What Reading Held Out

I guess God has been trying to show me something for a bit. I read a lot, and almost all the books lately have sent the same message. Let me give you a list:

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
A Column of Fire by Ken Follet
The Cave and The Light by Arthur Herman
A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
The Templars by Dan Jones (my current read)

The message is we human beings do a lot of damage to one another in our disrespect for the freedom to have our own opinions, beliefs, and bodies. I do not go looking for messages when I pick reads. I read for enjoyment and to learn.

Some of the things these books have shown me, I did not realize. If you want to delve into it, grab any one of them. All are excellent.

We have been systemically eliminating people and demeaning them for the longest time. Maybe not you and I, but the race of human beings. I feel each one of us should make an effort to lift others up and ennoble them at every opportunity. The world is hard, and it tears at us. Even when we are not subjected to persecution or denigration, our selves can turn against us and bring pain.

Sometimes I feel I should not write or that I write poorly, but I love people, and I needed to say something. Differences make us gloriously unique and beautiful, it would be so wonderful if all of us began to celebrate the varieties of people we are. When we hurt someone else, we hurt ourselves, that should stop. Kindness, it brings smiles, and we are so precious, sharing smiles will increase our happiness quotient.

I am only me
You are steadfastly you, too,
But what together
We may become, can changing
History be much greater
Than we individuals
Can in imagination
See, for creativity
Prospers in community,
Love then guides humanity.

We are, this present,
Past hopes, prayer, bright future dreams,
The promise love brings.

This day like others
I have loved, slips smooth away
Like water over
Rocks which cannot capture it
Even for a brief moment.

As a prompt, create something, in whatever form that helps your awareness of how you can befriend and uplift someone else.

Three things for which I am thankful today: Food that nourishes me, Family and Friends who love me, and All the beautiful things with which I have been blessed.

I thank you for your visit, you may follow Haphazard Creative should you wish, or I hope you will return.

May love and smiles soften your journey,
Jo Ann

Poem

Out of the Briars

I know God loves me,

Well, I think; but the people;

I want acceptance,

But my life and I are all

A horrible mess, belong

Somewhere other, somewhere else.

Everything is terribly

Unfinished, broken, ugly,

And wrong, no good exists here,

Inside of me, I fear I have

Lost the will to continue,

To fight these battles, to live

In this mutilated mindscape

Where there is only constant war.

Still, there is this one, Jesus,

He says He is with me always,

He assures me, on Him, I can depend.

He DIED that I might be set free,

He is my Savior and owns eternity.

When I am tossed about

By vicious doubt, He often sends

Some little blessing, to remind

He cares and never has, not

Even for a moment, forgotten me.

I am a child of the King of Kings

And yes, sometimes I am unmindful,

Become depressed and downtrodden,

But one day, there will be a victory.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Observations

Someone on Twitter was told to go away and die. I wonder if people realize how absolutely horrible and devastating, it is to say that to another human being.

Words are immensely forceful. As the Bible says, the tongue has the power of life and death. The reason is words have meaning and can create states in our minds. In our world, the power extends beyond speaking to all we write.

I wrote something affirming in answer to the tweet, “You sweep that trash away. Realize you are lovely, valuable, precious, and needed. You have a purpose and a reason. Love and goodness are surrounding you. Reach out to those who appreciate you or go find people who do. Do not give up. You are so special. Bless you.”

We must be about a positive impact on others. Love is the only life, and we must each ensure others are embraced, encouraged, and inspired.

There is enough pain in the universe without nasty words, I mean words that break hearts and souls. People attempt to be tough, and that is admirable, but at the core, our selves are fragile. Everyone needs appreciation. The battles we fight with life do incalculable damage, the least we may do is be kind and loving when we interact. It takes a bit of effort, but it could change a life from destruction and disaster to blessing and love in action.

Do not speak, nor write, in the heat of anger. It takes self-control to master your rage, but we all know this monster is not one the world requires, at all. The old saying, if you cannot say something kind, say nothing at all, has considerable merit. If we remember, we can forestall unleashing much torture on others and ourselves.

Sure, we misspeak or write things in a moment of provocation, but if we consistently curb hurtful words, we can improve our communications; with us, the community of mankind becomes more tolerant and loving.

Further thoughts…

Life can break your heart in many ways, still, give your love away. The more passion you share, the fuller your heart, so you can go on giving.

When you hurt and suffer, do not give up, you are stronger than you know. Pain helps you grow in understanding. The experiences will equip you with wisdom to provide someone who needs help with comfort.

If you have doubts, do not quit. As you keep going, you will learn more about faith and trust. After you do what presented as impossible, someone else will follow your example to success.

The struggle is never one of us alone. Others go before, and others come behind. We see the ones who slay giants, and we are inspired to conquer those rushing at us with deadly focus on our dreams and lives. The precious ones who follow take heart from our devotion and victories.

All humanity is joined, and the future depends on you and I to carry on. We have meaning and purpose because every life is significant. God loves and adores us every single one. We are given for love, for life, for joy, for abundance, for all, and forever.

These were written in my journal, longhand, during the night. I find when I type things in that editing changes occur. I am less exacting in my journal. The journal is, however, a proving ground. I can be myself on the page, where text, it exerts some logic that I find challenging.

I hope you are enjoying your days. Surround yourself with love and beauty. Let no one dissuade you from the fact you are essential. As much as you may, eliminate negativity from your attitudes and your life. Gratitude is a source of solace in times of turmoil. Be mindful of the great blessings in your life. As Thanksgiving comes about, meditate on goodness.

I am grateful:

I have family and friends who love me.
There is such ample opportunity to live.
My dogs are good company.
I was able to accomplish a lot in the house during the week.
I have writing, art, reading, music, and more to help me maintain some balance.

You are priceless, always remember who you are, a precious being come from love and living love.

As a prompt: Write, or otherwise create, something that will encourage others to hold on and then, if you can, share it. You may find that in the creation, your spirit is lifted. This is one of the tremendous gifts of positive communication. It helps us float over the waves even as it prevents someone else from drowning in the depths.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you take away something that helps you on your journey. There is a follow button, or simply come back when you wish.

Keep yourself grounded in the present, but plan as you can for the future. It comes rushing like calvary, and you must prepare or be taken by the storm. Be well, do well, and God bless you always.

Always,
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Social, I Suppose

Decision Point

You like lemon drops
I prefer spicy red hots,
Can we still be friends?
Can our yellows, reds, mingle?
Do sour and hot speak, emote?
Would we need to shove
Our preferences, tastes, down
One another’s throat?
I think given space and time
We can share our love as friends.

Erotica Avec Moi

I want to lay you
Down on freshly laundered pure
White sheets, soft as mink,
Becoming entangled like
Stars in cosmic clouds gleaming
With passion’s light dew,
Sweet escaping sighs released
As we learn precious
Togetherness can delight
Lips and tongues discovered new.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Willful
Abuse
Radicalized

Every person is
Some parent’s treasured baby
Whose birth was an Event;
If blood is spilled, at what cost?
Tears drowning, an ocean flow.

Someone different despised
Loaded missiles in idle conversation
Tearing a visage apart,
No safety on which to depend;
Maybe driven reckless to an end.

Corporate priorities
Accelerating profit margins;
Hours near unending or brief, plenty of pain disregarded,
Limiting accommodations, promotion recommendations,
Eliminating benefits, cutting back, workers fail.

Pointless politicians
Preying on public insecurities
Inciting mobs, another election
A million to furnish the mansion,
People’s needs less meaningful than drapes.

A bevy of youngsters, college denied,
By fiscal lack or instability
Sent, the guns and bullets,
To lands that savor patriot blood
Above that of many others.

Pretty flags draped, we weep,
Coffins we must somehow bear
Some parent’s treasured baby,
Now gone forever, death’s deep sleep,
Departing others, the cycle repeat.

Me, the Dog, and Jesus

The shelter dog experience requires a great deal of patience (at least two I know of, do). Sometimes I look at this beautiful dog with some of the most aggravating quirks I have seen, and I think how I am also a mongrel. I do not fit the average design, but God chose me, just as He did you, to be who exactly we are. He has a purpose for every sort of difficulty I present to Him. Usually, I think He wants me to learn on Him to depend, instead of any faith I might place in me.

I do not run straight to Jesus as often as I should. My dog does not run to me, she creeps, or sometimes she has that sad, sad face that will break me open because, despite her craziness, I love her. She hurts me, I have scars, I had to wear a brace, she runs off where I have to go into strange territory miles away searching for her, and she does not always answer when I call. I am like this with my sweet Jesus too. He died on the cross because of me, that is some incredible injury. How much a disappointment it must be to Him, when He is certain He made it perfectly clear what is expected, and I go my own way, then creep to touch His hand, hoping He will fight my battles. Thankfully, He does not scream at me, as I sometimes do with the dog. He remembers that I am living a broken, sinful life, in a shattered sin-filled world and over and again He has mercy on me. My mercifulness leaves much to be desired with the dog, but we are working on it, and it improves in spurts and starts.

I do not recommend the shelter dog experience, but should you wish an object lesson on who our Father is, try it. As Alex told me, “Get a big dog, it’ll be fun, Mom.”

I do not know how my analogy stands up, and really I just wrote this off the cuff. Jesus knows I try to explain who He is to me, so maybe you will find a life with Him. It is the only life worth living and has a single promise of eternity.

The Wookie is the big dog, the tiny tot is Mom’s dog (mine now), Tribble. We might explore another story another day.

Just So…

This day may not go my way, but that is okay. I know there is a reason God made it that way. Maybe He has a lesson of understanding for me to learn; that others’ experiences when related, I might not as insignificant spurn.

Our lives are not a vacuum, they are part of the immensity of Jesus’ relation with the race of mankind. He imparts lessons through us to His divinity show. We may bear the impositions of our days with better resolve if we realize they are part of God’s infinite picture of grace. All things He works together to point our lives to Himself.

I am still here. I hope all you are well and experiencing many blessings. I am delighted that the weather begins to cool.

I am grateful to have finally gotten my Explorer repaired. It is a joy to have acceleration again. I hope you are enjoying comfort and prosperity. May the good always outweigh the difficulties in your existence. Love be with each of you.

Thank you for reading. Come back if you wish.

Always,
Jo Ann

Musing on Repair

This may get further treatment, but for now, it is.

I hope you are enjoying your day. I have QUEEN playing and am creating, so it is an excellent day to be alive, even with being alive a challenge.

I have a medication change I am adjusting to with some angst, but, I have meds, which is better than the alternative.

Gratitude List

I am thankful:

1. There is air conditioning.
2. There is food in the house.
3. I know how to read.
4. Writing is an extraordinary grace.
5. I found a piece that facilitated making a much-desired repair.

As a prompt, explore what you might do allowed to correct your worse mistake.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. There is a follow button, or make the journey back at your leisure.