Category Archives: Uncategorized

Two horses & A bell

Posted on by
Reply


Author Unknown

“Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell.

It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, And that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

Good friends are like that.You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

And remember, be kinder than necessary – everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, love generously,care deeply, speak kindly. 

Leave the rest to God. “

A hero.

Posted on by
Reply

The times in which we find ourselves could be defined as uncharted, challenging and just downright complex.  An ever expanding array of perilous world events. Protest. Distrust. Separation. Isolation. Anger. Times in desperate need of heroes. 

Things that suddenly and seemingly appear as fact in the ether of the internet creating  anxiety, angst or anger;  in or unintentionally.  The stories one hears about from “so and so” via social media, snaps that lead to endless meaningless chats, obscure podcasts from an even more obscure expert or the truth thrice shared from the influencer du jour.  

But with some faith, discernment, perseverance and presence, the good in all of this can still be found. It is not that it is hidden, unavailable or too costly to pursue.  Just that it is human nature to see the negative first rather than investing, hunkering down, leaning into and embracing the positive that exists  within all of this adversity.

It is simply stunning to see the number of heroes that are being revealed each and every moment across the globe. 

Leaders of all births, upbringings and life experiences that  come to light every hour.  Strangers that are willing to leave it all out there for the one next to them with nary a regard for their own person. Regardless of social standing, responsibility or title,  men and women  are literally putting their lives on the line. For that person next to them, that person’s family, town, region, country and way of life.   

This just doesn’t happen. It is a mindset that is entirely born from within.  An entity that possesses a character, integrity, commitment and strength all its own. All of which is predicated, derives its sustenance from and thrives  on putting yourself aside and giving it all up for the guy or gal next to you.  Making it not about you. Just all about them. 

Give witness to what it is going on in the world and imagine its  impact here in your home town. Each of  you can be that kind of hero right here.  Not in an international way but in a local community sense.  You need not be recognized for it, command headlines or capture x number of views because of it. 

You just need to be it.

And do it. 

Then, trust that the rest of it will take care of itself.  

As one of many that aims to do so, please try to do the same. Leave it all out there to make it about them – not you. Overcoming oneself in the process.

Because in the end, this will be an action that not only helps to make them, but will transform you as well.   Losing yourself is actually a great path toward true awareness and self-discovery. In that can be found the bounty of recovery, purpose and a profound sense of joy.

So you can keep the mask and cape to yourself. They are not requisite for heroism. But those you love enough to help rescue will recognize that uniform immediately.

Since your soul has been clothed as such.

A hero.

And life.

Posted on by
Reply

“You don’t think your way into a new kind of living. You live your way into a new kind of thinking.”
― Henry Nouwen

Though all is contained in one collective space, the mind, heart, body and soul can vie for preeminence over each other or become independent of one another. At least that has been my experience.

The mind has its intnetions in the right place, but yet, if it cannot interconnect with its teammates, there will be little if any change in course. It can generate great ideas and stimulate a new vision, but if the heart doesn’t buy into it and the spirit is not willing, well, you know how the state of the flesh.

Talking oneself out of great beginnings has been one of this author’s highest acheivements. The sensation is akin to rolling oneself out of a deep snow drift. Rev it up, rock it back, rev it up more, rock it back. You get the gist. Laying out vast schematics within your mind as to why things just won’t work the way you wish. Then avoiding the revision that points out the straightest path.

All the while, your heart retains an unfulfilled emptiness, your soul untested and a body stuck in an idle neutral.

Yet, if you overcome the urge to reinvent and rationalize, and to paraphrase, “do it”, then all heck breaks loose. The heart begins to engage and fill with a sense of joy brought on by the actions. Your soul begins to align and see an incumbent purpose in the undertaking. Your body generates an energy and momentum to carry moment and those to come. And your mind, quips, “why didn’t I think of this?”

When all four work in concert, they collaborate not just to maintain but to elevate their game. Rallying to overcome adversity and challenges that may attack a specific aspect of your being by acting as one. Smarter overcomes harder. Joy inundates sorrows. Purpose replaces purposeless. And a new found stamina energizes the entire enterprise.

Thinking about it does have its place. But that may only serve to restrict you to a highly confined area. Living it invites you to an ever sprawling world. Embracing all there is about you. Open to adventure. Learning. Growth. Connection. Purpose.

And life.

…as it is meant to be.

Posted on by
Reply

“The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of other men! A weird life it is, indeed, to be living always in somebody else’s imagination, as if that were the only place in which one could at last become real!”
― Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

Funny how thoughts initially shared seventy some years ago have a stinging revelance even today. Even more comical that I chose to employ this mode of sharing it with you all. Perhaps in the hope of attaining opinion and applause. But I digress…

Speaking as one who knows well of the cunning nature of social media, it is stunning that he phrased this the way he did so long ago. Perhaps back then, a similar quest for “perfection” was driven through the papers and radio.

A weird life it is.

Attempting to live always in another’s imagination. As if that were the only place one could become real.

Now I came to be roughly a decade after this was written. And to be honest, I do like to share my thoughts and myself via this mode of interaction. Perhaps I need to engage in some discernment regarding the imagination and becoming real aspects of his insights.

But then again, whether it be business or personal, an actual conversation is the best way to achieve and maintain that sense of reality. Even better? Grab a cup of Joe and sit face to face. Take a walk together. Sit in a park and talk. But there I go showing my age.

Don’t get me wrong, stimulating the imagination is a great thing. Potentially a truly genuine source of inspiration, aspiration even affirmation in some sense. Yet in some way, we need to close the gap, reduce the space and make us all less remote to one another.

That way we can be truly present.

Really there.

And totally real.

Not so much a weird life.

Just life as it is meant to be.

Your choice. 

Posted on by
Reply

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”      ― Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

Well said. 

In the grand scheme of life, things happen, and all we can do is our best during, throughout and thereafter.  Now that being said, we can elect to be defined by those events – or – we  can choose to define them. By standing up to the challenges, looking them in the eye and telling them without reservation;  “I got this”. 

Whomever I tend to,  many may have tended to reflect the same line of thought and being: that though things happen, you must rise up to meet them head on. They might get the best of you at first – a function of  surprise, fear and diffidence. 

And yet, you still retain the right to respond in your fashion, via choice. 

So, you can decide to be reduced.  

Or, not. 

Your choice.