Spring is almost here

Spring is almost here. We have had an unusual winter to say the least.
Going through a job search is a lot like the seasons. Sometimes one hits the season with a great deal of accuracy and sometimes the seasons come out false like this one. A hodgepodge of several seasons within one. Within a week, we will officially be planted in the season of Spring!!

This time is all about transformation, of us becoming better people, of being more beautiful buds on a tree.

May all be blessed as you live out the adventure and the gift of life that God has bestowed upon us.

Peace.

The comnmunal Bridge!!

A communal Bridge for Christ.
As I am listening to a friend , Nick Alexander, talking on the faith from a catholic perspective, I got the idea that there is a communal bridge for the faiths. That is the one of the great truths of the Holy Scriptures and the truth tradition. At Pentecost, there was not supposed to be a division of the faith but a unity of the faith. For the language of the people was understood by God.
It was not a scattering of the languages as was the case with the tower of Babel.

More later.

Happy Leap Day to all. Leap on the bandwagon of faith. It is a great journey and ride to be on!!!

Courageous

The word courageous has many meanings behind it.

Last month, in our memoir class, Mary gave us a sheet with the Poli and Majestic Theatres and asked us to write about something that intrigues us of the picture.

There is a sign showing Captains Courageous on the Marquis of the Poli and Majestic Theatre that is boldly above the theatre.
This theatre resembles the Radio City Music Hall which has their shows listed on the marquis . I remember when I went to the Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas shows and the sign of the theatre ran up and down the building with red and blue lights. One particular showing of a Christmas spectacular was interesting that we went to .
I was 12 or 13 at the time and our family saw the Rockettes in their performance before a movie was to be shown. I was so fascinated with the performance. I asked Mom and Dad, "Can we stay for another showing of the Rockettes and their ensemble." Mom replied, "Yes, Scott, this is a great idea." We sat through this performance and enjoyed it thoroughly. We heard the music coming from the orchestra in the pit that rose up and down during their times of playing their pieces. Then we left the theater.
Nowadays, they only have the performance of the Rockettes and team in a fuller production. But it was great back in the 1980's to get both the show and the movie for the same price. I found that out when I went to a show with my Sunday school class one Friday night. The dancing was still spetacular but it would have been nice to see an old classic afterwards on the silver screen.

When I look at the building of the Majestic and Poli, it looks like the Grand Central station with its ornate architecture. In the picture, there are some windows that are open and some people are in front of the theatre. Probably the security guards or some shoppers that are awaiting the return of the bus. The scene of the empty sidewalk beckons for viewers to come to see the movie.

When I was an adult, I had the opportunity to have a tour through the Majestic and Poli theatres. They had high vaulted ceilings and chairs that were decorated in royal reds. There were viewing boxes along the sides. The theatre had a lot of damage to it but it brought to mind how New York City saved the Grand Central Station from its demise. Now if only, Bridgeport could get some life back around this majestic theatre building before it gets knocked down. It could be a great central part of life and build many memories for kids and families as my time at Radio City Music did one Christmas a long time ago.

Yet, things change and they never remain the same. Exactly the way it is with the shows one sees. No matter what movie one goes to, there is always the next one to be viewed.

This summer, I went to a movie with my church friends to see the movie , Courageous. I looked forward to it for quite a while. It was well done with amateur talent but directed so that the viewer could identify with the characters and setting.
The movie dealt with officers at a police academy and challenges that they faced in their families and on the job. There was humor in some spots of the movie. As I learned throughout the movie, it is okay to laugh during key points of our lives for some very funny things come up as one goes about living ones life.
Afterwards, we gathered around our round white tables in our gathering hall at church and ate bowls of icecream with the scrumptuous toppings of strawberries, sprinkles, nuts and and syrup. A great way to end a very good evening with friends on the opening night of this independent movie in the second week of September. This was the last movie of the summer for me of which I got to see about 4 other good movies with my friend Nanci and it can always be a good time for a laugh as one whispers how a particular scene affects oneself. Especially when Nanci burst out laughing of how the character said, "my mom is going to kick me out" which resonated with her somehow.



Last night when I went to the exhibition at the Read's Art gallery for their open house, I saw a sheet of words that were added in different colors. I asked the artist, "how did your exhibit come about?" She said, "the exhibit came about by my including the word, evolving, on the four sheets of paper hung to the wall and I included some other words and let others add a word to the list." So I grabbed a green magic marker and wrote in smaller print the word, "Courageous" at the bottom of the 7 lines of text that were above it. Only realizing that it is the same word of a feature film by Spencer Tracy and Barrymore.
Today, the signs for movies are not on billboards outside the theatre but are inside the theatre as posters that line the walls as one rides the escalator up and down for the showings.

So indeed, life is a journey that requires one to be courageous indeed. One has to be the captain of his ship to make every moment of life count. It is great to have these visual reminders of massive architecture to show what can occur.

odd phrases

Singledom

Be Still..and know that I am God.

I have always loved the verse," Be still and know that I am God." from Psalm 46:10. I have forgotten the context of that verse coming at the end of some rather tumultuous events. In the midst of those events that are ever changing such as wars and rumors of wars and the storms of life, God is there to calm those storms. Reminding me back to the Gospel of Mark 4:39 when Jesus said, "Quiet and be still" to the howling wind and waves.

In our lifetime, we are bound to face a rocky ride along the shore. There are going to be those storms that come against us.
Let us remember to take those times and to be still. It is almost like being in a boisterous crowd that takes a long time to be quieted down. But we need to remember to slow down and listen to the whisper of that Holy Spirit within us.

Only then, will we really begin to know who God is-beyond the general stories and the flannelgraph lessons from sunday school.
To know that mystery of Jesus=becoming man and still having divinity. Something that I can not unwrap fully. I wish I could.

I sure like to wander in thought and deed and find it hard to pay full attention. Remember it is Jesus and God whom we are going to spending eternity with. Wouldn't it be great to slow down and know Him well. To tell others about that great love as well.

Go in peace,
Grace as always.

Let freedom ring

It is hard to believe that Martin Luther King gave his "I have a dream" speech almost 50 years ago:a half of a century. Looking from his vantage point until now, things have changed some but the heart of the world still has a ways to go to become stabilized and off of life support. I identify with the time of his speech for that was the year when I was born. In the age of our rush to the moon and in our quest to find world peace. In an age when not much was known of the brain and how science was learning of its importance.

It was great that he had that boldness to declare that dream to the world.

His phrase of "not to be judged by the color of one's skin but by the content of one's character" is one of brilliance.
Looking back on my life of almost a half a century, I have seen the attitudes of some people change towards those like myself who get judged by my outward appearance. So it is not just color that we are judged. We are judged by perceptions on the outside of ourselves.

When I think on the word "content" I think upon the idea of a volume of work in one's life. It is almost like how we are forming our memoirs on these Saturday mornings and giving each other glimpses into our lives. How we sit at these blank pieces of paper and blank computer screens and blank minds and we begin carving where these words are going to come from.

That content is not always written. At times, it is spoken and at times it gets seen in our lives. I was reminded at a gathering this week, that our lives are written letters to each other. Our lives are our witnesses and that is what I think of activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. That collective body of people standing up for what they believe in. For even my friends have demonstrated that in getting arrested for what they believe in: freedom and being able to worship.

They really come from our souls and our collective consciences where we are able to share and be vulnerable and help reorient ourselves along the path of life if we have gotten sidetracked sometimes.

I was reminded by a new friend, Janet, who said that we need to have a clear path. She said that we need to crush the boulders into rocks, crush the rocks into pebbles and move the pebbles out of the way. For we all need smooth roads to travel across. I find it hard to walk along a path when my foot gets caught up in a pebble or stone. It just makes me move off balance and sometimes on my rear. They look great on a beach but not always on the roads or parking lots.

Just as we face the rawness of each day. That raw eroticism of the naked land-devoid of life and snow. Just bare. Of awaiting a rebirth. A rebirth of life to blossom in the springtime with the lush flowers on the countryside. A showing of life-a potential bloom in the making. That brush with life and tenderness as one looks upon the bud forming and the soft petal emerging. Of the birds gathered and the songs from the warbler's beaks. A chorus.


For Martin Luther King Jr. represented a tidal wave from the vast ocean. One of those rare waves that a surfer will get caught up in and ride the twirls and crests of the waves and hear and feel the crushing sounds of greatness crash upon each other. And balance in that controlled chaos which will end up as a gentle spume of surf on the shore.

So let us continue to develop that content: written and observed. And become the grandeur of the waves and the rebirth in land. And let freedom ring and continue to dream for his sake.
Peace.

Jumping out of the Box!!!!

Today is a day that I got a ten pack of boxes to consolidate records and make order out of chaos.
When we think of the cliche, we need to get out of the box, it is rather true. I am comfortable in its dark quarters where noone can see at times. But it can get rather cramped in those quarters also.
We are told to think outside of the box. I am aware of other walls that are out there. My question for dialogue to those who are reading is : How are we able to find and discern the boundaries that bind us and where is that courage to bounce out of the walls and jump to new territory given to us.

I was blessed to listen to a talk on Success 2.0 that Zig Ziglar and his son Tom run. It was given by Don Yaegar and talked on discovering greatness.
Michael Jordan failed to make his school's basketball league one year because someone else was chosen over him but he practiced and became one of the greatest basketball players even on the NBA court.

So let us jump out of our boxes to embrace more of what life has to offer and hit the 3 point shots and the magic swishes through the air into the net. For victories and huddles at mid court and times to wrap towels around our faces at the deep moments of defeat.

May all of us be blessed in the game of life!!!!

Cathartic Crumbs of Comfort

On Pierre Morgan's show, he had the parents of Christina Taylor Green who died on the Saturday in Tucson on the day that Gabrielle Giffords was shot.
It is a sad story but one of hope in that Christina donated her organs to several children and how the foundation has been able to help several schools update their technology.
I like the phrase that was used of "cathartic crumbs of comfort" for that is what comes out of tragic situations sometimes.
For all of our lives do have some element of that and for some peace to come out of situations is amazing.

They gave the website of www.christinataylorgreen.org for supporting her cause.

Feeling like an Acorn

There are those times when I just feel like an acorn. Times like these.
I do see the growth that is occurring within me. But as many have said recently in my job groups, the process of networking and personal growth takes so long!!!!

what I find amazing is that within that little acorn which has a compact octagonal shape is great storehouse of potential just ready to crack open and set down that first root and then from there grow a strong trunk and wide reaching boughs and onto those boughs form little arms with leaves sprouting from them. It can take 50 to 100 years to grow such a tree. All from a tiny acorn.

Lord, help me have the patience that I need to nurture my oak sapling and the other saplings that are in the forest of job or personal transformation. Let me water them with kind words and appreciative deeds so that a great canopy can cover us in this life.

Living in Advent

This is the time of year for the advent season. Churches celebrate advent for the 4 sundays prior to Christmas and then celebrate the fifth week on Christmas day or Christmas weekend.

As each candle is lit, we are being reminded of the importance of the four symbols that the wreath represents. The 4 four candles represent hope, peace, joy and love.
What a special way for us to remember this very special holiday for us as believers.
The warmth and the arrival of the aromas, flavors, and sounds of the season are very special and bring many people from all over the world together.

As we await for the Lord to come and whatever lens we look through this truth: from the Old Testament prophet or to the New Testament believer, may we approach Christmas day with that exciting anticipation.
As 2 Cor. 9:15 states, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift." In Him benefits spring forth from the eternal life that we are seeking.
Jesus has been called the light of the world. For one gentle flicker of his light and the sound of His Word transforms the depths of darkness into a spring of everlasting life.

From the first century wisemen that traveled from afar in the East to grant the new King Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Let us rejoice and be glad. That He has been given to us.
For that eternal life and that hope, joy, peace, and love often missing in our world.

Sustaining the weary voices and hearts of His visitors.
To stroll in that eternal dance of life.
Warmly embracing the King of Kings.

For just as God touched the shepherds, angels, and wisemen, let us do likewise on our advent journeys.

For Christmastime is more than a day to light candles, sing songs, and unwrap presents. It is a time to present our lives to Jesus and for Him to unwrap us as well.

Treasure it with your families.
Remember that God is with us!!

Incarnate.
Emmanuel.
Let us celebrate the eternal life of our servant King.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Struggling to open that door to Jesus as in Rev. 3:20.