Saturday Morning

I'll never forget what you told me-- it's stronger to wear our hearts on our sleeve than not. Say and show how we feel, cause if not, what else is there? Such is love - never practical yet the only purpose. It was you my love, who showed me how to open my heart and face my fears. No more hiding in shadows. No more bitter tears. Letting go of the past. I gave myself a brand new start. Fumbling through the dark was the hardest part. Now, I see and through these deep waters. We have a found treasure. Two of a kind, me and you. Like midnight rain we saw it through til dawn. Holding each other at last.

The Power of Forgiveness

Your heart is broken. You are weary, angry, and resentful of the pain. You may even resent the lesson. Yet, if we are to be truly honest with ourselves...there is no room for pity and no use in feeling sorry for ourselves. Of course we have every right to grieve, but never resign yourself to believing you are a mere victim of circumstance. No matter how beat down you feel, unfair or hopeless it seems -- you are not and never will be powerless! Remember God have said, YOU are more than a conqueror! Mother Nature shows us, wildfires destroy but also redeem. Likewise, it is in the flames of life we find golden opportunities to rise above the proverbial ashes and evolve stronger and wiser. It is up to us whether or not we disintegrate and become a part of the ash, or allow fire to forge us into our higher-self.

It's all fun and games when you're running from work. We're emotionally exhausted...so what do we do? Party, play and BS around. For many this is true in every literal sense. Theoretically, in these pity parties we give ourselves permission to be passive in our pain instead of progressive. Instead of working on our issues in order to let go of misery, we choose to indulge in it and play the blame game. We're all kinds of mad and not able to forgive...besides, that feels too much like letting those who hurt us off the hook. So we take our ball and go home. 

I recall a time I had sat, lamenting over and the past. I cried out to God, but He did not entertain my self-pity. Instead He directed my attention away from all others, and onto myself! Spirit asked, Have you not hurt another? And if so, did they also not deserve it? Have you claimed to forgive another only to rehash the past once angered? How often had you misplaced blame, or made selfish demands because you felt life owed you something? In other words, "judge lest ye be judged". When we remove our pride out of the pain, we make room for love and understanding. The first step toward forgiveness. I realized that before I can honestly ask God to forgive those who've trespassed against me; I must first muster the courage to face myself and ask The Creator to forgive me! Through karmic energy The Creator reminded me of this universal truth. 

Regardless of what life throws at you, you have the power to be present in your emotions and embrace your truth. It's tempting to wallow in self-pity. It's easy to blame our childhood, exes, the economy, or whatever instead of accepting the role we play in breaking our own heart. It's easy to make excuses instead of focusing on the spiritual work needed to conquer the past. It's easy to pass judgement on others without first judging ourselves. And it's easy to succumb to the flames of life instead of evolving beyond our circumstances. Yes, there will be times where you will have to fly solo, you will be tested, people will persecute you, and your family/friends may even turn their back on you.

Of course, getting karmic life lessons doesn't necessarily mean you deserved whatever situation it entailed. It simply means there is an aspect of our lives we need to focus on and improve. We can either choose to play the victim and wallow in misery...or start the healing process by reflecting upon our own shortcomings, letting go of blame, and focusing on today. No, your pain is not in vain. Yes, sometimes people do and say jacked up things we don't deserve, but at the end of the day it's about them. It's about you! Your peace of mind. It's about moving on with life (with or with them) and cultivating your own happiness. Essentially, we must learn to love and forgive ourselves (first) before we're able to love and forgive others. Life is a constant exercise of loving, forgiving, and accepting self and others from a place of love (not fear). We are created to be vessels of love and light. As a children of God, love is the very essence of who we are. Remember, you have the power to transform negative energy into a source of healing power and love.

The Gift of Music

Ella

Eternal beauty, strength, and love...beguiling and sweet but full of thorns. Does the rose scorn? Does the rose know its beauty is coveted? Does the rose understand the nature of man? The rose is not without knowledge of the forlorn, protecting herself from being picked on to picked up, tooted and booted, uprooted. She escapes the worms and twists her roots and outstretch, bursting past the darkness. You'll find her between a rock and hard place or alone amongst a sea of crabgrass. Guided by the Son's light. No matter what she'll find her way. Hook or crook, hell or high water she grows. The rose, symbolizes love but do you don't love her? Appreciate not manipulate or else get stuck....shit outta luck. Look but don't touch, just smell me...smell me? Nose wide open, yearn then burn cause love loves no one but bleeding hearts never learn.

Soldier's Story

Quietly...he sips aged Brandy and begins to clip a cigar tip. I watch as he inhaled the past once again and exhaled memories, with a puff characters came alive like phantoms unfurling. Ebony eyes pondering passersby with a distant gaze. Follow him down memory lane, if you're brave. Sips Brandy akin to skin, deep mahogany, strong spirit, and aged of life's fermentation. Seen days without air when America inhaled war and exhaled gun-smoke...a story told again and again and ever sobering. "To God be the glory, I'm still here", he simply says. Today, I sat still listening to my father reflect upon his days in "Nam" amid the countless prayers said in Saigon six ways from Sunday. These moments and the lessons therein never ceases to amaze. My eyes have never witnessed fallen friends join the ranks among fields of poppy, nor the pain of coming home to an ungrateful nation. No job Joes. War heroes drifting train stations by day and sleeping in shadow by night. It wasn't right. No amount of words can amend. Only a soldier can comprehend. Yet, with sincere thanks America gives tribute. I ‪‎salute to the end our veterans and troops, as we uphold stories of strong spirit, aged of life's fermentation to be told this day again and again...ever sobering.‪