Making Sense of the Election

Hey, has this been the nastiest season for election commercials ever? I mean, if half of what one candidate says about the other is true we are doomed to elect a host of worthless office occupiers instead of individuals who give a crap about this great country.

Goodness.

I have to say that it sickens me that we have devolved to this type of wretched politics; but who's kidding who? It's been going on for years and we as the voting public are in a position of responsibility in speaking out about it, or it's just gonna get worse. I for one think the commercials should be banned in favor of debates... or UFC-type elimination. Just kidding. That stuff scares me.

At the same time it is very difficult to make sense of all the mudslinging. And if you're an honest citizen simply trying to vote your conscience and hopefully elect the right person for the job, it can be depressing as well. In navigating through the maze of innuendo and deceit, it's important to consider how we can get some clarity in the midst of the historical darkness that looms over our country's future.

For one thing, we can stop watching television. I know, that's sounds extreme but I did it a few years back and I feel like the effect has been a subtle lift in the energy of my day to day. It's okay to be informed, we just don't have to inundated. Second, and of considerably more importance, we can pray about it. I don't mean, "Dear Lord help me to know who is the least evil among the candidates." I am talking about praying for our country specifically, as well as the men and women who are vying for your vote. It's important that we have a spiritual approach to elections since the attitude of ugliness we have been witnessing seems to have a certain dark force behind it. I'm not a doom-and-gloom type but I can see evil when it presents itself.

Let's call it what it is.

We want honesty in office. We want integrity. And we want results. I do not take sides and this post is definitely not of partisan flavor, but I am an American who is sick and tired of being sick and tired of the way we get blindsided by the very ones who promise to lift our country out of the mess we've made. I love this place and I want to see it lifted up, not torn down. I am praying that God will have mercy on all of us.

To make sense of this election requires a bit more in the brains department than I have to work with. However I don't have to be Einstein to recognize that we need Divine intervention, and we need it soon. Maybe the answer lies in remembering the history of other great nations who have gone before. I for one do not look forward to being another statistic, and I would be thankful to see us get our proverbial act together and begin working together instead of attacking our brothers and sisters. Some days it seems like it may be too late.

Is it too late?

I don't know, but God knows we need an answer, and we need it soon. Love works in all sorts of situations in helping to bring about reconciliation and healing. Can't we pray for Love to infiltrate the hearts and minds of our already-elected officials as well as those who are about to take office? Maybe it's just me, but today it feels like we don't have any remaining options except to make Love the foundation of our thoughts and actions.

There was a great man named Jesus, Emmanuel, the Christ who visited us and taught that loving God and loving each other were the most important things to consider. Is there a candidate out there who has said that he loves his opponent?

LUVWRX. I Believe it!

-- jb

Happy Halloween

I guess you could say I'm not that into it, but for the kids' sake most of us go out and buy tons of deadly, obesity-promoting products disguised as "candy" so we can load down each lil guy's bag with as much as they can drag home. How long does it take to eat all that junk anyway?

I remember that when I was a kid there was no alternative to Trick or Treating like we have today. Lately it seems all the religious outfits wanting to redeem the holiday offer the option of a Fall Celebration. I rather like that since the folks in my neighborhood seem bent on the creepiest decorations I have ever seen: hanging corpses, zombie-like figures, and cobwebs with spiders the size of Volkswagens...

Give me a break.

All I'm saying is, you can take things too far and they lose their entertainment value. I guess that's why the local churches have seized the idea and are advertising for their share of the popular consciousness. I don't mind that so much, but I wish we could just leave church work to helping the poor and outcast, and let the "entertaining" of fun-seeking horror buffs be a midnight party someplace a long way from my house. That way I don't have to be reminded of my fear of Freddy and Jason. Those movies scared the crap out of me, and I have never forgotten it. I can't even stand to watch the trailers for the movies these days. We have definitely graduated to the next level of sick when it comes to the minds behind some of this junk

I digress.

You know what I wish? I wish there was as much talent and imagination when it comes to ways of making people feel safe and loved, as seems to exist in attempting to make them feel demon possessed and potential victims of some psychopath. In my mind's eye I can see a world of people that don't even experience death. I dream of love and the empty graveyard. I dream of unlocked homes and drive by kisses. I am a very strange man you might be thinking, but in the world I am speaking of, there is One Lord, One Christ, One Love for All to be in the midst of. No more reason to poison children with copious amounts of sugar; no promotion of evil acts and death; no excuse for being anything less than a good neighbor and friend to those who have no one... ever.

There is no them.

Look around and see those who are lonely and hungry. The elderly women and the fatherless children of our communities need more than Tricks and Treats, they need food, love, protection and ATTENTION.

Pay attention Beloved!

We can't ignore them and we mustn't forget them. There is no them as long as we receive them into our world of big bank accounts, luxury cars, and nice spacious homes. Look around. See them. Love them. Treat them to a Fall celebration that could potentially save them from their despair. Trick them into thinking they are loved and accepted and then convince them it's true. And may God bless your doing and your being what Jesus asks each of us to do and be.

(James 1:27) Read it!

jb

Silence

it matters not what season

of life i'm in right now,
there's more than one good reason
to let silence show me how

to hear what i've needed so to hear
and with much more clarity,
that life is really, really good
it's not meant to be a rarity.

being alone, for me,
was hard for many years.
but in silence now i see
that i was blinded by my fears

of being left, rejected or
abandoned by someone.
not being needed anymore
is not my style of fun.

fun for me was hard
on the one who gave so much,
that she's the one who's scarred
mine just don't mean that much.

and in the silence now
i'm hearing truth in love.
spirit showing exactly how
my freedom's like the dove,

able to soar above the din
of chaos, noise, and pain.
the things i did i don't defend,
but i won't do them again.

if i had another chance to show
my heart's been healed at last,
my love, i think, would finally know...
but that's living in the past.

there is no going back for me.
had to learn the karmic way.
though it's not meant to be that easy,
i've paid my dues you could say.

in silence now i'm reassured
that i'm honorable, good, and true.
spirit my soul has kindly cured
at last i feel brand new.

LUVWRX. Believe it!

My Next Move

sting of tears
relinquishing fears
all these years
love in arrears

i'm learning
with eyes burning
pages turning
as love's returning

it's my next move
and i choose love

not a curse
could be worse
in a hearse
my final traverse

back in the groove
with scars to prove
my next move
is one of love

it's my next move
and i choose love

shedding my skin
exposing to sin
no lose, no win
beginning again

no danger of fear
love oh so dear
feeling it near
truth to appear

it's my next move
and i choose love

peace my quest
no form of test
just find my rest
love, you're the best

nothing to prove
just my next move
heart does behoove
it comes from above

and it's my next move
so i choose love

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So Long Gone -- Love is Free?

six feet tall and bullet proof
or at least that's what I thought.
believed it all,
down came the roof.
your word I completely bought.

shame on you,
shame on me
cause you're so long gone.
i won't blame you,
so don't blame me.
damn.

once more on my own

i gave my heart away,
no cost to you did i impart.

my love was free

but as of today
there's a hole in my heart.

yet love is free?

well from shit grows the rose.
so it is with love i suppose.

if love is free,
i'd rather pay God for some guarantee

no time for tears,
my heart's on the run.
oh, burn away the clouds of fear,
and break through sweet sun.

stop this constant pain;
too hard to take.
i want to grow in love again.
people can be so fake!

yes, mistakes were made
with loads of regret.
if love is free, as has been portrayed
why are these eyes so wet?

cause love isn't free

if it was, it is no more.
no, there's a price that's paid.
it's keeping score;
my heart left in shreds

what now?

well...

i tore off the rearview,
and i won't look back.
i'll keep moving forward
and stay on track.

must protect my heart
but...

how?

by remembering True Love flows free
right here; right now

true LUVWRX. Believe it!

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I Am Not Afraid

Many of us are currently so ensnared by the grip of regret; some sort of fear-based, guilt-ridden, I did it again-type way of seeing our situation, that this "grip" has us literally immobilized. I want you to say to that Beloved, "I am not afraid!"

I am not afraid.

I am also not afraid to say to the darkness that, "I know who I am in the process of becoming. The dream of my Father will come to pass!"

We are created by and through Christ, who is the very nature of God. We are created with the same nature, and we can realize more of our purpose when we listen to (and live out) Christ through his Word in Micah 6:8, which states, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Whoever you are, wherever you're from, your God says that when you show kindness and justice, when you offer grace and acceptance, and when you set aside judgement and present genuine forgiveness through Love, all is well. Do this child, and you will see the "grip" loosen, the chains weaken, and the darkness (ego) drop its head in shame as it finds itself in the Presence of real Love.

Love is all we need.

Never believe the lies you hear, especially the ones you hear yourself saying. You are Loved. You are forgiven. You are accepted as you are. And you are so special that all you need to do right now is let go, and fall back into his Loving arms.

You are good!

There... don't you feel better now?

LUVXRX! Believe it.

It is You

It is You.

It is only You.

It has ever only been You.

And because of You, I am a better man. You have never let me fall. It is I who always chose to stumble. You always pick me back up, brush me off, and offer Your acceptance so that I might be made whole again. Though I will surely choose again in error as I make my way along this path we share, I know that I am never ever alone. I know that I will always have You.

It is You.

It is only You.

It has never been that it was not only and forever You.

Thank you for Your Love. Thank you for creating me with the certainty that Love is all we have ever needed. When I make the conscious choice to make Love and only Love my method, I am completely in You. For I have also been created with the certainty that You have always been in me. I am forever grateful to You, and I love You.

It is You.

It is only You.

When the earth crumbles, and all the galaxies fade, it will always and forever only be You.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

For in his eyes, it has always been you beloved.

It is you.

It is only you.

It has never ever been that it could possibly be about anything other than you.

LUVWRX. Believe it.

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Does Love Hurt?

Why do we feel hurt by Love?

Is Love the source of our pain?

OR --

Are our past experiences the real bully?

All our lives we've heard the phrase, "Love hurts..." And all of our lives we have believed it. While it may feel like Love is the bully, that kind of thinking denies that God is Love, and that is in conflict with scripture. (1 John 4:1-21)

Please read all of the above-referenced scripture before proceeding.

John is specific:  When we choose to believe that Jesus, the Christ, is all he claimed to be; when we choose to live in Love, forsaking everything; Love chooses to live in us. Yet all our lives we've accumulated our fair share of negative experiences that have helped to form our perspectives, our opinions, and our tolerance thresholds. All our lives we have allowed those illusions to blind us to how we come to believe what we come to believe. So instead of taking responsibility for our choices, then and now, all of our lives we have chosen to blame God for our circumstances.

That is a further denial of the truth of scripture.

Please read Galations 6:7-10, Job 4:17, and Psalm 36:5-9.

If we choose to believe we are loved by God, we lose the option of blaming him when we have a bad experience in love. That's a good thing. We are now in the ideal position to let Love off the hook and learn from the experience. God allows us to taste hurt to be sure. The truth is, however, he doesn't desire for us to swallow it.

Learning from heartache (it might be something worse than a breakup) gives us eyes to see others the way God sees them. We are then able to understand that we live in a hurting world. Those of us who call ourselves Christian have been provided the perfect template for avoiding further pain through the simple act of forgiveness, and we are expected to emulate it.

It is also not an option.

When we forgive, we deny darkness the opportunity to deceive us into thinking we've been wronged. Thus we avoid unnecessary pain. When we accomplish this, we see the perceived offense by another, not as hurting us, but as a cry for help.

Love cannot hurt us, and God is not against us.

Love is not designed to participate in pain except to serve as the cure. God would never allow himself to be called Love if there existed the remote possibility that He/It/Love could actually do anything to hurt us. However, he does understand that we blame him.

And to be sure, we do hurt. We hurt for various reasons, and pain in many forms and fashions is sometimes aimed at us by others. And even though we do sometimes hurt, remember this truth:

Love does NOT hurt :)

Beloved, we all want to be loved. It is only natural. So if you ever find yourself at the end of a relationship (or mean people are forcing themselves into your world), don't let Love go just because another person let you go, or another crashed into you. Instead, allow the God of Love to enfold you in his authentic embrace. Then (and this is the hard part) -- extend as best you can the same Love towards that person. Try it. Love works.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . . and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. -- Paul

LUVWRX (believe it)

What I've Learned

I fly a lot but I had a chance to actually drive to my job today. It was a day like any other day except for the fact that, as I was driving, a post popped into my head. I guess being a frequent flyer frequently induces writer's block.

It occurred to me that my being a newly-created 47 year old provides me with nearly a half century of experience from which to glean wisdom... or the repetition of all-too-familiar "oops events." And while you and I have seen the dreaded e-mail forwards with all types of quips about how after such and such time you know this or that, I have no desire to plagiarize. I may be unconventional, but I am absolutely original. So...

Here's what I have learned; in my own words:

1. LOVE is the only thing that is real.
2. Life is not measured by the number of breaths I take. Just breathe.
3. Some people will only love me with conditions attached. Just love.
4. Once I decide that I have it all figured out, I have quit searching. Ouch!
5. I don't know a thing, and I'm good with that.
6. Music is a gift from the heart of an artist. I want to make some.
7. Love is the ONLY thing that is real.
8. Memories are not the past. They're happening now. Pay attention :)
9. Resentment can kill me. Love can heal me.
10. Mean people seem to be everywhere. I don't want to be one.
11. I am myself only to the extent that I know myself. I want to be real.
12. If I look for it, I will have the opportunity to help someone.
13. Love is the only thing that is REAL.
14. Laughter is as powerful as music. Make some.
15. The act of forgiveness should never be an act.
16. If I believe me, I will be as healthy as I say I am.
17. I am loved, and I am worth the effort it may take.
18. I am thankful for all my experiences. They make me who I am.
19. Christ forgave his murderers while they were in the act.
20. LOVE is the ONLY thing that is REAL.

Peace -- jb

An Open Letter to My Son

I wrote this to Brandon as he was preparing to leave for college a few years ago. He is a senior this year. I had completely forgotten about it and as I was working today, I stumbled upon it. It is remarkable to me that this occurred because I had been having one of those days that we sometimes have when we are not completely centered. I offer it, as always, as a reminder for me and me alone. If you glean anything from it, I am blessed by that. Peace. -- jb
________________

Dear Brandon,

Somewhere it is written that the father is to give some final words of advice before sending the son off to college. I originally wrote this letter to you one day last week. It just poured out onto the paper. I have since read it about 10 times and I must confess that it looks like I wrote it to myself as much as I wrote it to you.

I wish I had known when I was your age what you will read below. I did not and that is ok.

At any rate, I want you to not read this until you are in a place physically and mentally where you have time to sit and think about the words. It’s ok to put this down and read it later. If you decide to go ahead though, just know that this is from my heart... here goes.

As I have told you many times, you somehow broke out of the generational trends that have existed for as long as there have been Bakers. I know I have said this to you a lot more in recent months and that is because you have also shown signs of being farther along in a spiritual sense than I had noticed before. I’m not talking about religion or church attendance. You have started a new thing that will serve you and all mankind, and will carry our name into the future.

It is important that you recognize this.

All your life I have had the honor of watching you -- I have blessed you, prayed for you and cried for you. I have memories that hurt because for whatever reason, I was unable to protect you from something that hurt you. All the while, I was being taught the role of "father." Those old memories have begun to fade as I now have the opportunity to watch you make your newest memories. I am comforted knowing that you make good choices and I like what I see in you very much.

Brandon, you were born with a "knowing" that is very special. You have a certain wisdom that transcends you and is far above the earthly kind of wisdom. What I am talking about is much deeper than what I had come to understand wisdom to be. It seems to come from a place I am only now beginning to understand -- a place of collective knowing that has always existed through all the ages. I can’t explain it, and, yes, it is included in the "talk" I’m going to have with you very soon.

I now know that true wisdom cannot be taught like I may teach a class or something... no, it comes from experience. We all have experiences and we sometimes learn from them and sometimes we do not. I am talking about something that seems to come from deep within us – from a place that was created by God and put there for a purpose. Think about this... it is worth considering how you will use this wisdom to help mankind as you discover why you are here.

You may not yet know what your purpose is. You may be in the early stages of discovering it or you may not really care right now. Either way, I’d like to offer some insights that I have learned from my own experiences. These insights have come from painful places many times and I’d like to see you avoid such delays in finding your complete self. Reading these may help you define your purpose.

Remember that Love outshines and will outlast everything else in all of creation. Whatever you think about, ask yourself is this from Love? For you see, thought is the creation of word and deed. It preexists all action and has the power to either hurt or to heal. Think about Love... pray, shout, sing and dream about Love. It is really that important. Do this and you will see your purpose for this lifetime as clearly as you can see on a crystal-clear blue morning.

Second, listen to your heart. Trust what you hear and test it against the standards you have been taught. Don’t go with the crowd unless the crowd has convinced you that its purpose matches or enhances your own. Never, ever compromise unless in so doing, you further the cause of Love. Remember the words of Jesus -- "Love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself." Treat everyone and everything -- family, friends, strangers, animals, plants, all of creation with respect and honor. If you do this, the Universe will reward you with the abundant life that is already yours... even if you cannot yet see it.

Be slow to speak and don’t speak at all unless it lifts up the person you are talking to or about.

Listen to what people are saying. Really listen on purpose, and you will gain a better understanding of where they are coming from. Remember that everyone has experiences, and those experiences helped to shape them into the person that they are. You may not agree with them and that is ok -- just don’t judge them. Everyone is equal in God’s eyes and they should also be equal in our eyes -- no one is any better than anyone else.

Even if you are in a disagreement with someone or even if they have hurt you, put yourself in their shoes and try to forgive them. Show patience and give grace. I assure you that all of heaven will stop and take notice that you actually put Christ’s teachings into practice.

Help an old person; smile at a stranger; bless the children you meet; be vulnerable -- now I didn’t say be weak. There is a difference. If you open your heart, you may get hurt, Jesus did, but you will grow and expand in ways that will make you a better person. Be humble. Thank God always and at all times with a truly grateful heart. You have much to be thankful for.

Be yourself. Don’t be something that is false and never be arrogant or mean. You know how to treat people, so remember that as your world begins to open up before you. You are going to meet lots of different kinds of people, and although you are a natural leader, college life will present you with a new set of challenges.

Son, you are the apple of my eye and such a powerful source of joy for me that even as I fumble to write these words my heart feels like it will burst. It is not easy to express these types of feelings because they are so very real and so deep.

I have never tried to influence you to be anyone other than Brandon. I believe it is an error for a father to put such pressure on their son. What you are today is certainly the answer to millions of prayers, but I especially want you to know that you are the fulfillment of all my hopes and dreams, and I am always here for you. You will never be so far away that I would not move heaven and earth to come to your aid.

Receive, once more, the blessing of your earthly father with complete assurance that I merely reflect the love of your eternal and perfect Father. It is because he loves me so much that he has allowed me to serve you in this way at this time. I am forever grateful.

May the sun be always on your beautiful face, with the wind of Love at your back. As you follow your dreams, may the road rise up to meet you and carry you to the greatest heights of completion. You deserve nothing less.

I love you.

Dad

Family Ties and Fine Porcelain

For many of us there comes a time when our friends scatter, and there is that inescapable feeling of abandonment. We sometimes use the term fair-weather friend in reference to people like that, but whatever we chooses to call them, I don't believe most individuals intentionally mean to cause pain in doing this. So let's be honest; it just happens. And when it does, it is very comforting that our family is there to help replace the hurt with uplifting support and acceptance. When circumstances seems to turn against us, family ties undergird us with all we need to get back to joy:

Love.

It is true that not all of us have this kind of support when we need it most because we just don't have any family. While this situation does exist I believe that God provides alternatives. I have had the honor of being a surrogate family member, and it was one of the highest honors of my life. If you ever find yourself in any situation that provides you that privilege, take it. You being offered to that person, as a form of family, in love, by Love ItSelf is a beautiful thing.

Mr. Glynn

I have written about my dear friend Mr. Glynn Luckie Mosley who recently died. His wife Opal collected porcelain figurines, and he went to the ends of the earth in search of the ones she would ask him to find for her. One or two were exquisite and some weren't even very expensive. They just couldn't be shipped from where they originated.

He Went Anyway.

I observed many similar acts of devotion, and when she died he gracefully allowed me into his then very private and isolated world, and he stole my heart. I weep as I write remembering I got to say, see-ya-later to one of my best friends. When I was told he would not respond as the result of a coma he suddenly fell into from a simple stint procedure, I walked in the room and he began to try and talk to me. He reached for me... I got to hug him, and it was the last time I got to do that. He died the next morning.

What's Next?

My friends, it is a different time we live in. People are moving in and out of each other's lives at record speeds. Some say it's another sign of change. What I know is that for every friend that leaves you, there is another waiting to enter your life and take you to the next level. If you're really lucky this new friend may turn out to be the one you've been looking for your whole life.

Ponder It. Things Change.

So when change enters your life, make the effort to greet it like an old friend. Don't resist; that just creates repetition of circumstances. Instead receive it like a gift, maybe a fine porcelain figurine. Exquisite in craftsmanship, breathtaking to behold as the hands that created it must have surely known that it was to be this way :)

God bless those without family ties, as well as those friends who stand and remain no matter what may come. And God bless us all as we continue on in our journey of discovery. Don't fight the things you can't control. Just roll with it Baby. Rest in the beingness of it all, and quit trying to do so much. Do what you can, but let the rest go. There is freedom in that. I love you!

Peace for your weekend, spend it with your family and friends. And may you always have Love in your life. Love is real.

jb

Everywhere I Go, There I Am

Friends leave. Sometimes there is no other way. They may choose to leave for various reasons -- job change, death, or sometimes they just run away. Whatever the reason, whatever the purpose, what remains is always the same -- I.

I am.

I am, no matter what happens to my circumstances. Happiness is not found outside of me. If I rely on relationships (or anything else) to bolster my happiness factor, I am forgetting my right to choose. I know I talk about this a lot, but it is so worth repeating:

Happiness is a choice; not something you get.

I observe and I learn. I am learning the art of being me, and it as simple as a choice. All my life I've been searching. That's what I do. Today I am reminded me that I have discovered enough through the years to be, do, and have anything I choose. The Spirit which is in all things, and emits the Love that underpins all that exists is alive and well in me, and my happiness is found there.

Love.

Because of Love, I am able to love. I choose it knowing full well that It chose me first. I am. And everywhere I go, whether alone or with friends, there I will be found. And I am here. Right here, right now. I am a little more awake today, and the sun shone a little brighter today. It is this type of perspective on Life that guides me in the way that is best suited for me. I am a lucky man, and I know it. Thanks for reading :) and may peace fill your soul.

I love you. -- jb

Love's Will Be Done

I often speak of love and things related, and while I am no stranger to it, Love is a mystery waiting to be unraveled. I allow music and the gift of the artist to assist me in that unraveling. In fact...

I am a music freak.

I find solace in knowing that there exists an artist who has the unmistakable gift of reading our hearts, and producing a work of art by which to prove it. Eddie K. of the band LIVE has a special way of expressing things. This song says so much, so well that I wanted to just share it.

I know one or two of you have already heard this song, but indulge a romantic and give it a listen just once more. This "official" video was done by a young man who entered a contest held by the LIVE fan club to actually create a visual for their fans who have raved over the lyrics. It is shot in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The scenery is surreal, nearly perfect, and the words... well the words are haunting. Allow yourself to go with Eddie as he, once more, says it just so...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqrDozjICPs

I love you. -- jb

Forgetting

I have been writing about conversations between me and a dear friend. His has been a journey towards inner peace.

He has arrived.

His failing relationship, which was the cause of his turmoil, has come to an end. He is now facing the future with head held high, free of the emotional tugs that kept him under the dark cloud of guilt.

My friend is strong, but he is also vulnerable to his own self-inflicted pain. It would seem that, for some of us, pain has a miraculous way of bringing about emotional healing.

My friend is healed.

Following, you will read two poems from another dear friend. These were sent to my friend as a way of assisting in the process of moving on. They are quite moving. I suppose even more so for those of us who have survived traumatic events of our own.

Allow yourself to become immersed in the words. If you've lost at love, then you will see where this talented writer is coming from. May you never have to endure such pain.

________________________________________


KINDRED SPIRIT

There are moments when like minds meld,
as parallel thoughts turn perpendicular,
only to collide and dissolve as quickly as they appear.

In this short span of time
expressions slide past tongues and into ears,
with the speed of a spine-tailed swift.

Here, where past transgressions are forgiven,
with the simple spark of a synapse,
or the stroke of a pen.

The probability of finding one kindred spirit
with which to share such painful pleasures,
is almost nonexistent in this life.

But, somewhere while traversing the depths of life’s vast sea,
my soul found in yours,
what yours found in me.


FORGETTING

There was a point where I thought I had forgotten you;

A point where present and past folded into each other like ribbons,

Bending and swirling in the breeze,

A point where time bent into itself,

Overlapping and overwriting as the second hand ticked quickly by.

For a brief moment, synapse and soul rejected my memories of you,

And I felt relief from the ache of the empty place you left behind.

Then, as quickly as I had forgotten the time,

I remembered your hand on your hair,

Your voice in the distance,

The gentle roll of your throaty laugh,

And then,

The moment when it all came crashing to an end was vivid once again.

Somewhere, memories still fold into themselves,

Waxing and waning like the flow of the tide,

Bound inexplicably by a silver thread to the pull of the moon,

Your center,
Your soul,
Your breath,

The part of you I sense when I slumber.

There is no explanation for this strap that tugs me toward you in thought.

Even in sleep, I find no solace.

My earthly eyes may close,

But the visions of your sweet face haunt me,

And always will,

Until memories overlap and overwrite,

And the second hand ticks off the last moment of my time.

Life Is Good

No matter what you've been told, all is well.

There are many of us who don't believe that statement, and that's a symptom of living in a world that reflects our thoughts back to us. Our thoughts become things. All is well. Think that thought. Just try it for a minute. Life is good.

Think. About. It.

For those of us who realize this absolute truth, freedom has arrived. There is nothing to worry about or fret over. There is nothing to fear. Believe in yourself and remember that you are a pure soul created in perfection. You have been placed exactly where you are to do what you came here to do. You may not know what that is, but it may only be because you haven't asked.

And it is ok to ask the question. It is ok to question period. But hey dude (or dudette), it's your life, you have a say-so in what happens so get up, get out and get on with life. Enjoy where you are... and you don't have to give up on your goals and dreams in the meantime. I have made a discovery that helps me a great deal. Here it is.

Are You Ready?

Decide to accept the life you have and be ok with that. Always have a burning desire for your goals to be realized, but don't miss out on what is going on right now. Enjoy now and tomorrow will reward you with more of life to enjoy. There is plenty of time. Time is an illusion anyway :-O

Love is the only thing that is real.

Make time for love, throw away your watch. -- jb

How To Begin To Overcome Any Problem

Before you begin to think that this is just another how-to post, think again. Let me state that I never pretend to have the right answer. I have my own experiences to rely on, and in the case of this post, on this night ;) let me just say that I have come to believe that the solution to any and every problem we face already exists within us :O

The Deepest Place

It exists in that place deep within us that is outside of anyone else's absolute knowing. It is indeed a collective place on the level of consciousness, while at the same time remaining that private, inner place that we all possess. Who do you think you've been talking to all this time? Do you get it? Have you thought about it?

Think. About. It.

There is no need to look outward (out there), to look to others for the answers to the questions that you already know the answers to. Be honest with yourself. Think. About. It.

We Don't Need No Drama.

Most of us can see (if we're honest) that we create the drama that permeates our otherwise peaceful existence. We lose it, and sometimes we make things worse than they are. But we can cut the whole crazy process short by consciously choosing to reduce our own need for rightness. We can simply allow everyone to have whatever opinion they have. I want my opinion to mean something. That's ok. You want your opinion to mean something. That's ok, too. I want to be understood. You want to be understood. We want to be understood. It's ok.

Think. About. It.

My God! Just the collective recognition that we all have a voice, and we choose to make things as they are seems to me to be enough reason to get together and see what our collective wisdom can produce in the way of solutions... but we are here to talk about problems not really being problems at all; aren't we? Can we refer to problems, then, as growth opportunities?

Growth Opportunities

How we see ourselves within a given situation is important. It is good to have a healthy view of self before we attempt to overcome something. We don't have to be a mystic or possess the ability to regurgitate the wise words of our favorite sage either. We need only take a moment to be quiet and listen to our own heart. Really listen.

Sit as comfortably as possible and calm your mind. Prayerfully allow the other voices in your mind to dim so you can begin to hear the Voice that is good and true. Don't make fun of this unless you've actually tried it and have a better idea.

God is always speaking, we just don't always listen.

Praying is praying. But there has to be some faith in the prayer. The idea here is to change the way you see the issue you are facing. Don't look at your perceived problem; see the solution. See the truth of your situation. Nothing is hopeless. Everything is possible. Prayerfully and actively visualize the current thing as being the way that would be better for you, and hold that image -- as you see it, not as you have heard it described by others. Believe that it can be the way you see it. Then... let it go.

Let It Go.

Once you let go of it and give it to God, you have sent the clearest possible signal that you are at peace with your current state, and you are ready to get up, get out, and get on with living this wonderful life instead of worrying.

Ask, receive, but for Hope's sake believe. For it is the believing that makes it possible to overcome. We are not alone in this journey. We are never alone.

You Are Never Alone.

Believing is critical to success in overcoming our issues of incompleteness, separation, lack, failure, etc. There is nothing that can stop you when you believe. Believe in yourself. I believe in you. And I love you.

Peace -- jb

Picture-Perfect Peace Post

Peace is the destination, love the vehicle,

and our thoughts are the fuel that will get us there...

if we choose it.

No need for rambling. The picture says it. -- jb

The Gratitude Factor

It occurred to me today that as we find ourselves in the midst of another holiday season, we should have many blessings for which to be thankful. If we approach this special time and find it difficult to come up with things that have blessed us over the course of the previous twelve months, then we should check our gratitude factor. I worded that sentence the way you read it on purpose.

You see, I have come to understand my ability to interpret and receive a blessing as being guided by my awareness of the good and true already present in my daily life. The fact that I am grateful for my excellent health allows me to be truly thankful for the overall health of my family. The gratitude I feel for the closeness of my relationships all year long creates opportunities for me to be openly thankful for all my friends and family during these special days.

My friends, I know as well that holidays can bring about memories that cloud our eyes with tears for days gone by. I have my own loss to deal with and this season brings back those memories. Allow those memories to fill you with gratitude for the times you had. Let those thoughts of loved ones be your motivation to make the most of the relationships that exist right now.

God bless you as we enter this holy time. God bless you as you contemplate all that you have for which you are thankful. God bless your memories of all that you have loved. May those memories serve as a reminder that having loved means never having to regret a thing. Love is all that matters... past, present, or future. And may God bless your present. May you receive the blessing in the present. And may you know deep down that the present is indeed a gift.

I will leave you with a link from Mary Robinson Reynolds, Author & Founder of Heart Productions & Publishing. I get these e-mails and they never fail to point my heart and mind in a positive direction. I fully understand how difficult the holidays can be for some of us. I am one who has first-hand experience with loss. Allow this short video to open you up to the good and the true that exists all around you. Read the message and/or scroll down for the movie. It will make you smile. Click here -- http://www.makeadifference.com/Success/081124.htm

Peace for the season, love for your family, and thoughts of gratitude for the everyday. -- jb

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know thy self

i know you think you know you

i thought i knew me too

then i met "we" sitting here

and found it wasn't true.

what i knew i only learned

from others who'd been burned.

they thought that i as well

should join in their concern.

i did because i was so sure,

and i wanted to be as pure

as possible, but i wasn't strong

i was always too demure.

i have my wings now friend

and my heart is on the mend

i trust my mind, i will always be

true to myself to the end.

for you see i had to go

down that familiar road you know

leads to joy, hurt, love, even loss

yet it taught me how to grow.

so i saw my self sitting next to me

i said, "tell me how to be as free

as my mind says i am, and why do i frown?"

i was hoping we could agree.

then self said to me so clearly

that i knew i was taken sincerely,

"you are we, we are one, you've nothing to fear

and i love you oh so dearly."

so...

know thy "self" as the one

be it christ, buddha, allah, or sun

love thy god, love thy neighbor, love thy self,

you are good... so have thyself some fun.

no need to break man's many rules,

just don't follow any of the fools.

remember free is what we came here for

so give yourself and then offer your tools.

freedom from ego is why

you can't wait till "the sweet by and by."

i know that i can know myself now

and i can know "we" before i die.

life is really good my friend

so you are free to buck the trend

and live your freedom right here, right now

and maybe this world will never end.

-- copyright: jeff baker

for my dear reader friends: i write all poetry posts in lower case, no offense intended to deity. i have my rather elegantly understated-i'm screaming-no offense-type style of expression and i like it but i am always respectful. may i also remind you that as i state throughout my blog, for me the christ is my self, but my audience is as diverse as those that he chose to be with, in his day. from my readings in this wholly accepting blogging community i find my self becoming immersed in, i have learned even more about the many versions of the true self that exist around the world. i respect and honor each of them -- for they have gone out of their way to respect and honor me. remember, there is no them; whether you believe it or not we are one. god is one. we are one. so it is. one. one hope. one world... without end.

one peace. one love. one thought: namaste'. (look it up) -- jb

they love me . . .

as i sit with my coffee i see

that today is a great day to be

in love with this life

alive with this love

living free

as i sip from the cup i know

that tasting the moment aglow

with memories of laughter

smiles for those times

when friends take time to show

that they love me . . .

they love me

and as i close my eyes and sigh

i know that it's no lie

these friends are true

the truth is my friend

i am a really lucky guy

because they love me . . .

It is good to be loved. It is good to have friends. It is good to have friends to love. It is even better to be loved by good friends. Today, I want to say thank you to my PT family.

God bless you, and thanks for the memories.

Luvz -- jb