Unknown's avatar

About Mark J. Hahn

“What we have to be is what we are.” ― Thomas Merton As I continue along life's journey, honestly coming to grips with what I am, enabled me to finally let go and simply be. There is no shame to be found in it whatsoever. And as time passes, my only regret is that I didn't sooner. But then again, this all came to be when it was supposed to. Not when I wanted it to. I just have to be what I am.

So he may live too.

“If you are renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

Amen to that Pastor Spurgeon.

And one of the gifts that accompanied grace was that of metanoia. Per my assistant, Mr. Ai, metanoia is:

“…a transformative, profound change of heart, mind, or lifestyle, often described as a spiritual conversion, a reorientation of oneself, or moving beyond fear-based thinking. It is commonly understood as turning away from an old way of thinking to a new perspective.”

Repentance in a nutshell.

Long overdue for this stoic.

So blessed that this is my perpetual work in process. A surrender to intentional psychological transformation, spiritual conversion and change at its most fundamental level in mindset have literally acted to save my life.

I am still trying to get my head around that blessing.

So if I ran into my old self, I would definitely recognize him. Being that I know no strangers, I may say “Hello, how are you?”. After all, I do know what he is going through. And that he needs some understanding. Compassion. Support. Sympathy. And love.

Perhaps if I offer him a prayer, he will be gifted and renewed as I. Grace has a way of reducing anxiety. Establishing presence. Opening the door to repentance. And leading one to true change, in the manner of metanoia.

I know it was given to me.

The least I can do is hope the same is given to him.

So he may live too.


We all got one.

Daily writing prompt
What is the best excuse you have heard lately?

I cannot really think of any I have heard lately.

I do not need any more. I have inventoried plenty that I call upon to justify a fault, avoid blame or release myself from obligation.

“This will never work out. Remember the last time you tried this? Who are you trying to kid?”

“I don’t need your help. I know what I am doing.”

“I had no idea it would take longer.”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“I thought I told you.”

“Next time, I will think/speak/act better.”

“I only did it because I care so much for you.”

“I am sorry.”

“It won’t happen again.”

One I never use but hear all of the time?

“My bad.”

Yuck.

It goes back to the old saying about us and excuses that refers to our common anatomical structure.

We all got one.

Maybe I am not alone in that.

Daily writing prompt
What’s a piece of technology you’re convinced will exist in 20 years?

It already exists.

Sorry Mr. Prompt.

Just not used any longer. Not that much, nor by many.

Things tend to get far too complicated for their own – and our – good.

There is a lot to be said for simplicity.

Mistakes get made and they can never go away. They always come back. They are forever saved in some format of the moment.

Pencil and paper will be around forever.

Alot can be expressed in this tried and true method. In word. Plans. Art. Anything you can imagine.

This is truly life altering technology.

Something that never goes away.

Something you will always cherish.

I need that.

Maybe I am not alone in that.

An ode to life-long learning.

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
― Socrates

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”
― Albert Einstein

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”
― Albert Einstein

“Learning never exhausts the mind.”
― Leonardo da Vinci

“Learning is not child’s play; we cannot learn without pain.”
― Aristotle

“A man, though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind.”
― Sophocles