger and better question is simply; how often have you paid it forward? I have my self been guilty of Old Abe Lincolns philosophy of " Do not worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition". The opinions of others have never held much water in my life. On the contrary I have realized that not revealing my opinions of other to them sometimes leaves folks on an unsteady ground. Proverbs 25:27 says " It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory". My point to be made in this is: Do not worry yourselves if you do not receive recognition, for our works should not be based on such a lowly goal. Work as you would appreciate being done for you. It has been my experience that in such times of crisis, certain people work only for recognition, while other work tirelessly towards others receiving the glory, knowing that there is great personal satisfaction in knowing that without their hard work and assistance the goal would never have been achieved. I am not always this full of selflessness, but I strive to be. The concept of being a part of a bigger picture is great when you understand that you might only be the film. A similar concept is that an Olympic runner may win first place, but the persons who designed the shoes they ran in are just as much a part of the victory. In this world we have all gotten caught up in the race for "I", Individuality, Personal Gain and Recognition. Never once stopping to think that this very thing we thirst for cost nothing of us to quench another’s thirst. Pay it forward, let someone know that you appreciate them and the things they do. For as it is written in Luke 10:27 "And he answering said, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself"

Dew on the Pines

After this long day, I am in my driveway under the moon and my mind is enveloped in thoughts. I am pondering the upcoming events in the next few weeks. First off, I  can smell the dew on the pines and this time of year I am constantly reminded of the birth of my darling daughter almost 6 years ago. It takes me to a place of self discovery and wonderment at how these times and years have molded her into the wonderful young woman she is becoming. Innnocent and pure with a thirst for learning. I am beyond words at the humbleness I feel in her presence. I am glad to be able to see her angelic face in a few short hours. Second, I am nervously confident at the prospect of marrying my true best friend and partner in this world in a couple of weeks. These last almost two years have molded me and shaped me as clay in a potters hands into the man I was born to be and created by God to strive towards becoming. With all the perilously paved roads my life had travelled these paths I follow now, are with purposeful stride and unwavering endurance. That said, I could not have succeeded on this road without the guidance, steady hand and support of my bride to be. Third, I have seen the benefits of my struggles most nearly in my life blossoming into the gorgeous rose that is my stepdaughter. Surrounded by thorns but opening to the world, she has fallen many times but with this guidance and structure she has most definitely come into her own. Fourth, I have seen the grace of God in my immediate familys lives. I see the struggles and tribulations turning themselves into a tightening of bonds and a closeness never before seen by these eyes. This fall is a transformation from the old to the new. A dying off to what was before and preparing for the hard roads ahead. I must confess that it is with slight trepidation that I tread these ways in front of me. However knowing that I have the devotion and helping hands and wondrous spirits of these mentioned previously, I will succeed. I am victorious and heads above the rest. This charmed life I lead is my reward for endurance and fortitude. You see what you conquer, survive and put out into this life is brought back folded, compounded and overflowing. I stake hold of my claim and set guard against its place. The needles are blowing and my eyes fall heavy. Blessed be all of you who have entered, left or stayed in my life.