Old and Wise

A young man consumed with a quest for truth and wisdom heard a story of an old and very wise man who lived on the peak of a volcano which rested on a remote island somewhere in the Pacific ocean. The man, obsessed with his quest set sail for the island to find the Wise old man and to gain wisdom from him.

The journey was long and arduous there were many times the man thought he was to be doomed along the way. Finally he reached the island and exhausted he fell into a deep slumber on the beach. When he awoke he looked around and saw a billow of smoke from the rim of the volcano, with much haste he climbed the walls until he reached the crest. There he saw a very old man in simple tattered garb peacefully smoking on a pipe of sorts, one that was fashioned out of coral.

Without forethought he loudly exclaimed to the old man "I have come to gain wisdom". The old man without looking up or missing a puff of his pipe replied, I was wondering when you would come, taken aback by this statement I asked what do you mean? Well, I have been waiting a long time for you; for me I asked? why have you been waiting for me? you and I have never met.

With that the old man lifted his head and as though a portal through time had opened I found myself staring into my own face. Who, Who are you I shouted as I slowly withdrew, I am what you seek,
I am wisdom!

I asked what do you mean you are wisdom and why are you in my image? He replied; wisdom is not a book you can read, a place you can go, or even a lesson that you can learn. Wisdom comes with Life and Life comes with living; the wise old man that you came here seeking is you after living your Life.

I finally understood that the things I sought could only come to me as my life unfolded and my experiences would provide me opportunities to gain wisdom. With that I set sail back to my home and pondered, was I the old man or was the old man me?

Pherhaps we were one...........

Your strength is your weakness

I had a reoccuring dream, I would find myself in a clearing with a small hill in front of me and a large stone covering the entrance to a cave. I would tirelessly push, pull and pound on the stone door only to be defeated in my efforts. After weeks of this I collapsed defeated in both body and spirit. Suddenly a man appeared riding on a simple mule, garbed in simple a white cotton tunic. the man asked may I help, are you in need of assistance? I replied It's no use I have tried tirelessly to move this stone and have failed every time.

The man asked why are you trying to remove the stone? I was told that all the answers to my questions, the healing and wisdom I seek are behind this door. The man smiled and said what you seek is not within this cave what you seek is within you.

Puzzled by the statement I asked what do you mean? The man dismounted his mule and sat down beside me and asked do you seek these things because you believe yourself to be weak? Yes, I replied, I search for strength and understanding. The man smiled and said the answers you seek do not elude you because you are weak, they elude you because you are strong. I know this for that is how I created you, your strength and pride keep you from the answers you seek. It is only when you lay them down and accept my gifts, my wisdom and my Love that you will truly understand and be at peace.
With that the stranger stood up and mounted his mule, as he began to turn and ride away he said to me, I made you perfect, the only thing in your way is you.
I awoke from the dream and pondered; was this a dream or was this my answer?

A Tribute to Mom - One Heartbeat At A Time

This is for my Mom, If you have been blessed with having a Mother that cares as much for you today as she did when you first opened your eyes and saw her face. Then please let her know how much you appreciate her.

Man of the Hour - Pearl Jam lyrics

I grow weary teaching the same lessons over and over again, are you people really that ignorant and aloof of things to come that you really do not see what is in front of you. You are burning the fuel in your gas tank and when it is gone there is no place to refuel. You will be alone on the road without shelter, comfort or solice. Carpi Diem "seize the day" make your life matter , regardless of it's current status. If you are Poor then embrace those around you, if you are rich then do the same, for the time you spend here will be the flap on a butterfly's wings compared to the the time you spend after here. I implore you to wake up and embrace life , say what needs to be said , do what needs to be done, love what needs to be loved and experience what needs to be experienced. A fool lives his life as a fool with no end, but a wise man lives his life as a gift with an expiration date.

Please don't be a fool, you will never regret the things you said and did in your dying moments, you will always regret the things you didn't say or do..............

Kenny Chesney - Way Down Here

This is for those of us that by chance or by choice, find ourselves alone, maybe broken hearted or maybe just broken either way your still alone. So if your gonna be down.. might as well be way down here...........:)

Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying

In the last 48 hours two Men that I admire and hope to call friends have experienced opposite ends of the spectrum of life, one has just had the birth of his second daughter and is witnessing new life and a hope for things that can be, the other is on his death bed and as I write this I am unsure of if he is still with us. Listen to these words, You have been promised no amount of time, and whatever time you are given is not given by you. Try very hard to spend your time on those things that matter and not on those things that do not.

As a side note both men are in their 40's and healthy, think about that when you assume you know what tomorrow has in store.

I Saw God Today - George Strait

This goes out to a dear friend, his wonderful wife and loving family.

 May your new baby girl bring untold joy to your lives and may she recognize what good fortune God bestowed upon her to have been born into such a family.