Mockery

When something you hold dear and take quite serious is being made a mockery by others and by the media (here I go vilifying the media once again), you should always stop and analyze their true intentions. Ask, "Are they intending for it to be a mockery? Do they honestly believe in their bizarre perspective? Or are they just plain stupid?"

It's quite rare for mockers to be mauled by bears or lions... the rest of the time you simply have to standyour ground and put up with them.
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Life's Mud

Life's Mud, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

When we encounter a mud puddle, we make a point of passing at a distance. If we decide to walk through it, we are affected and made filthy. We don't make the mud clean, it makes us dirty!

The mud puddle represents many things we encounter throughout our life. Unfortunately, our vision only notices the dirt on the outside of our being. The mud which makes it to the inside often goes unnoticed... even though it's contamination has done far more damage than what is obvious.

Even if you could care less if your clothes get dirty, please make a point of putting as much distance as possible between yourself and that mud puddle.

Smokies Crossing

Smokies Crossing, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Hiking through the national park and crossing the stream.

Tumbling Crap

We started out knowing it was an illusion... realizing that an illusion can never satisfy. But after a while we forgot, and bought totally into the illusion, expecting it to provide what it is not capable of. At that point, our time; emotions; resources; mental facilities; and income were channeled into something which was feeding off from our self... and yet we wanted it that way! We were hooked.

Ponder on those areas in your life this might apply to.
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Just a thought: Mass media provides our largest source of highwayed information! These media empires are professional purveyors of illusion. We freely invite them into our home on a continual basis.

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Hidden Person in Picture

Hidden Person in Picture, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Another view of House mountain pinnacle. Can you see the hidden person standing there?

UT Gardens Ancient Truck

UT Gardens Ancient Truck, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I know, I know, all you university students know where this old truck sits. For all you non-students, I'm informing you this ancient vehicle sits in the UT Gardens. What it has to do with gardens is beyond me, unless it has something to do with the tall grass and weeds.

Hitch-hiker

Do we have a hitch-hiker attitude that proclaims: "You pay for the gas; you pay the bills; you maintain the upkeep and repairs. But, if anything bad happens; if you have an accident which affects me… then I will sue and try to get what I can from your misfortune!"

How often are we hitch-hikers regarding what we can get out of life?
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Good Vibrations

Movie stars and models are good looking.
Many of us are good on the inside.
Some have good intentions.
Others are simply good for nothing!
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Pumpkins

Pumpkins, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Can be eaten as a fruit or vegetable. (And fun to carve too!)

Fired

Coaches, CEOs, and politicians are professions where they can earn more money by getting fired than I will earn in a lifetime of working!
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Bad Math in Middle Age

It's amazing how many people who have entered into 'old age' practice denial and believe they're still in their 'middle age' years.

If an average lifespan reaches somewhere around 80 (give or take a few years) then it means that the TRUE halfway point is around 40. Even if the person lives to 90, the halfway point is still only 45. So what type of math would make someone in their 60s to be in the middle of life? And what about the many people who actually pass away in their 60s and 70s… from causes which have traditionally been termed as old-age sicknesses! If your last years are covered with sickness and poor health, then why is longevity a goal to be reached?

Because people have such a bitterness about leaving middle age and entering old age, our modern dictionaries and definitions of old age have moved it from age 60 to around 65 now. Instead of doing us a service, they are just making it seem like more and more people are passing-away in their middle years instead of in their old age.

Remember, just by saying something is so doesn't make it so. If you've hit 60, don't be ashamed… be proud! You've entered old age, and that's not something to be ashamed of… no matter what our 'youth oriented' culture says about it.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not an endorsement of euthanizing the elderly. That right is not given to anyone… of any generation or belief. My opinion is simply to encourage people who have entered into their 'golden years' to not be in denial, but to make the most of it.
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Media Bi-assed

It's only natural there is bias in the various media sources, since bias exists within people to begin with. There are few areas in life we are not biased about!

Folks who hold a middle ground are normally the least biased, whereas those at the two extremes are unashamedly the most biased.

It's easy to recognize a biased slant when that bias is at the opposite extreme to what a person holds to. The conflicting bias cannot be hidden!

So, is the media truly biased? How is it possible for them not to be?
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Just the Facts, Mam

My dad had an unusual trait. He very seldom stated an opinion... instead, he would state a fact. What this meant is if he were to ever get into a disagreement with someone, he would almost always be the one who was correct. When an opinion VS a fact, it is only natural for the opinion to be the one in error.

Dad very wisely would keep his mouth shut on matters he was not certain about. I have noticed that in this regard dad was quite different from the majority of people I've come in contact with. The average person will argue and hold stedfast to a view which has little facts to back it up. Sadly, they sometimes continue to hold to their opinion even when they are made aware the truth goes against it.

Opinions can not only cause strife; hurts; and anger, but they greatly contribute to broken relationships.
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The Beauty of Weeds

The Beauty of Weeds, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Lame Fame

The news is filled with people who's actions can either be described as foolish, or wicked. Sometimes both. Their moment of fame arrives at great cost, both to self and to others.

Sometimes it's better not to make the news... or to go down in history. You never see these sentiments stated on some lame bumper sticker!
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All People are Basically What?

"I believe all people are basically good, and if you don't agree with me I'll knock your #@*%$## head off!"

Uh, okay. Could you please define your definition of 'all'? Does that include you too?
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Actions Actually Accurately Authenticate

Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps your actions actually prove your critics/opposition correct in their assessment of you… even if you say they're wrong, narrow-minded, and idiotic?

Occasionally our critics have the most accurate picture of what we're authentically like.
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Stove Burn

Wisdom at it's most simple and basic is much like the proverbial hot stove. When told to touch that stove, the person touchs it and gets burned. Knowledge is gained and they never touch it again. The next time they are told to touch the stove, they stay away from it's flame. The unwise (foolish) extends their hand into the flame once again. They did not learn. They will probably even repeat their error again and again.

The truly wise person doesn't even have to touch the stove. They actually learned by observing the other person... with the burnt hand! They know that what happened to the other one will most probably also happen to them self.

This is how the most intelligent generation can also have the least wisdom. We are burning our self over and over again. Once again I repeat... intelligence and wisdom are two separate traits.
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Ice Castles

If you think this is impressive, you ought to see the entire structure. This is only but a fraction of the massive schloss.

Some people say how great it would be to live in a place like this. Naturally, they're also thinking they would have a large staff of servants doing the cleaning and repair work. I say "be humble". If I lived there I would probably be one of those servants cleaning up your mess. So, please think of me and don't be too slobbish in your opulence. Thanks.
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Fallen From Lofty Heights - Autumn to post 7/22

(2nd Anthem lyrics: Our Predicament)
Got up off the ground.
Took an awkward look around.
Things no longer appeared the same.
The road which had been clear. Blurred into conflicting lanes.
Each road branched off many different ways. Paths leading home, so they claimed.
But we gave it all away. Freely given to that man of shame.
(Ending)
We're doomed to live in ignorance. Eyes wide open but cannot see.
Ears which hear but deafly blocked. Knowing there must be something more.
Thinking we're good 'cause our standard is not the Lords’.
Oh, our ways are not the Lords’!
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Flatlining Flattery

Be on your guard against the flattering 'words of honey' from a smooth talker. Though their flattery gives the impression they are elevating you and lifting you up, in reality, their praise is offered with the goal of getting what they want. Their selfish intentions mean they will end-up meeting their own desires, regardless of what you get out of it.
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Go ahead & Judge Me

Come on, let's be realistic! I've seen some blogs where people don't want to be judged based upon what they've put on their blog/tumblr/webpage. My feeling is that why not be judged? We should allow others their right to judge us based upon what we post. After all, what we post is a reflection of our self. That's who we are.

I am in no way ashamed of what I post. Go ahead... judge me. I don't care. And if you care enough to post something on your page, you really shouldn't care who is judging. That's the way life is. Deal with it.
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Scammed

When I receive an offer to purchase a thousand dollar so-and-so item for $29.95, I instantly send that email/mailer/ad straight to the trash. Do I trash it because it's a bad offer? No, it is destroyed because it's a false offer. I am being offered something that for all practical purposes is not what it seems on the surface. The goal of the sender is not to give me some incredible gift… their unstated agenda is to gain something from me that otherwise I would not give to them. They are attempting to whet my appetite with the super-super bargain which in the end I probably won't even end up with.

Their ploy has been used by hucksters from the beginning of time, and many have fallen prey to it.

Who Do You Trust?

Eyewitnesses naturally provide the most accurate and trustworthy account of a person, place, or event. Researchers normally place higher credibility on the eyewitness' testimony over other conflicting, and often hearsay accounts. Eyewitness accounts are regarded in such high esteem that they are subject to attack by any who might profit by holding an opposite view.

Know your source. Go with the most reliable and accurate.
Some vessels just don't hold water!
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the Blacksmith

The importance of professions often changes.
At one time this blacksmith had one of the most important jobs in the village.
Not anymore. His profession is virtually extinct.
Perhaps your job won’t be needed in ten or twenty years. You’ll have to find something else.

There are a couple jobs which have been universally valued throughout cultures and time. No matter when you live, a good parent (is that a job?) and the people who produce our food are always in high demand. It’s interesting the two most important jobs are amongst the lowest in the salary department. We tend to devalue those things which we take for granted.

Make 'em Laugh

One inherent problem of joking around with people is though the results produce an at-ease, laugh-inducing, good-natured result, there will always be some people who are no longer able to take you seriously… even when you are quite serious.

Ironically, some old-grumpy person might not make any friends, but they are taken serious in what they have to say.
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The Tide Rushes In

The Tide Rushes In, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Another one of the surf. Or, is it actually a painting of the sky? Or maybe it's light. Perhaps it's colour.

Awwww, since it's out at sea, we'll just say it is a painting of the surf.

Old Surf, New Waves

Old Surf, New Waves, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

How majestic is the sound of the surf as it hits upon the shore. It's might is amazing. The devastation it can bring is terrifying. The surf has brought much joy to people throughout the millenniums, but it's havoc has also brought sorrow. It's presence is to be respected.

How Do You Kill?

Bullets and bombs do an effective job of destroying both property and lives in times of war. But in times of peace, it is the weapons of words and psychological aggression where most of the long-term harm takes place. And paradoxically, it is those citizens who stand little chance of serving on a battlefield who are the most proficient at using verbal warfare.
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Fallen Choir

Currently arranging the Autumn version of 'Fallen From Lofty Heights' and am playing around with something I haven't used before. When the music gets to the Anthem (the part where the fall is realized), a synth choir comes in along with strings, and finishes to the end of the piece. The drama is much needed at that place.

I hope to post it within the next week.
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No Thanks Pandora

Pandora can supposedly learn what your taste in music is. It struggles with my odd musical taste since I might love one artist and despise the next… in the same genre! They try to group all alternative artists together, which doesn’t work for me… being different is what makes them alternative! They are alternative from both the mainstream and from one another as well.

Pandora also attempts to group artists from the same decade together. Nope, doesn’t work for me. The 70s might have had some of the best music around, but it also had some of the worst.

And I make it even more difficult for Pandora because I don’t even really like all the songs by the SAME ARTIST! I view the majority of recording artists thusly… “that’s one of their good songs, but that’s one of their crappy ones.”

Pandora? Good concept, but doesn’t work for me.
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Another Heaven Post

We have a natural confusion about what heaven is. We incorrectly believe it is some fantastic place that conforms to our personal likes and dislikes; a place where our own standards and opinions set the bar for everyone there.

Here's a little advice... it's not about us!!
It's all about someone else who has already clearly made known what his standards, likes, and dislikes are. Our part? Trust and obey, and he will help us conform to fitting in to his realm, not the other way around.
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Bad

We are quite proficient in being bad. When we are forced to quit doing wrong in one area, we eventually find something else to replace it with.
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Fallen From Lofty Heights - Winter

Fallen From Lofty Heights - Winter by taaos

Our past, present, and future human frailties are explained in the lyrics of 'Fallen From Lofty Heights' (song #3 from the Alpha & Omega Suite). The instrumental (no lyrics) Winter version has been uploaded to Soundcloud.

Addictions

The U.S. government seems to be doing everything in it's power to force a stop to tobacco addiction. Otherwise it appears they're practically ignoring various other addictive sources.

Alcohol is freely bought and abused with the result that automobiles driven by drunk drivers maim and murder innocent victims in alarming numbers. Cars might actually be America's number one unintentional 'weapon'.

Internet porn is so easily accessible that never in recorded history have children had such fast access to what was once called 'smut'. Numerous websites are populated with preteens and teenagers blogging about porn and exchanging it as freely as if they were passing a note in class. Studies haven't even been set-up yet to learn of the long-term effects, and the scars which will carry into adulthood.

Truth in marketing is only but loosely enforced, and almost impossible to enforce on websites that sell from foreign locations. Easily addictive buyers are quickly spending beyond what they intended, only to pay the price down the road.

Our addictive nature is taken advantage of by far more than just the tobacco industry. At every turn we run into businesses, both small and large, just waiting for us to become addicted to what they have to offer!

(Here's my rebellious nature at work)
I am not, and have never been a smoker! But I am so alarmed by the rapid enforcement against smoking that whenever I enter a restaurant and am greeted by the seating hostess, I tell her that I would like a table for two... in the SMOKING AREA!! Her response is "I'm sorry sir. We don't have a smoking section." Yep. I knew it already. The government has gotten rid of this once-standard part of dining out... now they need to work on the above-mentioned areas of societal harm... if protecting us from harmful addictions is really what their true aim is!
Or don't they care?
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Boyhood Farm

Boyhood Farm, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

My granddad lived here as a boy. I lived here as a young man. Like most structures of it's period, it was originally painted white. Now, only the trim remains white. New life came to the old structure. It was worth it.

Snow Blanket

Snow Blanket, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

It sure doesn't snow like it once did around here. Maybe that's 'cause the rains and storms have become more intense. Perhaps it's global warming. But then again it could be global cooling... or something like that. I will say that when it does snow, you sure can't beat the intense beauty of it all. Go ahead and brush off the snow and take a seat.

Roman Chapter 1

I once again read Romans 1 after about a three or four month gap.
What can I say except "WoW"!
It has to be the definite summery of what humanity is overcome by.
It pertains so much to our modern society; attitudes; and lifestyles, you would think it had just been written.
It sheds so much light, there's really no excuse not to know.
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How to Laugh at Others 101

It sure seems like quite a few people have discovered the secret of being prejudiced without being racist. They make sure that the brunt of their jokes is not someone from a different ethnic group or nation. Without apologies, they laugh and make jokes about someone of their own race, but from a different region, social class (it's always alright to laugh at the wealthy), faith, or educational background.

Remove the race card and anyone can be fair game.

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Standing on the Rock!

Standing on the Rock!, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

How 'bout you?
Have you stood on the rock?
This one is not at the top... but it's so close, you're almost there.
This picture is from a warm sunny day, but we've also been up there on wet, rainy days and let me tell you... everything around the rocks can get quite slippery, nasty, and muddy! The only way to stay safe and secure is to either be on the rock, or sheltered underneath one of the large rock overhangs. When you are covered by the rock you stay safe, secure and dry.

Artists: Aren't You Glad I'm Not in Charge

Many artists should be relieved that I'm not an art critic.
If it were up to me, I would go into the art museums and for the most part clear many of the walls and start afresh.

There would be quite a few unhappy artists.
Of course there would probably be even more folks cheering me along and feeling that maybe an art museum would now be a decent place to visit once again.
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No Pier Pressure Here

No Pier Pressure Here, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

It will take you about as far out as you can get without a boat. After that, it's your choice to cast your net or line, launch your craft, or simply jump in and join the fish.

River of Life

River of Life, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Serene peace along a waterway used to quench the thirst of the field beasts... and any other animal or fowl who happens to pass by.

What would this world be without such calm rivers of life?

Quit Your Squealing

The movie 'Deliverance' made it seem like the backwoods yielded hidden dangers from 'squeal like a pig' perverted mountain men.
If you too harbor such a fear, I have a real wake-up call for you to heed…
those aren't the folks you should be fearing.

It is those folks who have MUCH in COMMON with yourself where the unseen danger lies! You don't have to make a trip to the rural unknown to have your life altered and changed for the worst through the acceptance of the unacceptable.

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Guilt

Instead of focusing your guilt on past deeds and misconducts, how about moving to the present and deal with your current issues.
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Fad Facts, Ideas, and Opinions

Sometimes I hear something espoused as fact which is so foreign and outrageous to my ears that I instantly stop in my tracks and exclaim to self: "What!!?? Am I actually hearing this right?" And then I receive a second shock when it is revealed the person is not alone in their opinion... it is embraced by enough others to make me question "what is going on here?" This 'new fact' so strongly flies in the face of what I have accepted, or definitely know to be true, that I have to analyze what is causing such a shift in acceptable knowledge or opinions.

Because of my westernized hippie-era upbringing of allowing all (actually most) thoughts their light of day, I scrutinize, ponder, and research this new shocking and newly accepted concept to see if it might be more correct than what I believe. I look for holes and if they are there to be uncovered, then I discard this as just one of the many fads which come and (hopefully) go. I then try to analyze and compartmentalize this 'new knowledge' and put it into an area of being harmful or beneficial. Normally it can be seen as being potentially beneficial to some and harmful to others. Then it must be asked "who is going to benefit the most from this" and "who will reap the most profit."

Again, this is why one must be grounded in their facts; beliefs; history; fictitious ideas; knowledge of natural human errors; current social conditions; research; spiritual insight; and the revealing word of God. We are told to be like the 'Bereans' and pick apart any new knowledge or revelations which creep into our world. This is all part of the process of being wise and discerning.
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Topsy Turvy

Michael Jackson helped make popular the redefinition of the word 'bad' so instead of being a negative concept, it could now mean something positive.

I'm afraid I might have to reinterpret another common word in the same light. I'm referring to the word 'hater' (popularly spelled H8R) which seems to be used quite frequently the last couple of years. I had always understood this word as having a negative connotation about a person who is filled with rage and anger. Now it seems this word is being used to label anyone who doesn't agree with you and is outspoken about their disagreement. Unfortunately, some of society's best, most beneficial citizens are unjustly slandered as H8Rs... and often by someone who seems to actually be the real hater. 

Isaiah 5:20 summed it thus: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."
It seems the H8R is not the real villain here.
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A Little Proverbs

"Do you see someone wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them."
----(Naw, this isn't one of mine. It's from Proverbs 26:12, though it could be one of mine.)

"There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness." (Proverbs 30:12)
----(This is the same 'generation' that freely proclaims "do not judge me". Have you ever heard someone say this?
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Filter Your Thoughts

A search engine's 'content filter' is an amazing thing. It unintentionally helps determine how we not only see the Internet, but also how we see our fellow humanity.

With the filter set to ON your search can bring an abridged version of what's out there, causing you to think "the internet's not all that bad". But when you turn that filter to OFF... you better watch out! It reveals the internet and humanity at it's most vile and offensive. No matter what you enter into the engine, you have a smattering of results you might never hope to see* again.

*Image search is by far the worst.

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Atheism on the Web

What is atheism?
It is pretend. It is made-up... it does not exist. It is a fantasy that proclaims "there is no god" and yet it is spoken by someone who's very existence and actions shout "there is a god!"

I've never been 900 billion miles out into outer space. I'm not even sure I can even see it with the naked eye and yet I don't question that it's there. Some things are obvious whether our eye can see them or not. ((Yeah, there is a center to the earth, though I've never seen it... or even seen photos of it)).

There are multitudes of atheists on the Internet. I've seen their web pages. I can easily understand why they like to pretend there is no God, for if there IS a God then they're in big trouble! Get rid of God; bury his expectations of established morality; eliminate his promised day of judgment; and bingo... you're free to do anything you want to do (which is what their ultimate goal is)! Since they refuse to repent of their actions, being an atheist is the only way out.
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Listen

If you want people to believe a lie, simply tell them a lie.
Lies are easily believed by the vast masses. It is commonly the lone individual who exposes the deceit and reveals the truth. This is because people tend to go with 'safety in numbers', including what they think and believe, no matter if it's true or not.

Be sure and listen to that lone voice "crying in the wilderness". Their input is often the most important measure a society can utilize for it's health.
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You Are Accountable

In those days they shall no longer say:
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge.’

Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
-Jeremiah 31:29,30

Having trouble understanding? Well...
You cannot blame your parents; corrupt authorities; an abusive spouse; the school bully, etc!
You are accountable for your own actions… even if you've put up with crap! You are accountable.
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The Art of Exaggeration

"Always; never; everyone; nobody; every time; nothing; total; everything; all; none; constant; gigantic; not even close; minuscule, and many more." These are all words and phrases used by an exaggerator... of which I am one! We freely use them as statements in place of more accurate descriptive terms. For example: 'always' might be used when 'most of the time' would be more accurate (accuracy is not relevant to exaggeration).

The words and phrases that an exaggerator use are bothersome to a literalist. The literalist does not elevate the abstract... of which exaggeration is a prime example. They take things at their face value. They take them literally. When an exaggerator makes a blanket statement, (using always, never, every, etc) the literalists interprets this as inaccurate. The exagerator never intended for the statement to be taken at face value, they simply meant for it to utilize the impact of over-emphasis to drive home a truth.

Many years ago when I was teaching a Sunday school class, we came to the verse 'Titus 1:12' which reads "One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” The apostle Paul is quoting a Cretan poet who not only uses the explicative 'always' but greatly exaggerates all that he says about his fellow Cretans. I was not bothered by Paul's quotation... it was nothing more than an exaggeration to make a point. This verse bothered the literalists in the class. They were unable to accept that Paul would mean this literally. One student even suggested Paul was poking fun of the Cretan poet (what!!?). Though this exaggeration was not said by Paul, he was freely and unapologetically quoting it with full acceptance! This acceptance of an exaggeration and the fact that it even ended-up in scripture was hard for a literalist to accept. The class came to an end with the literalists unconvinced that an exaggeration had made it into scripture.

I enjoy a good exaggeration. If you want to be exposed to some of the best, read any of Mark Twain's literary prose. The man is one of the best. He would have no problem with the statement, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Actually, it could have been written by himself.
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Lake Castle

Lake Castle, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Once again, another castle image.

I've left out most detail, leaving shapes and mass. But that's pretty accurate since this old structure was built with few windows or ornate decor. It's quite rustic and massive.

Real Fantasy Castle

Real Fantasy Castle, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Yeah, it looks like a fantasy piece. That's simply because of the colours used. I'm sure the residents who live in it's shadow can attest to it's reality.

Camelot

The Camelot Principle...
(1) A society begins in it's unstructured dark ages.
(2) Then it has something or someone propel it to heights of glory and achievement.
(3) When things are at their peak, the basest of lowly human traits are elevated, accepted, and take over.
(4) The society falls, either into oblivion, or into a position far below that which it occupied in it's glory days.

It happened in Camelot and it has commonly taken place throughout recorded history. Most indications are that our society is teetering around area 3. Falling to #4 could be in the distant future, or with the speed things have been changing, it could arrive rapidly.
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Driving Through the Valley

Driving Through the Valley, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

How many times have I driven past this old barn?
It has been a while. I wonder if it's still standing.
It gives the impression it's been there forever, but in actuality it isn't as old as it might appear. I would be surprised if it's even a century old.

Now, the mountains themselves are another story all together. These are considered to be some of the oldest in the United States.
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Small Town Main Street

Small Town Main Street, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I grew-up here. It's been some time since going-back.
Just like anywhere else, things have changed.
Thomas Wolfe wrote "You Can't Go Home Again" of which he's basically right.
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Fake

Am I the only one that in some situations actually prefers the copy; the substitute; the artificial; the duplicate; and the fake over the original?

I know, it doesn't seem right. The original should almost always be the best, but occasionally it does seem like that which was based upon it has exceeded it in some way.

What can you think of which this applys to?
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A Firm Foundation

I'm often amazed at how quickly and easily the digital age is feeding a 'generation gap' of opinions, values, morals, and what is acceptable and what isn't. At one time this shift could take place over the span of decades, now it can happen in just a few years (months?) or less. It similtaneously is contributing to making this world a better place and a much worse place... depending upon who you're talking to and all the attributes mentioned above. One thing is for sure, it's not the best of worlds if you're a free thinker and question the established status quo as well as rejecting the rapidly growing alternative of lower base so-called freedoms.

It is a time of grounding your self in a firm foundation beyond your own opinion and making.
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Open the Door

When the gate was opened for the Trojan Horse, the residents had no idea of the deadly surprise hidden within. We too have our deceptive Trojan Horses... they are naturally a part of life. Some we will let enter and later deal with the unwelcome excess baggage they have brought. Others we won't open the door for, choosing to avoid the good in fear of the possibility of releasing the bad. But the worst of all are those horses brought in with no immediate and evident consequences... only much later revealing their slow acting hidden poison after it has already been ingested and done it's harm.
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Lemons

When life gives you lemons, what you do with them is never set in stone. You might make lemonade; you might use them in your tea; you might make a pie; or they might be used in your cooking. It's possible you might even intend to use them for one thing and then end-up using them for another. Even their scent alone can be used to freshen the stale and the rancid.

Don't ever complain that life has given you lemons and you can't find a use for them!
Take what you've got and make the most of it.
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Hey, don't hold me accountable

People can be quite creative and original in coming-up with excuses to try and convince them self (and others) that they are not responsible for their actions.

Yeah, sure.
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Integrity

in·teg·ri·ty

n.

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. Being whole or undivided; unified; complete.

4. Honesty
5. Honorable
6. Pure
7. Reputable

All throughout history integrity has been a valued trait, but rare and uncommon amongst the populace. We have a tendency to value integrity in others far more than in ourselves. It is perhaps the one difference between those who benefit society and those who are a burden on society.

As this becomes rare and hard to find, let's make a point of letting our own integrity grow and blossom.

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Sleeping in the Desert

Sleeping in the Desert, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Solitude, silence... feeling like you might be the only one alive in this world. Spend a night or two in the desert and you'll know what I mean.

Asset

It's amazing how many times a detriment is also an asset. Occasionally an asset also proves to be a detriment as well.
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Go to Hell

Hell is a reasonable concept and not necessarily a bad thing.
What!?
If you hate going to church and can't stand being there even for an hour, why would you like going to a somewhat similar place for an eternity?
If you are bothered by certain traits of God (holiness, righteousness, sinlessness, or whatever) why would those same traits not bother you in the next life?
Either your feelings will adjust greatly... or heaven's not a place you'd even want to be at.
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Doing it All

It's not so beneficial to be a jack-of-all-trades if you don't do your best in all of them. If you have this ability, then you, more than others, need to prioritize and make order where chaos tends to take over. If one area needs to be dropped or put on the back burner, then do it! Make excellence abound!
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