The Road Ahead

    In, as so much as life goes, we can never really be one-hundred percent on where we are going to be tomorrow. We know for certain where we we have been, and if we have realistic goals set out for ourselves, having the hope, that God willing we achieve them. We can have our best guess at where we may end up. But today is all we have to work with. 

   Between today and the future there lies a gap, and depending on what kind of curve balls life throws at us, it can appear like an ever widening gulf.  This over time can eat away at our drive, make us lose sight of our goals, but we are determined and that's not going to happen. So in fear of this, it becomes very easy to start making mistakes, enormous errors that could cost us years on whatever direction our hearts have set the course for. The blessing is we have time to assess.

     During a recent sabbatical, one of the life coaches there used the phrase, "life on life's terms". Flags and roadblocks that are put up, are there for a reason. We are not close enough to the scene to understand why, and how long it will take to clear. But we do have the present, and that we have at hand.

     We are relational beings and all need connection with other human beings. The hunger to feel necessary, be part of something, to make a difference in the world around us, this is in us all. Yet as we know we are not alway's going to have that on demand. Life is happening to everyone all the time. Where do we fit in? How do we get there? When it's too complex, simplify.   

      Plans we have can be broken down in smaller, easier to manage pieces. Even it means putting down the larger dreams we have  for awhile, and concentrating on simple tasks. Routine chores, ease into talking to a friend, then moving towards a more structured group activity like taking some classes.   

     It all serves to maintain the footing we need to be able to reach that next plateau. From that vantage point we find the clarity needed is provided, to determine an honest measure of the road ahead. Where we can then go through the process at a more advanced stage, ever forward on solid ground.
The steps we take today can save us walking for miles in the future, so what is the best route to choose. We are only going to know that if we stop and seek guidance. 

      

                            

Heart of the Matter

    Why do I keep doing those things which I know are no good, even when I know they aren't. How often have we all said that, and of course only to do it again. 

      A line in a song made famous by the mid eighty's "syn" pop group, the Talking Head's states, one day you may ask yourself, "How did I get here". When we are falling down it's a common tendency to hang on, to start laying the blame. People, places, circumstances can often times seem like the very real culprit for life's dilemma's. Something other than ourselves is much easier to deal with, and lightens any burden we may be carrying. There may even be a lot of truth to it.

    But as we may be demanded to swear in a court of law. We need the truth the WHOLE truth and nothing but the truth, or God help us we are going to do it again. Whatever that may be, drug addiction, alcoholism, divorce. The key is in what is external to ourselves.

    An idea not carefully analyzed, in combination with a long held philosophy or belief in the way the world is, or the way I am, will prove to be a deadly combination. This establishes the climate for being sent on a downward whirlwind of shame and remorse, and what will be the inevitable outcome of it. It turns toxic. 

     With any belief we may have, upon investigation we usually find there are exceptions. For example at a men's group meeting, I remember one man sharing, it was his belief that flirting with other women was a sign of virility, and that's what set the standard for his actions. This one idea lead him into three divorces and children he doesn't even know. Yet this idea in reality is not inherit to him, it can be changed. And even though there a lot of men would agree with him, there will be a lot of men who would say well, how would your wife feel. And that would be the focal thought that would determine their actions. So therefore not an absolute truth then, because the other men live very fulfilling lives staying true to their spouses.

     Obviously a change like this cannot take place over night, but if the objective is not to go through the pain and devastation of a broken home. That has to be replaced with another goal. Once again we need another aim, a positive intention we can aspire to . Rather than our virility, or any other purpose that leads back to ourselves. Replace it with an idea that when we see it through to it's logical conclusion, will be for the betterment of all those involved, and over time the burden that we carry begins to lighten.

                                                                   

     Remember three gifts that cost nothing to give: forgiveness, love and kindness. We set these goals as larger that ourselves, and that heart is is created in us. We begin to experience a new hope, along with a renewal and a freedom of our minds, that we never before imagined. That spirit begins to become woven into all we do, and nothing else matter's.

  

Creativity

     Our introduction to the internet, we created an email, so people can contact us on the web, perhaps we even joined a couple of social networks, maybe got a hold of a lot of old acquaintances, there's where the rubber meets the road.

    After we manage to connect with a few of our old classmates, people from the old neiborhood, we begin to share. Caught up in spirit of artistic creation, we find that writer that's been hidden away in us. Our heart yearns to create, and share with the world our insight, our ideas, our passions. But we can only share 130 spaces or so, a few lines. Now the world will never know. Something has to be done. From there we are transformed into the blogger.

    Recently, while on sabbatical, part of the daily ritual was in the evening to enter daily reflections in our journals. One day I was asked as to how it was going, just in general, "OK" was the response. "How's the journaling" was the next question. That's where at the time I was finding some difficulty. It was suggested that at some point, after a few weeks or months, I look back on it. I did, that's where the light really shone on it. From there I could see ideas, where they began, growing and maturing. Helping me maintain a sense of direction a focal point. I think this really works beautifully with the spirit within us, bestow's upon us a harmony, with an ever deepening appreciation of our "humaness".   

   Taking some classes in web-design using some of the available free hosting sites. I found where they could be very good dual purpose tools. Where the blogging aspect of it, if used wisely, can be the kindling to fuel those creative fires. From there, on those moments when we  are tapped on the shoulder and shown how far we have come, the next level of creativity is realistically achievable to us. Having the raw material to create whatever is in our heart, and where it leads us.