Twins

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions” that was all I could muster. It’s strange how difficult it can be to express concepts so deeply rooted into your psyche; you’d think it’d be second nature. But, I’ve come to learn that it is a true reflection of your intentions. Are you really simply trying to share your story, or is there something else?

But, this time, that’s all I had to say. I was surprised; I’m not a judge of character, but I will try to measure you up; she didn’t strike me as spiritual. However, that moment for me was almost a spiritual climax. I had just found Joseph Campbell and learned of the Buddha’s story; I was fascinated; another hero to validate the human spirit. It was only a few days before that I had realized he would be an essential part of my spiritual journey.

“I have something I think you’ll like” she told me as she put down her beer and headed out of the room. I was a buzz. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can appreciate those moments when an almost perfect stranger seems to just get you. And then she returned with a small brown and black book with a beautiful white statue on the front, “The Dhammapada”. I have yet to master the skill needed to properly articulate my reaction when she handed me that book, “You can have it, it’s yours. You’re supposed to carry it with you”, but I will try.

It was serendipitous, but at the same time I wasn’t surprised. To me, this sorta thing had happened more times than I could count and at one point it was so intense I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do about it; it felt important, and it seems that it still is. But, in my simple nature, I felt and understood that the true beauty of such things is infinitely personal and nearly impossible to be understood by another. The only thing that can bridge this infinite divide is true Love. But, this being said, sometimes I’ve taken note; this seemed like more than a quirk of fate and closer to being reconnected with a long-lost friend.

Reading his words were like flipping switches on in the darkest corners of my heart and mind; those places that drove me, but yet I could find no one else supportive of them. He was that best friend holding a mirror to my heart. I missed him. With tears I thanked God and yet I’d never seen his face.

Update 4/13/10: more on this coming soon.. Here’s a quote from Michael K. Stoskopf that I just found looking up serendipity. “it should be recognized that serendipitous discoveries are of significant value in the advancement of science and often present the foundation for important intellectual leaps of understanding”. Is this serendipitous?

I’ve walked the line and the narrow path. When I have, I’ve been more progressive than any other times of my life. But, at the same time, there were so many around me I cared about that shunned me for not walking theirs and my progress was abominable for abandoning them.

I feel it’s time for me to truly return to the narrow path, for as much as I have tried to please, I have only abandoned myself. In love, I will return.

“Reciting a small portion of the scriptures, but putting it diligently into practice; letting go of passion, aggression, and confusion; revering the truth with a clear mind; and not clinging to anything, here or hereafter; brings the harvest of the holy life.” 20-4, Twins, The Dammaphada, The Buddha

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God of Fire

“The truth of any matter is undeniable; a truth that is denied is no truth at all.

thor

After reading an article on health care reform (I don’t need to reference it), I spent some time combing the comments; I couldn’t help but shake my head; then I caught myself and realized that I shouldn’t judge.

How is it, in an age of such mass communication, that we still end up barking at each other? How is it that we end up in such dark places with an infinite amount of knowledge at our finger tips? Do we not want to be better? Do we not want to be brighter? I wonder what would happen if some of us actually got our way? I wonder if we realize that some of the things we insist on being right would be tyranny to almost everyone who knows us?

“To look is not the same as to see, to see is not the same as to perceive. We perceive, really – on a higher, conceptual-functional level – only what we know, understand well and can give a name to. ” Zbigniew Czajkowski

As I’ve become a man, I know that before I can riposte I must be brave enough to open my eyes.  That being said, the very best riposte comes from the one who can foresee the others intent. We must have sure footing and we must know the objective before us or our presumptions will almost certainly seal our doom.

Jesus said, “I have cast fire upon the world, and look, I’m guarding it until it blazes.”

Many years ago there were so few of us, it’s hard to believe.  There was once an Earth that knew only a few human souls compared to the 6.7 billion walking the Earth today. At one point, we not only shared Earth with cousins of family, but cousins of evolution. I often wish I lived in those times fighting monstrous beasts with spears by day and fire by night; when families spent a millenia migrating over entire continents. Only the sharpest lived in those days; growing up was a right of passage; the elders taught the essentials, then Man braved life. For if he didn’t, he died, and his kind with him. And so, his elders gave him fire.

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July 20th, 2009

Often folks go to great lengths when trying to articulate their views. They write books, they give speeches, and sometimes even create grand epic plays that require huge multi-million dollar budgets. But, regardless of the their efforts, we often dismiss their plays on life as fiction; not worth a moment of our consideration. What is most unfortunate is that often the greatest of truths can be found in the  greatest of fictions.

The School of Athens

We are creators. Everyday we make choices that affect others and the world around us, but more importantly they effect ourselves and our own ability to create.  Imagine that with every word you’re creating a foundation. One required to make the next step. As creators we gather the means to build our lives from the experiences of our trials and the trials of the folks we chose to respect. Often we suddenly realize that the ship is sinking and wonder “How could this happen!?!”, “I tried so hard to take the right precautions!”. We’ve all heard the phrases “house of glass” and “house of cards”. These phrases express the most profound truths. What kind of experiences are we creating? Are we walking on solid ground or are we creating quick sand for ourselves and the people around us? That being said, we only know a “house of cards” would be a poor one through trying and realizing that we’re in need of something better.

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I’m here, So I write.

I stopped by to check out a new WordPress plugin I found this morning. So I thought I’d write a post and test it.

If you’re here you probably know a little about me and you probably know that I’m hell-bent on changing the world (I’m not actually hell-bent, but to some it may seem that way. I’m actually relentlessly heaven bent!). If you’re one of those none believers, don’t fret, if you can find one thing that went right for you and yours in the last hmm.. day.. then we’re definitely in the same boat! Good Job!

As some of you may know I’ve had a project on the back burner for some time. You might have heard.. “I want to start a non-profit blog that promotes music, indie artists, and citizen journalism”. Well, I think all my research, experimenting with New Media tools, and endless hours with my face buried in any Internet browser available is reaching critical mass.  That being said though, I am looking for the most effective boom, so it might be a few months before I actually pull the trigger.

Google_Account

A sweet piece of the puzzle fell into my lap this morning as I woke, sat up in my bed, and turned on my laptop to check my increasingly awesome google account.

I noticed I had a new friend over at Mashable, so I stopped by to check it out. One thing that I really love about work on the Internet is the complete and total randomness. Of course, on occasion, this can seem a little overwhelming, but sometimes no matter how hard you look for something you never can find it. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Anyway, I ended up at Mashable this morning and found Guzzelit. I’ve seen several of these types of services, some with a hefty fee; Guzzelit is free so I went ahead, signed up, and found a great RWW article on streaming music resources. At the top of the list was Grooveshark.

All I have to say is.. How have I missed this! Maybe I found it at one point and wasn’t impressed..? Honestly it’s the wordpress plugin that sold me..

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Life = Risk+Motivation

I have to say that I’ve been a bit foolish in my day. I also have to admit if I hadn’t been I would have been a fool. I’m 14 days away from my 33rd birthday and I’m wondering again if I’m not being a little foolish.

The truth is as I write this I feel as though I’m losing faith… But, I know that if I do I’m dead… The truth is I’m really just getting tired…

How many times have you heard the line.. “the quickest way to failure is trying to please everyone.” Well, my foolishness lies in the fact that time and time again I refuse to believe it. I suppose you could say that my childhood had something to do with it. But, even as I write this, I’m trying to put it in away that will make it acceptable for someone I might never speak to… Instead of just writing…

I know that I can’t please every person I cross paths with. I know this on a very deep level. But, that being said, I know that I should be sympathetic to everyone who I cross paths with.  If I see them falling shouldn’t I stop to help them up? Another point  is that we often try very hard to avoid someone because of a very shallow assumption. When in fact we may be blinding ourselves to a very real and much more profound danger…

But, I’m tired.. In the last year and a half since I’ve moved back from Colorado I’ve reconnected with my Mom and my Brother. And when I talk with my Mom or my Brother about my frustrations they both tell me the same thing… “You need to take care of yourself..” ..I guess what I’m trying to say is, that’s exactly the point I feel I’m at…

This pretty much sums it up..

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