The Long Way Up

Don’t think about it too much Just write your thoughts on the page as they come You know they’ve been piled up, scattered all over, and cooped up in your brain Let them out; let your mind breathe; give your thoughts more space Acknowledge everything that has been and release them Give your emotions exposure to the light of day Who knows what might come your way once you do You’ve thought about how much you’ve missed going to movies With friends like Archie, Mike, or one of the men you’ve mentored You’ve pondered about life perhaps not ever going back to what it used to be Certain that you do not want to revert to some of the old things Unsure of letting the others go You’ve thought about the utmost importance of times of solitude Especially when spent in the presence of God You’ve realized even more how valuable face-to-face interactions with people are The priceless moments you’ve invested into the lives of others way before all this happened And the future times you’ve yet to spend o...

please wash away the second continental obligation  meeting clothes differ discover the belly of a convict equip him to jump the problem reporter wheel a memorial contempt wriggle, tread, soar to the satellite flag the marketing cheat  with a handy provincial farewell proud, talented prince channel his major worry, and relate the flow of the hierarchy dominates his college  and turns heaven difficult and into an admiration of an aluminium attic remind them of the rock of grounds grandfather wrestled for scream off the myths roar for victory small traits

There is a need to state a few things more For a host of feelings and musings sore I'll say them soberly though not quite covertly I'm glad that we met until you tried to subvert me Ms. Understand, we couldn't see eye to eye My hands extended kindness but you went for a lie Not all affinities are subterfuge for some huge thing Now all's been drowned by a deluge of fawning Ms. Communicate, please think before you speak Your voice is too loud but your argument is weak The goodwill you've painstakingly tried to convey Came off rather sour as with all else you say Ms. Guided, you should have really thought first Look before you leap, or else get into more hurt No one made you a promise or gave you their heart You rolled the dice, missed a ladder, slid back to the start Ms. Interpret, you read me all wrong I had no secret agenda, but your game was strong Insisted there was something in my actions and words...

You are enough You do not need the superfluous trappings of fame Or the glare of a spotlight zeroed in on you You do not need thunderous applause to prop you up Because once that's gone, silence is all that's left You are enough You do not need people to hang on to your every word Or have droves at your beck and call; what for? You do not need the backing of the masses Just a few who truly want to walk and run with you You are enough You do not need to always be in control, or at all Or to know every single thing that happens around you You do not need to have your say in every situation Sometimes innocence and ignorance truly lead to bliss You are enough You do not need the fattest bank account in Zurich Or have five villas in Panchgani or Tamtattouchte You do not need to run after Aston Martins Because you are much more inestimable than that You are enough You do not need to have the highest paying job Or the m...

Everyone has preferences. As unique and varied as every individual is from one another, so are the many inclinations each of us have. That's just a given in life. It's as inescapable as the air we breathe or the rising and setting of the sun. Preferences are a fixed part of our existence. The assortment of our favorites and fancies, however, have become either a cause for coalescing in the interest of unity in diversity and appreciation of prevalent differences, or a reason for rejecting oneness for fear of inviting chaos into our personal spaces and possibly falling flat on our faces. One particular predilection that would usually have an unfavorable response from others is our preference for a specific set of qualities by which we might consider forming a romantic relationship with a certain person. We know this aptitude more personally -- and popularly -- by the term TYPE. Everyone has a type. Whether it's an affinity for smart, laid-back, athletic, or funny...

I'm still really astounded how some "believers" do not see nor understand the value of patiently waiting for the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan in and for the affairs of human beings. In the course of the last month and a half, I have repeatedly shared with different circles of my family and friends the story of how God orchestrated the events of my life that led me to the point of asking one of my best friends to become my girlfriend. In each telling of the narrative, I have emphasized the fact that we were first and foremost really good friends for about 16 years, and that the last three of those years were seasons of watching over our friendship, evaluating my attraction to her, contemplating a possible relationship with her, and praying to God for guidance through my emotions and in my decisions. Time and patience were always key elements in the story I was telling; that regardless of my chronological age and the level of my spiritual maturity,...

An exchange of thoughts and opinions. A shared laughter or a smile. An affirmation displayed through a listening ear or a pat on the back. These are some of the gestures that convey reception and relationship, which comprise the core need of a human being: to feel and be connected with another one and with one another. Whether between a parent and a child, a husband and a wife,  siblings and friends, or even with perfect strangers, people have an innate desire to form relationships where they can find acceptance, forge trust, feel safe, and foster happiness. Can I get a connection? The world has become not only a small place in the last few decades, but it has also become a busy one with too much to do with what little time its people have. As if a typical 9-to-5, five-day-a-week work weren't enough to keep us humans occupied, we had to go and add sports, hobbies, travel, and other pursuits into the mix. Because of this, making deep and meaningful connections with pe...

Arctic fever Blizzard sky Cryo eyes out Drizzled dry Ether grasping Frigid cold Grizzled feelings Haggard, old Icy pick ups Just as well Kill me softly Livid spells Mouth is fogging Nothing's heard Oscillating Putrid words Quickly freezing Running scared Somehow standing Thawing there Underwhelming Vapid mode Winter mongers Xenophobes Yeah... we're done here! Zzzzzz...

Sometimes it may only take a few encounters with another person to get a working knowledge about them: casual initial get-togethers, frequent run-ins in intersecting social circles, and occasional (literal) face time in front of (or beside) each other. In the last few months, our local church has had the privilege of personally getting acquainted with one of the country's more formidable and recognizable thespians. He has been in show business since his teens, has had a steady stream of acting gigs, and, by some twist of fate, has ended up on the shores of our island... and the doorstep of our congregation. Although in the past we have had people from all walks of life with varying degrees of notoriety and controversy come into the four walls of our building and (somehow, over time) into the corners of our hearts, this man's entry into our spiritual family was a bit more dramatic, metaphorically speaking: his big reputation has obviously preceded him (being a famous pers...