A Thought: Going Home

I like to travel as much as the next guy. It just really hits my soul when I finally get back home in my own bed and back into my regular routine. Home is familiar and safe, or at least it is supposed to be. I have had times in my life when “home”, the place I slept was a nightmare. All I could do was keep my eyes and ears open for danger, look for a way out. It was a time in my life when I very rarely prayed and my prayers were always like, “Oh God please get me out of this one and I promise I will never do anything this stupid again.” Sound familiar? I hope not. 

It wasn’t till I took a long hard look at my life, slapped myself in the face and sat down and prayed for forgiveness that things started to get better. Many times I have seen that stuff with “W.W.J.D.” (What Would Jesus Do) on it. I would just scoff at it. Till the day that I realized things needed changed. Every day I had spent every waking hour trying to find things that would just make me “feel good” cause I felt so terrible on the inside. I didn’t turn to God in one second and SHAZAM everything was all better. It was a journey, and with each second that I took time to learn what Jesus would do things got better. After, I started following Jesus’s example of love, love, love, forgive, love, forgive myself, love love love. I found the more that I loved and gave and stopped thinking of myself but of others the more whole I began to feel. The more I gave the more came back to me. 

My life isn’t perfect. I am not perfect. I still make some pretty dumb mistakes once in a while but I love so I ask for forgiveness with true honesty to those I hurt and to God. So I have found a home, in God through Jesus and I feel at home in Church and I do my best to take it with me everywhere so I can have that feeling of home wherever I go, because for me, its where I belong.

Luke 2:41-51

41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

A Thought: Overthinking

I would have to admit that I am one that think too much. Maybe that is in my nature because I am an artist and with my art many times I dive deep into my own psyche during creation. I like to look at things, tear them apart in my mind and then put them back together. For all my thinking though, it is sometimes so easy to look past the easiest things. God keeps it simple, all he wants it for you to love him with all your heart, mind and soul and to love others like you would like to be loved. 

That’s it, thats the nitty gritty of it, can that be hard sometimes to do? Yes, but I accept that it is because I am flawed. After I go through the drive through and they get my order wrong and it too late to go back cause I am running late and I get stuck behind the slow person in the left hand lane, and I keep getting urgent texts from my wife to call immediately while I have food I don’t want in my hand it can be hard to walk into life and treat people with kindness. I learn to do so from Jesus. I find a lot of lessons on loving in the new testament from him. When I heed those teachings I find that my life slows down and things come into focus. When I love as he teaches and give, give, give and serve, serve, serve I get overwhelmed with peace. Its easy to get mad and gripe on everyone cause you are having a bad day, but rather than leaving a clear cut forest in my wake I try and plant seeds that grow into might trees that shade me from the days hot glaring sun. That is what Gods love is to me.

I wouldn’t have known Jesus if it hadn’t been for God, because after all God sent him here. I know more about God and the Love and patience he has because of Jesus. Without studying Jesus I can see how some think God is all fire and brimstone. I know now and I know better and having that as my example in life has been and still is so helpful everyday. So no when I find myself in situations where I am just not getting ahead and I just want to keep punishing myself working at “it” I stop, bow my head and take a deep breath. I say the lords prayer and ask for help. I know that may seem hokey to those that are not used to doing such actions. In it I find calm and focus. Is my life without problems? No. Am I a perfect man? No. I do stupid stuff just about everyday but I ask for forgiveness and trod on and try and not make the same mistakes again. I have lived with God in my life and on my own, and I find having God on the inside of my life it a lot more peaceful.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; 26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 27All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

A Poem: The Whisper

The Whisper

Heading into the clouds I see the thought 

Gliding beside me it is warm

I roll to my back

The air rolls through my fingers

The sun on my face

Only the clouds make me pause

Whispering the thought calls to me

It has purpose

It wants love

It wishes to bloom

It throws the idea of a brighter day to the horizon

For all the screams for peace so many keep their head down 

Looking at their shoes people shuffle

Yearning, wanting and waiting

Like rain falling in reverse their pleas rise

All heard, none forgot

Loving patient eyes unfold concern

The hand opens in the sky

Like a light dusting whispers again roll out

Ideas without a home waiting to be nurtured

Waiting to be loved

Waiting to blossom

Too many frown though

Too many fear

Uncertainty becomes the shackles for humanity all too often 

Still the wise man waits

He has hope for he lost

Patiently he whispers softly

It's time to go home

It time to grow

It is time to blossom and turn the earth anew 

A Poem: Escape?

Escape?

Across the plain the looked and saw a shining light 

Curious he began to walk

The grass underneath his feet was dry and soft 

He heard birds calling in the distance

Come ,come they beckoned

Yet out of sight he did not know which way to travel 

The clouds began to hang lower

To him they called come, come

His chest began to tighten

Sweat began to roll down the sides of his face

He knew the danger of the clouds

He knew that he would get lost in there

Turning he began to run

Faster and faster till he began to run out of breath

Heaving his chest raised higher and higher

A strong wind was now in his face

Cold and strong it began to sting his eyes

In the corner if his mind came a whisper

"Come ,come" the whisper called

Up to the sky he looked

Barely through the clouds could he saw the birds

Wings out stretched and majestic they waved to him

He tried to jump but he could only muster a couple of feet off the ground 

The clouds continued to lower

Their mist started to coat the ground

Harder and harder it was becoming to see

His eyes grew heavy with the mist upon him

He could feel his consciousness wanting to drift away

Looking up again he saw the birds

Trying to fly as low as they 

A Poem: Hold On

“Hold On”

Just trying to slow down now

Things really aren’t so hard 

Yet everything is so crazy

Yet everyone is so scared

I’ve got someone thats got my back

And yeah we both got yours

Turn around at any time

You’ll see us marching strong

I know you think you’re lonely

And all the love is gone

That everything is dirty

From the raging fires of scorn

But if you could just listen

Take a second of your time

Just turn around and look ate us

We’ll help it be all right

Hold on hold on tight

Ive got the time

Hold on hold on tight

We’ll overcome this night