The Value of Family: I Realize More and More

Its always been important to me, family.  But not like it has been as I've grown older, what I mean is that the importance of family isn't less because of a career or busy schedule or things of that nature, but when you've attended a funeral, it all hits you.
As I attended a funeral of someone so special to my dad, I realized and continue to realize more and more how precious life is, how precious my cousins are, how precious my aunts ans uncles are. I realize my younger years of growing up, my playful years, the years that were just a part of the fleeting care-free hours of being under mom and dad's wing.  I realize when I look at the wives of my uncles or the husbands of my aunts -that they are more beautiful and precious than when I was so much younger.  Life means more to me now, but I'm at the beginning of my mid years, right at the threshold -so now, I've got to make each day count, got to make each week count, got to value myself more than my many mistakes, must embrace God and the truth of his word more than ever.  These are the precious years.

My mother is so beautiful, she's wise and loves my dad.  My dad is so awesome to me, and he loves my mother more than ever.  I see the cousins that come to me on the church grounds, hold out their arms to embrace me, extend a hand to shake mine and with a firm shake hug me at the same time. I see the smiles, the love in their smiles, I give mine back, we laugh together, our hearts bond even more although I know when we leave the grounds, we will probably not see each other much due to our various jobs, professions and daily cares of life. I don't want to think of that too much, but I can't help it because I'm in the moment. The entire family has lost another one, older, wiser, left on a trip to meet the Lord. Must be so awesome, makes me want to really know the Lord more than I do in this life, change even more, understand my purpose, be protected and guided by him.

Nevertheless I was left here, to share with my own. To share with my cousins and loved ones, the ones who still love me, the ones who still care for me because they grew up around me as youth also.  All of us watching our parents, mix of aunts, uncles and grand parents laugh around us, at family reunions, with troubles, without troubles, with prodigal daughters and sons returning home to the reunion...guess that's why it's called a reunion. Watching love rekindle, watching love recommit itself among family members -on dad's side of the family in particular. It's been so wonderful, although none of us have had much monetarily I always watched the abundance of love flourish around us. There were cousins I didn't see, but I remember...I remember when we were kids. I loved them then and I still love them now, no matter what they've been through. I still have to show up, even with my own troubles, yet family means so much. I realize this more and more, and I'm glad I realize.

Refreshingly Reflective, by Faith

We're at the junction of another year to reflect, be refreshed, understand and take a glance at the footprints we've left over the last eleven months...boy do I see my footprints clearly!  It's just simply amazing how far some of us have come over the past months, weeks and days on our journey...can you see your footprints? How impressionable have they been? Did you stand in one place for a long period of time or did you move around some?  Did you get bogged down in one place for a long period of time, or did you continue to move forward?  Interesting questions, huh?  Yeah, of course.
Where are you now? Are you still in the place you were in a few months ago or did you press forward?
Some of us have been in mucky, miry places where our shoes got caught in the mud of life, others managed to take their shoes off, pick them up and keep moving.

By Faith

Life is difficult sometimes with it's many choices, directions and decisions...no doubt about it -but, the beautiful thing about it it that we have the freedom to make the right choices, wholesome choices, quality benefiting choices, God's gift-given choices.

You have to remember my friends to not allow fear to hold you hostage at any place that you've made footprints with this year. You've put fear in it's place, which is to have no place with you.  Some of the places that each of us have been might have been dusty, wet, full of briar's, thistles and thickets but we have choose to not allow those challenges to keep us at bay.  On the contrary, some of us have made footprints but we've purposefully had to remain in those places until changes were made, refusing to run or quit or hide because of an element of fear that might have been hovering over us.  With courage allot of us had to take a look around us, weigh the outcomes, make the best judgements and push forward, or speak up or speak for someone who didn't quite know how to communicate as freely at the time...but regardless, we did what was most important.  Sometimes it might have been for family or for a friend or a colleague or our community or our church family.  Refreshingly and reflectively we now know where we've been this year, the courage it took to move forward or stand still for a moment and then continue. What a paradox, to be reflective yet be refreshed or to be refreshingly reflective but never always looking in the rear view mirror to what's just ahead. By faith, always by faith.

Thanksgiving: Don't Take it For Granted

True, it's the first official holiday that marks the journey to a closing end of the year for each of us but it's also another opportunity to not take for granted the loved ones around us.  For some it's a season of remembrance with a parent, sibling or relative that we in our hearts hold dear...something I'm sure many have thought twice about.  Celebrating every moment you can with that person or those persons which whom you can communicate with (and even those who seem to be somewhat distant).

This life passes so quickly (as I begin to think about my own life), and along the roads of life reflection and reminance is a beautiful thing...no matter.  If you can remember what was not so palatable and make fresh starts, you begin a new chapter which can be built with as many positive things as you desire to allow good memories to be built to heal the things that were not so palatable. If you don't have to worry about building new memories to heal the wounded areas of your life, it's a good thing.  You can simply build on top of the ones that you already cherish, so don't take it for granted.  A very profound statement was written by one of the most prolific technical minds of our generation, Steve Jobs. His address to a group of graduating Stanford University students was to ..."stay hungry, be foolish."  I agree with one portion of his statement coined, and that is to "stay hungry," but I'd like to just encourage each of you not to be foolish, but to "be wise."  Although I understand introspectively what he meant by taking risks which sometimes seem foolish, that's one thing...but foolishness is the definition of the lack of judgement whereas being wise or having wisdom is the execution of good judgement.  And where good judgement is exercised we don't take for granted the weightier elements of life.  Be wise, love those around you that you are able to love, forgive those who don't receive you and continue to exemplify compassion as God has done for each of us.  Don't take for granted that he loves each of us, and if you'd really like to know why he does?  ...ask him!

Wow How Time Flys!

I can't believe it's been this long since Ive written, so let me catch you up :)

Things have been going well, I had time to really begin pulling things together in my personal life but things are far from being over with the closure of a few things.  Had a great summer, but I didn't get a chance to take my vacation like the majority of folks did over the summer.  I just got back from a West coast Southern California tour and a Texas gulf tour, both were very nice.  I think this is the first time in a long time that I've really had time to REALLY do nothing for a change, I mean no schedules, no appointments and no deadlines.  The food that I've experienced has been great in both places, being a seafood man :).  Great new dishes and ideas for me to try at home.
Saw lots of family and re-connected with some relatives and their off spring.  Now we're headed into the holidays which are just around the corner and it will be time for family and loved ones again, and more rest time.
Time flys when you're flying and when you're not, either way make sure to enjoy each and every moment you have to heal, recoup and regain the rest your body needs for the next journeys that life presents to you.  Above all keep God first, love and celebrate those loved ones around you while you yet have breathe in your body.  We only live once here, so live it with wisdom and make right choices not foolish ones that you'll regret and despise going back to to correct.  No of us are perfect, but we can certainly help to direct the course of our successes and failures along the way.  Failures? Oh yeah, definitely.  Without some failure along the way, we'd never know what it means to put on and apply more wisdom to our decisions.  Failure in some cases is what helps to propel us into successful arenas.  As a matter of fact someone else's failures may possibly be the key to help me understand some of the pitfalls in life that can be avoided, and the same for someone else who may be watching the course of my life to gain their own personal intraspection to avoid the mistakes I've made.  Either way each of us gains directly or indirectly.
  

Summer Sunshine, Sunny Outlooks

Yes, it's here and we're in the run of it officially...Summer!  Just the thought alone makes everyone, smile with anticipation of doing absolutely nothing.  Bumming, traveling, having summer get togethers, backyard bar-b-ques, vacation plans, regrouping plans, workouts, changing one's scenery, gleaning beautiful places and things in other parts of the country or the world for that matter.  Yes, summer -and in the states you can travel just about anywhere to experience it's high's and lows.  In other parts of the world weather varies from sea level to below sea level, greenery shows it's essence and beautifies the landscapes, the sunshine beams it's smiling rays across the vast horizons of nature-carved terrain. 

We gather pictures and photos of the places we've never been and capture memories that span time and become ever indelible in our hearts and minds.  We dine at the little rinky-dink restaurants that are nothing but a hole in the wall, but leave a delicious array or flavors, aroma's and taste's in our minds.  "What was the name of that little place in...?" Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  Then when you go back the next year, the little place is no longer, so then it's on to the next untapped vacation spot that you've never been to before, and the travel adventures keep you moving to the next spot and the next restaurant and so forth and so on.  Yeah, it can be hot in Texas or nice and cool in Minnesota depending on what the summer holds in store.  Summer, a time to re-kindle friendships, move on to others or as so many do...perform like our friend the ant.  The ant, who never sleeps or slumbers in the summer, gathering their harvests for the winter and the rainy days, providing for their kind and creating deeper memories within the earth's fiber.  Everybody's doing something because summer allows you to go outside, get around, get out, see things, do stuff, live, breath, rebuild your life in a way that other summers may not have allowed.  So kick back, do nothing or do something, no matter keep your outlook sunny and smile back when the sun smiles at you!  

Share Your Concern, Show Your Heart

If there's anytime this is the time to show your heart, to those whom you may not even know.  To those who have hearts, to show your heart of love and compassion, to forget any differences culturally and to allow the deepest part of your heart to reach out, to reach thousands of miles away, to Japan.  My heart bleeds for my fellow brothers, sisters, children and mankind who have encountered such an unimaginable loss.  The tsunami that hit Japan also affected the world...  let's not just remember, let's share our hearts, our care, and our resources.  You're touching someone, a family, a dad, a mom, a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, a grandmother, a grandfather, a nephew, a niece, babies, new borns, infants... join in with the many of us who want to help, and are helping.  This is the time to share your heart first.

Consider Donating to The American Red Cross or to your local-credible charity, I have.

Donating to The American Red Cross

Thank You!

Ok ...And Tell Me Where Again?

Ever had a desire to visit a few places over your lifetime? Well, ...I forgot to mention some of the travel desires that I've had in mind for a while.  I not sure I'll ever get to go to there places and events, but it's just something I thought about while relaxing for the evening. Maybe this means nothing to you, but I'm not afraid to share my thoughts with you.  I've always thought it would be cool to attend "Wimbledon" or Maybe the "U.S. Open" or the "Australian Open" and watch some of the great tennis pro's whack it out for championships; I'd love to travel to "Australia," I keep making an itinerary through expedia.com each year to visit in the month of December which turns out to be their summer months. Maybe I can stay for a week or two and enjoy, visit some great places there and share some of my songs; I'd love to travel to "Hawaii," I've heard so much about it and seen some wonderful photos of it, a weeks stay would be ideal; I'd love to attend the next "Olympics" and stay for two weeks, I love track  field and I would be stoked being up close to see the great games go forth; I'd love to travel to see the great "Pyramids of Eygpt," this has always been a special fascination of mine since I was a young boy; I would enjoy fishing one weekend by the great lakes of Montana, seeing the beautiful streams and rivers there; I would love to visit "Carnegie Hall," pull out one of the huge 9' Grand Pianos, sit down and play some of my songs to an empty dimly lit audience, I'd love to take a picture there; I'd like to go back to see the great "memorials in Washington, D.C.," I haven't been there since I was a little boy; I'd love to go back to Canada again, visit the birth place of the great "Oscar Peterson" and visit the history of some of the great provinces;  I'd enjoy a short visit to France, to see the Eiffel Tower, take photos and visit some of the historic buildings; I'd like to go back to visit "Mt. Rushmore" in South Dakota to see "Crazy Horse." When I went as a boy, the exhibit was not open to the public; I would love to travel to Japan, I've heard so much about it, I would love to play and record one of my songs with some of the great Japanese jazz musicians there, I feel it would be an awesome experience, I feel people would come from everywhere to hear at least a couple of my songs; ...can't think of much more right now, but yeah....these are a few of the places I don't possess the funds to travel to, and have a desire to travel while I'm yet young and agile.  Maybe one day I'll acquire the funds to do so, it should be a lot of fun!  I'll make sure to share the aftermath of my experiences with you who continue to follow my blog, and pass the blessings on to someone else by rewarding them with the funds to travel their dreams, just as I've posted a few of mine here.

Simple Ingredients

It was a simple day today, simple thoughts, nothing complex.  As I observed things around me, people around me, our methods, our mannerisms I began to understand the various components that are all apart of  several components -the need to relate.  I took a brief moment to take back a few movies that I had rented over the past week from a local library of which I love to frequent, it's quiet there, you can think, you can create, you can enjoy it's simplicity.  And to boot, this particular library was in the process of reaching it's 3/4 completion point in order to expand the gifts of many who write, think and create -from the very youngest mind in age, to minds of seasoned age, experience and wisdom (as well as those who are not so wise, at least they are in the right place to take on wisdom!).

As I browsed the movie section again to choose something simple, I noticed one common theme among a majority of the movies (and not anyone in particular, mind you), and they all began crying out from their alphabetical places on the shelves ..."relationship, relationship, relationship."  Interesting, very interesting I noticed.  Have you ever noticed that before?  Almost every shelf from A to Z posessed at least one movie dealing with the interaction and/or communication between male and female, and some romantic theme bleeding desperately the need to "relate" with one another on some level of life.  Such a simple ingredient, yet one that's so full of complexity, passion, intrigue, emotion, sentiment, expectancy, fulfillment and or heartbreak. How profound.  Some of the most basic elements of life comprise a simple ingredient and our need to be aware of it.  Without it none of us would have a need to reach out to someone around us, in our community, in our worship, in business, with family, with friends, even in acquaintances or newly found friends.  But why does it speak so loudly? So poignantly? Yet it makes up at least 85% of who we are, the movie shelves certainly validated that for me today.  I had to look for quite a long time to find a clean comedy amongst the echos of relationship themes, speaking with such an unmistakable presence.   If you take just a moment to close your eyes and imagine away all the technology, all the modern conveniences around you now -life still pushes out a simple ingredient without complexity that we all can partake of in it's most simple form. That ingredient is simply -love.  And love is none of the things we think it really is, it simply is.   

Reminded

At this moment I am reminded of something, something deep within, something I have the ability to do, something that is an intricate part of my very being.  I had no plans of doing much this evening when I got home or should I say, in my temporary home away from home which is only about 294 sq ft.  But being home after work today I began doing as many of you do, flipping through the channels of television just to keep something lively while I unwound.  Funny, I flipped around until I landed on this series that caught my attention.  A story of a teacher who was foreign to the behaviors and antics of a teenage multiracial-classroom, a classroom that challenged her to implement ideas of creative change.  A teacher who seemingly faced the odds of opposition and conventional teaching to listen to the stories of each of the youth, which changed her life...anyway -I'm still watching it  :) The Freedom Writers [11:36pm] I've never seen this before, but what I'm trying to say is, this picture has stirred up something in me, reminded me of something that I have, something that I saw in the essence of this picture so I had to stop and write about it, share it with you. Want to know what it is?  :)  Ok, I'll tell you...

...it's the gift of encouragement.  I'm inspired to encourage others in the most positive since of the word and expression, which is yours and mine to share with someone else.  Yeah, I know...I may not possess two or three degrees, the finest of homes, an overwhelming amount of money or great accolades for monumental achievement.  I'm not even the greatest writer, but guess what? This is my spot, but it's your spot too.  It's a place where I can just for a moment, share, and encourage you to be your very best in whatever gifting comes through your hands for good, to help others, to re-build a dying generation and to prolong the intellectual health and well-being of the next generation behind you.  This is just a portion of my encouragement to you, my gift to share with you, one of my many gifts, a gift I'm happy to share, because of this moment, this hour, this time you chose to stop and allow me to share a thought.  I am reminded, I am reminded well and I hope that you will also be reminded to encourage someone too! [12:15pm]

No Matter What...

I'm am so grateful to have a sound mind, sound thinking and a will to do the best, I know to "just do right."  I'm sure you're challenged (just as I am) along life's journey to veer and not stay on the path that's tempting -but in all of our various journey's we must do right, no matter what.  You have greater peace, greater joy, more creativity, less troubles with worrying about whether or not you will be liked, admired, favored or given kudos because of what you did or did not do.  That last business transaction, that last meeting you had, that last phone conversation you had that didn't tear someone down, but helped to build them up in a healthy way.  That last group meeting, that last conversation with a friend, that last card or letter that you sent to a family member or a loved one. Yeah, just the heart felt "doing the right thing"  thing, that made you feel good about who you are and knowing that your projecting yourself in the best light possible, not perfect, but visible. When you're by yourself at home watching TV or cable -no matter what, just do right, don't fill your mind with the trash from someone's mental gutter, when you're among friends having a good time together, you decide not to go off the edge with those tempted to trash someone or belittle or demean someone else -no matter what, just do right.  Oh I know, I know all too well that the consequences of just getting off the right road harmlessly can sometimes propel you into an arena that you hadn't anticipated before, and sometimes the road back takes much longer to travel than if you had just stayed the course. Human nature we have, but we at every stage and area of life must learn and apply discipline.  Discipline and wisdom are the key ingredients, so just remember at all costs, and no matter what... 

Glued!

Wow.  So you and I are constantly checking email, right? It seems we've become more prone to less communication in person, and more apt to try to communicate virtually.  What a paradigm.  From the days of classes on how to communicate more effectively, to the "real-time" classes of life given in an ocean of people from not just in your community, but literally across the globe and back.  What took minutes to write on an 8-1/2 x 11" sheet of paper, now only takes the launching of an email client like; outlook, thunderbird, entourage, outlook express, apple mail or eudora to get your message across in literally seconds.  It's seems in the minds of the younger generation (who have no idea of the anticipation of mail through the post office), that there's no better way to communicate. true -but there was a more sincere, heartfelt way of expressing your thoughts on paper.  A sort of savoring, deeper forethought type of communication which has alluded today's generation of innovators, thinkers and society shapers.  A more "glued to email" approach in order to respond in a quicker fashion, a "keeping up with the current thoughts" type of call and response that doesn't keep us waiting for days for a reply from those we love, or conduct business transactions with, or inform with important news because there's no faster way to communicate what seems to be the most important thing.  Glued to email often times has removed us from getting up to do, and placed us in a mode of commanding without facial expression, micro-managing those we really have a fear of facing face-to-face, expressing in abstract terms or vague grammatically incorrect phrases of what's on our minds with little understanding of how the message is being received or translated.
It's strange, email... "e-mail," eee mail. Stuck to it in fear, because if we don't respond to it in the work place within seconds or minutes, we're not doing our job. What? When was that rule created? Instant, microwave generation of communicators, some effective, others not so much.  Instant gratification with more than words now, groups of communicators IM'ing, jabbering, skyping, ichating and so forth and so on. Interesting isn't it?  Intriguing? Some what -yet so distant, but virtually close.  A form of skimming over the facts, becoming wordy or controlled with better visual on how things can be expressed.  Teaching at lightning speed kids, who in toddler stages are excelling 10 times the speed of their adult human beings.  Still the adults have to shape, mold, mentor and meticulously guide the younger with skill and precision in order to ingraft the most feasible information and filter out the frivolous.  So, what are you glued to these days a real communicative life or a virtual one?

Tough Exterior, Tender Heart Still Valued

It was an amazing thing for me today.  I went into the neighborhood Target (really nice store, this one's always clean) to get a Father's day card for my father and my brother, and much to my surprise as I began walking up to the huge display of cards I saw six women.  A daughter -possibly, a daugther-in-law -possibly, a sister -perhaps, a mom -no doubt, a wife -perhaps and a grandmother -I surmise...looking at the cards for fathers.  These women didn't appear bitter, bothered, resentful, without cause, without care.  Instead they briefly made me think, smile, ponder and wonder what types of daughters they might be? Yes, each of them was a daughter, the other titles as I've aforementioned are acquired, but the exactness of their being was a daughter.  Maybe a daddy's girl, maybe a grand daughter, possibly a niece, an aunt, a great grand daughter or an adopted young woman; but most assuredly a daughter.  Someone's daughter, thinking of their father, husband, grandfather, brother, nephew or brother-in-law.  On fathers day.  When so many have had less than perfect relationships, agonizing events, less of the presence of, strong yet gentle figures of men who have been visible no matter the season.

Today made me think of how precious a daughter was to a father, or how important this day meant to those women that took the time, effort and care to hand pick, select with attention to and pick the best expression of the "almost right words" to say, in a card big or small, funny or serious, to a father. A father in their lives, or a father figure who meant something, who left such an impression on them that their hearts led them to that special meeting place.  A meeting of the cards, a meeting of the heart, a meeting of expression a place where many by choice could go to extend just a "little bit more of how they felt" no matter what the card had to say inside.  Of course it wouldn't be perfect unless they had time with meticulous detail go through almost every card that made them smile, laugh, think, sigh or stand for minutes on end in front of the huge card display of cards for fathers.  Yes, no mistake...these cards were for fathers.  

The problem for me? None. I just couldn't get to the cards that I saw.  I couldn't even get close enough to start extending my hand to pick up a card to read and choose for my dad and my brother.  So what did I do? I left without a card. Laughing softly, amazed at what I just witnessed, such a powerful realization in a time and society that gives little credit to fathers. A time in which the media portraits fathers in a bad light, TV shows and alike that discount the importance of fathers. I was pleasantly touched by these six women.  I never spoke to any of them, none of them turned around to see who was behind them, none moved very far away from the display to let others in to also select from the display, but that was perfectly fine. How dare I interrupt the moment, the father moment, the moment that meant volumes in terms of why they were there today.  No discounting those fathers who are missed by their daughters because of a premature death, or military standing, service to their country, fighting to protect us. These six women may have possibly carried many things within their thoughts as to the reason they had congregated without knowing one another, never speaking to each other, yet with one cause, individual, yet their presence spoke to me in volumes without even knowing me.  I went on to another location where I could do much of the same by finding the best card that expressed my thoughts concerning my dad and my brother.

Yeah, our dads, or fathers, the tough exterior some of us know well.  Resilient, authoritative, leaders, not so great leaders, stubborn, loving, firm-handed, decisive, patient, impatient, gruff, tall, short, with love handles, lean, positive, negative, no matter.  Yet the one thing we all can understand is although the exterior of our fathers may be tough looking, if the heart is ever read well (as most daughters learn to master), then it brings great value to the heart of a daughter.  Why am I talking about daughters, well...although I didn't have a sister growing up, my brother and I have seen many situations such as I've described to you above.  Daughters who love their daddy's, where the heart -daddy's heart is still valued.

I wouldn't know what a daughter's heart toward her daddy feels like or doesn't feel like, but as a son I know my dad's heart.  I love my dad, I value my dad, good or not great, whether he's done many things for me or very few. Today is not just fathers day, it's a day where the heart is still valued.