Remembering Those Things Which Brought Me Through

 

 

"Get Wisdom And Understanding; Forget it Not; Neither Decline From The Words Of My Mouth". Proverbs 4:5

  I awakened this morning with more energy than I usually have in the morning. There was an urgency in my spirit that urged me to get focused, get organized, and prepare to answer the call.  I am always concerned about my family's well-being and security, but it felt as if there was something more pressing to accomplish.

 A quick shower and a bowl of Frosted Flakes had me ready to take on the day. It was then I heard the television news reporting on a clothing and food drive to help the homeless and those in shelters throughout the city. I immediately got busy going through my closets to find any and all clothing that I no longer could fit into or no longer wore. Anyone who knows of my appearance when I was working can attest that my clothes were always clean and pristine; so I am proud of the fact that I am not relegated to donating worn, torn or outdated items. I did the same regarding the food pantry. We will collect the wife and son's items tonight so that we may deliver them to the shelter tomorrow. Like others, I have donated before but sometimes we need a reminder.

  As I've mentioned in earlier blogs, I come from a family of nine; seven children and two adults. I was what was commonly referred to as the knee baby. I wasn't the oldest child nor was I in the middle, as far as age was concerned. I was not the youngest either. I was next to the last born. To me this was always a vicarious position. Even before my young mind was able to properly process my feelings I had always felt somewhat out of place among my siblings. I was too young for the older siblings to cart me around on their daily adventures. The twins, who were a year older than I, had each other.  And I found no functionality in my baby sister as a playmate so I usually made friends with other kids my age in the neighborhood.

  Today I still vividly remember the encouragements and exhortations of my mother towards me. She never ceased in urging me to love books and reading. Perhaps it was only to keep me busy so that she could have some quiet time throughout the day, but I have always felt that she did it because she recognized something in me that needed to be cultivated. Through learning to love reading I discovered many things I may not have learned by merely existing as a child on a playground. Through books I learned of problem solving and through both the non-fiction and fiction I developed an understanding of fantasy, imagination, communication, reasoning and problem solving; all of which I greatly attributed to my successful military career among other things in my life. All that I am today I attribute to the continual encouragement of my mother.

  So why write of this today, you ask? It is because  early admonishments from my mother to "love reading" has allowed me to go elsewhere when I am faced with disappoint, uncertainty, despair, confusion, anger or woe. A good book or an intriguing article allows me to escape negative feelings, negative people and even circumstances which may seem out of my hand and allow me the opportunity to view my actions and/or the actions of others in a less controlling light.

Sometimes it is the things of old which bring us through the trials of today.
Have a good day.
Dennis 

Coming From A New Place

 

We're here.
I, and my family, have finally made it to Memphis, Tennessee. Oh, it's not as if we were targeting this area for years and now it has finally come to fruition; in fact, it wasn't even a distant thought. But, as fate would have it, we were given the  unexpected opportunity to come here to live. My many years in the military had gotten me accustomed to moving every few years. These days I absolutely abhor being displaced from my creature comforts and familiar environment, but it helps when the move is government sponsored; as this one was.

So we came to Memphis where we have no semblance of family and knew not a soul, but then we have the esteemed pleasure of knowing God and He prepared the way for us and set us up in record time.

I am looking forward to many great adventures in this grand city. There is so much history here such as the legendary Beale Street, and the FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies. I can drive by Elvis Presley's Graceland home at any time of the day and I can visit the Stax record museum in downtown Memphis. The Nike shoe factory is here, as well. The Lorraine Motel, where civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, JR, was slain is also merely minutes away. There is so much live music entertainment throughout the city and who can boast, (humbly, I must add), that the church they attend on Sunday has none other than the Reverend Al Green as its pastor. Yes, the Let's Stay Together Al Green of old. Each Sunday at his church is a veritable melting pot of people from all over the world who have made seeing Rev. Al Green one of the "historical" sites in Memphis. By the way; he can really preach.

Although some things change some things will remain the same. My gratefulness to God for keeping me and my family, my friends on Facebook, and this planet will forever remain. I have burned some bridges but have built new and lasting ones from the ashes.

I will now go forth and prepare my day.
God bless you all.
Dennis