Shopping Channel Therapy

People wonder why I watch shopping channels sometimes. 

Easy answer: They are filled with enthusiastic and upbeat people ALL THE TIME. 

Think about it. Your social media probably has many bad things on it: political fighting, diet suggestions that make a death march look like fun, recipes with enough fat to lubricate a diesel engine, passive-aggressive backstabbing, thoughtless and cruel memes, etc. 

But none of that shows up on a shopping channel. In fact, if those people mention a problem--like not enough storage space or your hair is so unruly that it's actually causing riots in the streets--they only do so to tell you the solution. 

A solution they will offer you. 

With Affordable Payments and Easy Credit Terms. 

Big Table God

Luke 14:15 — “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

My God is a Big Table God. He has an infinitely-sized table at which everyone is welcome, no matter skin color, ethnicity, looks,  gender, denomination, political bend, environmental views, almost-anything-we-think-divides-us. It’s a huge table filled with good eats, and at this table, people are laughing and talking and sharing and they’re waiting for you.

Some people serve a Tiny Table God. You have to be the correct color, hold the correct political views, and be the correct gender to sit at that table. You have to be biased against the other people, all those who are different from the so-called correct. Your sins have to be the acceptable sins, the ones that they themselves might indulge in. All other people—they must stand by and starve as they watch the acceptable ones gorge themselves. The starving people might protest, but fortunately, a good-sized Bible makes a great club if a person wants to use it like that.

That’s not the Big Table God. 

That’s not my God.

It’s the Tiny Table God.

You might be familiar with the Tiny Table God. He’s vengeful, shallow, bigoted, judgmental, self-righteous, quick-to-anger, and terrible in His fury, the heavy-handed father whose children cringe at His approach. Because we’ve created so many gods in the past, we think this God should conform. He should support who we vote for, shower forgiveness only on those we find worthy, and grant prosperity and good health only to the right people. We loudly preach of His miracles, but in the same breath, we deny His endless grace, boundless mercy, and infinite power. He’s beyond our understanding, and we resent it and attempt to force Him into a box that we can control and understand. Except...God won’t be put into any human box. 

No, he’s a Big Table God.

At His Big Table, you will see all sorts of people, many of whom might surprise you, but all of them are His children. Over there gather the Assembly of God and the Baptists, next to the Methodists and Episcopalians, and they’re sharing countless, marvelous casseroles. The Catholics offer fantastic Mexican and Italian dishes with plenty to share. Must not forget to mention the Latter Day Saints who never let an attendee to a church dinner go hungry. The Greek Orthodox are waving us over for dolma and moussaka. The Asian church folk graciously offer nikuman, pad krapow gai, and sinangag. So many nationalities, so different, but all the same at heart. They’re all part of the church of the Big Table. People are everywhere and sharing everything, including warm hugs and lots of true love. There’s singing and talking and endless introductions to people who are delighted to know the real you.

But of course, you know who’s sitting at the head of the table, the Host of All Creation. He’s smiling and laughing, and He’s waiting for you to join Him. 

He’s beckoning you over.

God is waiting for you.

"For God so loved (you) the world that He gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in Him (you) shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.

Come sit at His table.

???

I hate it when people are cryptic on social media. 

I don't know if I should pray; rob a bank and send money; gather together a village mob, arm them with torches, and storm the castle; or get duct tape, a large plastic bag, and a shovel. 

I need more information, folks! 

Better World

Uncommon Wisdom: Cynicism is easy. It's lazy. It's understandable. We have so much that bitterly disappoints us in this world. Why not stop believing? It's easier to feast on despair. 

But...no. 

The things I've accomplished in this life came about by prayers, hard work, and pushing forward. I'm powered by belief. By faith. 

I know many cynical people—and I certainly have my share of dark teatimes of the soul—but the ones who are moving forward have chosen to believe that things can get better and work to make that so even if it's only in a small way.

I want to be one of those who choose a better world.  

Sooner

 

No Such Thing

A friend visited my house to check on me. Looking around, he said, "Stephen, you have too many books." 

When he woke up with a terrible headache, I helped him to his car. He was stumbling and confused, but I'm sure that will pass in time. 

#nosuchthingastoomanybooks 

Letting Go

A friend of mine is suffering because he had to unFriend and block a former friend for being cruel. This only goes to show that he is a better person than me. 

I recognize that sometimes you have to let someone go—preferably over a huge drop where below a raging river filled with alligators waits. A hard location to find in my state and so you end up taking the dropee out-of-state, basically paying for their vacation, which is silly and only leads to embarrassing car chases and shoot-outs with the FBI even though they had been told you were basically harmless by their lovely profiler, such a sweet, horribly mistaken woman—if, of course, if I did such things and I don't and didn't and there is no proof so I don't know WHY you keep bringing it up. Drop it!

My point is—and give me a moment while I remember it—yes, my point is sometimes people are just mean and stinky and gross and heartless, and you have to let them go and have no regrets.

Step by Step

Not a great day today. Didn't get as much done as I wanted to, felt bad most of the day, and then heard bad news about a person who is dear to me. On days like this, I find myself looking around for good things, anything happy, little meaningful things, victories of any sort to throw against the bleakness.

I found a few: 
- talked to a couple of friends on the phone, 
- read a few chapters in a good book, 
- did a bit of exercise, 
- got some chores completed, 
- ate Mexican food with a friend, and so on.

As always, life isn’t a gangbuster of awesomeness. Life is what it is: sometimes up, sometimes down, a lot of time in the middle. It’s learning to live in the middle that so many of us find hard. We rise to the occasion when confronting a crisis or an emergency. We behave brilliantly, bravely, and benevolently. But it’s the day-to-day life that’s hard and grinds on us. Most people break at the endlessly getting out of bed each morning to confront life’s little annoyances and battles. That’s what we find tough. That’s how we know if we’re a sprinter or a long-distance runner.

I hope you’re the latter, because sprinters may be fast, but this life is long. It's the ones who can keep going, step by step, mile by mile, day by day, year by year... they finish the race. I hope I’m a long-distance runner.

I try to be. I try to stay busy. I try to keep putting one foot in front of another. Keep my eyes on the road. Don’t get distracted. Don’t lose focus. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose courage. Don’t fail. Believe, believe, believe.

It’s a lot of pressure, and I think that’s why some people falter. They drink or take drugs or have crazy sex. They cheat on their spouses, neglect their children, and waste their lives on cheap pleasures, seeking thrills to fill the holes in their lives. They think happiness is a destination rather than the journey itself.

It’s learning to take joy in the journey. We have to do that if we’re going to survive and flourish. It’s the secret to happiness, to contentment, and to fulfillment. For some–like me–finding that joy is easier with God’s help. Others choose another path, but finding that path is essential.

It's how we become fully human.

And fully alive.

Step by step. 

Broken Cup

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”—Psalm 147:2

THE JAPANESE PRACTICE AN ART called Kintsugi, which means ‘golden joinery’ or ‘golden repair.’ They take broken pottery and repair it by mending the breakage with glue or lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. 

The philosophy behind this says there is beauty in the history of a broken piece, that the breakage and the repair enhance the uniqueness of each item. Many times, the repair is stronger and more beautiful than the original material.

“We are all broken,” I once heard a speaker say. He said we should all acknowledge our brokenness. That is true, but it’s not enough to simply be broken; being broken is easy and all too common. It is the healing that is hard, that takes work and commitment. If we want a more abundant life, however, we can’t stay broken. We must seek healing.

Of all the miracles recorded in the Bible, some of the most powerful involved healing of the body and the mind. Jesus Christ wants to heal the damage of this life. He wants to soothe all the pain and sorrow that daily living inflicts on us. We are all broken cups, and He wants to heal our hearts and spirits with His precious mercy and love.

My prayer is that each of us will seek this healing of our hearts. We might be broken, but with His miraculous help, we can be strong, beautiful, and triumphant in our broken places.

  

What Did You Say?

Sometimes you're listening to a person and your mind wanders off because they're blah blah blah and your mind has traveled to 23rd century Mars or maybe to an alternative 18th century England where they have armored blimps...AND THEN you realize they're expecting a response from you and you have NO idea what they were saying and maybe they asked you to do something you absolutely DO NOT want to do, but you don't want to reveal you weren't listening so you yell, "Fire! FIRE!" and run away! 

And when  I say "you," I mean "me." 

Karmic

I did a good thing. I stepped outside briefly, and three mosquitoes landed on me. I did the noble thing and helped them back into the Karmic circle of life so that they can be reborn as a higher life form on their journey to Nirvana. 

Yeah, I squashed them. 

Progress

I made it through today without hitting anyone stupid with a chair. Not even one person! I think it's obvious that my people skills are improving. 

My therapist will be so pleased when he gets back from his breakdown. 

Signs

There are always ways you can tell a relationship is over: They move, they get a protective order, they spray you with bacon and drop you in a wilderness filled with wolves, etc. 

These are all subtle signs that the ardor has become an odor. 

Don't Cloud the Issue with Facts

A new entry in my People Are Crazy file: 

I'm discussing a societal problem with a friend. He finally says, "You're impossible to talk to. You just keep bringing up facts. No one cares about facts." 

Seriously, what am I supposed to do with statements like that?

Happy Independence Day!

Happy July 4th!

I hope it's your day to be free of fear, loss, sorrow, and intolerance! 

May laughter sparkle! 

May joy and peace rise in your heart and explode in contentment! 

Hm, I may have taken that metaphor too far, but you know what I mean!  

Your Personal Independence

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36.

As our nation prepares to commemorate July 4th, the day when we celebrate our independence from Great Britain and honor the sacrifices of those who fought and died and lost everything in the battle for freedom, it’s an excellent time to declare our personal independence.

Personal independence? Yes, personal. God wants us—you and me as we are right now in this moment—to be free. He wants us to be free of sin and sorrow. He wants us to be free of prejudice and hate. He wants us to be free of trauma and guilt. He wants us to be free of greed and envy. He wants us to be free!

It’s hard to be free in this world. The media overwhelmingly portrays values that are destructive to our mental and spiritual health. We imitate what we see even though it erodes our morals and faith. Instead of choosing peace and love, we are choosing strife and drama.

The picture of today’s world seems to be grim, but Jesus Christ shows us a better way, a way to be truly free. It is both simple and hard: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31-32. These are the commandments of true freedom for our lives, our family, our friends, and our nation.

This Independence Day, choose the freedom of God’s mercy and grace and celebrate His love for all His children. Then we will be free indeed. 

When the Rain Falls

Uncommon Wisdom: 

Sometimes no matter how much we hope and pray for something, we don't get it. If we have bought into "magical thinking," then we can't recover because our world is broken. But if we realize the rain falls on both the just and the unjust, then we can survive our defeat and go on.

Move on.

Keep moving on.

Meaning what?

All things are harder than we expect. 

Unless they're easier. 

Or exactly as we expected. 

Don't read this post. It has no real meaning. 

Stop reading, I tell you! 

Stop! 

Why are you still reading this?

Worthy

 Preaching to Myself—and to You: There are always going to be people who are mean to you, who don't respect you, who try to put you in your place. But listen, you are not what they say. The universe doesn't care about their words. Their self-righteous mouthing is nothing but background noise, lost in the static between the stars.
Remember my personal motto: "You can put me in my place, but I won't stay there."
Pick yourself up, take a long drink of defiance, nourish yourself with the Words of the One who loves you best, and face your life with joyous determination.
You are worthy.
You are worthy.
You are worthy.
Shout “Amen!”

Inflation?

 Little Johnny listens to his grandmother as she complains about the high cost of living. 

“When I was young,” she says, “you could go to the store with just a dollar and come home with enough food to feed your family for a week!” 

“Well, Grandma,” Little Johnny says, "that's called inflation. We learned about it in school.” 

“Inflation nothing!” Grandma snaps. “It’s all these dang security cameras they’ve got today!” 

Oughta

I should be doing a couple of more things—I have been productive the last couple of days—but I want to play World of Warcraft or watch more of Death in Paradise or read a book. I hope my productivity isn't waning. Or perhaps I'm too far away from my morning coffee. 

Plants and politicians

I've been having to bring my plants in at night because they don't like cold weather. It's a pain in the pot.

You know, there's a lot to be said for silk plants. They don't shed, and when you get tired of them, you can throw them away and not feel like you're killing anything. In that way, they're a lot like politicians. 

Ordinary Wisdom #7

Ordinary Wisdom: It may be impossible for us to love everyone—we're not God—and it may be impossible to like everyone—we're not Oprah—but surely we can at least be kind to each other. Kindness to everyone would go a long way to making this world a decent place to live in. Except for that black truck that ran the stoplight and nearly hit me; it would be hard to be kind to the driver who was probably drinking as he sent naughty messages on his cellphone and ate a double cheeseburger with fries, but I would try.

I would.

Maybe.

Prosateurs Books: Inspiration & Poetry

Inspirational

Tales from Bethlehem 
by Stephen B. Bagley
You've heard the story a thousand times: glorious angels, lowly shepherds, brightly shining star, three Wise Men, and wee babe in a manger. But have you ever wondered about everyone else in tiny Bethlehem on that marvel of nights? What did they think? What did they do? How would you have responded? In these funny and touching tales, you'll meet a stable boy, a serving girl, an honest spy, an astounding clerk, an empty innkeeper, a mighty ship of the desert, and many others as they share their amazing Tales from Bethlehem.
Buy on Amazon!

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Poetry

Undying 
by Stephen B. Bagley & Gail Henderson
Enjoy a good shiver on a moonlit night with these thrilling, chilling poems. Oklahoma poets and authors Stephen B. Bagley and Gail Henderson share a sometimes darkly humorous look at the creatures of the ever night, mythical and otherwise. You'll meet a vampire who definitely doesn't sparkle, a werewolf who chooses freedom, gods, and goddesses who are all too human, brave astronauts and greedy planet jumpers, and down-to-earth monsters who may live next door. You'll learn what happens to a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein after he creates the perfect woman, why it's better to refuse that crimson invitation, and the sorrow that stalks us even when the sky is bright and the clouds few. You might even discover the creature that goes bump in the night is actually you.
Buy on Amazon!

Prosateurs Books: Mysteries!

Friend or Foe 
by Debbie Anderson
Janie is your average college-aged girl with her future ahead of her. Her quirky personality includes her love of old music and movies, she talks to herself, and she often finds herself in unusual situations. She loves her job and has lots of good friends. Life is great! Then she accidentally hits a policeman with a bagel! Romance blossoms. A black truck with tinted windows is following her. She doesn't know who it is, but it continues to stalk her. How can she get her life back? Who is in the truck? Is it Friend or Foe?
Buy on Amazon!

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Murder by the Acre 
by Stephen B. Bagley
The librarian and the reporter are back! This time Bernard and Lisa stumble on the body of a local jeweler and ladies' man in an underground house. As the couple and Chief Donaldson investigate, they find themselves drawn into a confusing mystery of lies and alibis that involves the upper crust of Ryton, Oklahoma. Questions abound: Who killed him and how? Why doesn't the widow care that her husband is dead? Why doesn't his mistress? What does the mysterious Aventura Corporation have to do with the murder? What is the corporation hiding? Soon events spiral out of control as the killer strikes again and again. As the three dig for the truth, they upset powerful, vengeful people. The chief might lose his job, but Bernard and Lisa could lose their lives in this suspenseful sequel to Murder by Dewey Decimal.

Buy on Amazon!

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Murder by Dewey Decimal 
by Stephen B. Bagley
When Assistant Librarian Bernard M. Worthington finds the body of the dreaded Agatha Ryton-Storer, he has no way of knowing her death will begin a series of murders that will stun his small town and reveal secrets hidden for thirty years. He, roving reporter Lisa Trent, and Police Chief Chuck Donaldson must outwit a ruthless, determined murderer. What was stolen from the library safe? What happened to the missing janitor? Why is Lisa a target? Who stole the Ryton jewels? Why did old Eliah Ryton will his hideous mansion to the city? What secrets does it hold and who is killing to hide them? Appealing characters, sly wit, clever plot, and chilling suspense mark this first novel in the Measurements of Murder™ series.
Buy on Amazon!

Guffaw all you want!

Humor

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Floozy and Other Stories 

by Stephen B. Bagley

Got two nuns and a goat? Do you enjoy Sabbath Night Fever? Or own a flying robot monkey army serving our Alien Masters? If you do - and even if you don't - this is the book for you! Enjoy humorist Stephen B. Bagley's views of our world in more than 80 hilarious tales from his decidedly different life.

Buy on Amazon!

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Floozy Comes Back
by Stephen B. Bagley
Humorist Stephen B. Bagley returns with a new collection of wild and wacky tales from his decidedly different life. Enjoy these stories: Spice Boy, A Tale of Two Goldfish, Tanning My Hide, Kindle the Barbarian, The Fine Art of Sighing, Pumpkin Pinterest, Mr. Manners Speaks, Much Ado About Carbs, Congress & Other Monstrous Things, Work in Your Underwear, The Terrible Truth About Women, and many, many more!
Buy on Amazon!

Visit Different Worlds!

🌕 Fantasy 🌙  

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Bone Sliver 

by Debra Chandler

The World is Changing.... Maxwell Edison, agent of The Office of Human Protection is given an assignment. Sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, he's staking out a spreading rash of anomalous activity unprecedented in the world so far. With agents and civilians dying all around him, it’s up to him to find a way to stop the oncoming paranormal cataclysm that has been engineered by a mysterious shadow organization. In the face of unstoppable magic, can he hold on to his humanity?

Buy on Amazon!

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Dawn Before the Dark
by Wendy Blanton
An ancient curse keeps men in fear of dragons, so only women can ride them in Slan—while only men can perform magic. As a necromancer from beyond the edge of the known world threatens invasion, Briant appears—a young man who loves dragons. Wybren Tanwen must decide: Is Briant the dragonborn, the answer to prophecy? Will he save Slan?

Buy on Amazon!

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Nova Wave 
by Debra Chandler
The Office of Human Protection has come to small-town Oklahoma, but the situation is anything but stable. When agents go missing, Maxwell Edison must investigate. When Max goes missing and a coup is staged from within, everything depends on a woman waking up in a changed world. A woman who has suffered a grievous injury, A woman with no training. Can she possibly save him?
Buy on Amazon!

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Rogue Pawn 
by Wendy Blanton AKA Elizabeth Joy
Forced from her home, Sieger faced a long road paved with lies and manipulation. Desperate, she did the only thing she could: She turned the tables on her enemies and forged her own fate.
Buy on Amazon!

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Sword & Scabbard 
by Wendy Blanton
When Nyakas killed his father to protect his wife and son, he wasn't thinking about the consequences. Because Malitor was a Divine Steward, Nyakas had two choices: take Malitor's seat, or defend himself against those who wanted it. Reluctantly, he and Robyn have moved to Mhovan Rosk. He knows that the other Divine Stewards have their own agendas, but it is not until he arrives that he realizes how corrupt the council is. When his advisors discover a hidden prophecy, the solution to the corruption becomes clear, but it may come at a price none of them are able to pay.
Buy on Amazon!

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The Dragon's Lady 
by Wendy Blanton AKA Elizabeth Joy
A young army officer, heading a team in search of missing CIA agents, is captured by intergalactic slave traders. Her team is sold to a man who is much more than he seems.
Buy on Amazon!

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WEATHERED 
by Debra Chandler
A shift in the wind. A change in the air. Weather has the power to affect everything around and inside us. What will the next season bring? Will the wind of change bring joy—sadness—or something darker? The pages of this book contain poems and tales that will leave even the most stalwart souls—WEATHERED.
Buy on Amazon!

Different flavors for different palates!

Anthologies

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Blackbirds First Flight
By Various Authors
⇨ An unhappy wife can't decide what to do about her boorish husband until an uneaten meal gives her a dark idea...
⇨ Something is raising zombies in Tulsa, and Justina Grave is the only one who can stop it...
⇨ When a fat farm promises to make Edyth thin again, her dream comes true. She will never be fat again—or safe...
⇨ Hopping a freight train can be a cheap way to travel. Unless you pick the wrong boxcar...
⇨ One kiss gives Francois immortality, but at a cost he doesn't see coming...
⇨ A woman warrior must choose her fate as the Romans ravage her land...
⇨ Stalked by terrible creatures seeking vengeance, a band of robbers runs for their lives in medieval France...
This anthology will lead you into dark, twisted places filled with mystery and delight. Enjoy thrilling stories and chilling poems by authors Stephen B. Bagley, Kent Bass, Wendy Blanton, Gail Henderson, Tamara Siler Jones, and Jean Schara.
Buy on Amazon

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Blackbirds Second Flight
by Various Authors
Enjoy new dark and twisted stories and poems from Stephen B. Bagley, Wendy Blanton, Gail Henderson, Ken Lewis, Jean Schara, and Heath Stallcup
Buy on Amazon

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Blackbirds Third Flight
by Various Authors
Enjoy these dark fantasies:
✥ A dead girl asks one final question.
✥ A young man rides a forbidden dragon.
✥ With claw and fang, Malone will fight.
✥ Justina Grave battles a dangerous witch.
✥ A father faces his family's terrible secret.
✥ The end of the world begins in a backyard.
✥ A predator prowls on Halloween night.
✥ Thunder Mountain will kill the careless.
✥ Learn the final truth of the Tooth Fairy.
✥ A wolf reveals the face of the true beast.
And much more in this anthology of thrilling tales and poetry from Kathy Akins, Stephen B. Bagley, Wendy Blanton, Michael Canton, D.E. Chandler, Erin Cochran, Gail Henderson, Mariana Llanos, Jean Schara, and Heath Stallcup.
Buy on Amazon

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Prosateurs: Tales & Truth 
by the Prosateurs
Enjoy articles, essays, memoirs, poems, recipes, short stories, and more from members of the Prosateurs writing group, including
➼ 13 Ways to be More Creative in your life.
➼ How NOT to curse like a sailor.

➼ A daughter endures her mother melting away.

➼ What's alive in that garage can?
➼ How to bake a Fruit Cocktail Cake.

➼ Relish a sonnet for Autumn.

➼ Learn the amazing secret of the Thanksgiving Tree.

➼ How do you deal with doubt?
➼ An Air Force wife confronts her future.

➼ Special Bonus: Prosateurs share Writing Tips.

And much more!
Buy on Amazon!

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Yule Tidings
by the Prosateurs
The Prosateurs celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with articles, devotionals, essays, memoirs, poems, recipes, short stories, including:
Be the Hostess with the Mostest!
Enjoy Tasty Christmas Sausage Balls
Awake Prayer and Thanksgiving!
Marvel at the Ancient Yutetide Origins!
Listen to the Christmas Bells Sing!
Survive the Holidays with Ease!
When Does One Plus One Equal Eleven?
The Other Serving Girl Tells her Tale!
The Turducken Hits the Fan!
Realize You're Not Poor at All!
And much more!
Buy on Amazon!
Buy on Lulu!
Buy on Barnes & Noble!
Buy on BooksAMillion!

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Still

Here it is—Saturday, January 2, 2021—and I've not taken the time to write what I wanted to say to everyone on January 1. I intended to, but things got busy, and I had to complete a few things all of a sudden, and now it's the second day of the year which you've faced bravely and gracefully without reading what I wanted to tell you.

And I'm still in the middle of a project and I can't take the time to truly express what's on my mind, but if I could have, I would have told you this:

Yes, last year was rough on many of us. We got sick. We watched loved ones suffer. We endured losing precious people. We carry wounds of deep sorrow. But still...

We made our grim way through an election that lingers on like sewer gas. Our financial world remains strained. And many lost their jobs through no fault of their own. But still...

Our faith in humanity has been shaken. We fought in ongoing mask debates. We battled in voting wars. We distanced too much or got too close. We watched the experts attack each other. But still...

We've been torn, bent, spindled, and mutilated. But still...

We're here. 

Still. 

Despite all that has been thrown at us, we remain.

We still go to our jobs if we're lucky enough to have them.

We still go to our churches to acknowledge that we are small creatures in a vast universe and aid is always appreciated.

We still go to school or send our children to school or help them in our dining rooms as we remember how much we hated new or old math.

We still donate to food pantries and meal kitchens. We still give to charities, always remembering that there—but for the grace of God—we go.

We still care, still help when able, and still love as best as we can.

Look, if I had time, I would have told you that that is what hope looks like. We're loaded with the stuff. We're filled with determination. We're still the ape reaching for the angel.

That's what I would have said, and then I would ended with my favorite lines from the poem Ulysses by Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

"Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

That's what I would have said if I had been able to find the time to write it properly. I think you would have enjoyed it. 

And maybe you did.

Happy New Year, my friends. God bless and keep you safe.

(Illustration copyright Depositphotos.com)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you and yours! May the new year be filled with love, laughter, health, prosperity, peace, and all good things!

Prayer for the New Year

Dear Creator,
Grant us the courage to start again.
Let us find the strength to overcome the problems facing us.
Help us understand that healing ourselves and rebuilding our spirits takes time which only makes such efforts even more precious and vital.
Remind us to be kind to those who have fallen so that they can also heal and grow.
Give peace and comfort to those who have experienced loss and sorrow in the past year and let them experience joy in the days to come.
As the future becomes our present and the present becomes our past, let us be in the here now and savor the blessings small and large of this life.
And let us always remember to be grateful for what we love and for what loves us. In the end, only love matters.
Sincerely,
Us