Living After The Snow Melts

  The weather has been bitterly cold this Winter.  I greatly enjoyed being at home and listening to music and watching a couple of movies. It's something I have not been motivated to do for some time, (even though my therapist and several friends have been encouraging me to find a way to do the things I used to love doing). I also decided to do a little bit out and around town today.   I went to an early movie and later enjoyed a good lunch. Not being ready to call it a day, I continued on and perused a few department stores; not looking for anything in particular, but I find shopping, in general, to be a blessing and a great comfort.  It also helps me to not to dwell on unpleasant thoughts.


  Two families I personally know have experienced a passing of a loved one this week.  On the other hand a good friend has celebrated a birthday on this day. Whether we live or die, life goes on. I have learned that in the area of relationships, as well. Some relationships live and some die but life must still go on. Several quaint occurrences have encouraged me so much this week. The promise of newness is so close it is as a sweet aroma in my nostrils. I am purposely holding several things close to my chest for I have had to shift my perception of some of my surroundings; but with me what you see is what you get. I am so proud of the distance I have come these past few months. I am especially humbled by what God has shown to me and done for me throughout all of this.  I haven't loved myself like this is a long while.  

  Beginning to blog again feels different this time around. I received a couple of phone calls as I began to type and I was glad I was able to thwart the conversations because in the past they would have caused me much grief and pain. Instead, I am looking forward to the dinner I will cook this evening as I watch the game.  There has been a vast amount of snow in my life as of late. It had me covered heavily; so much that I often felt petrified, unable to move, smile or find any joy in being alive. But I am glad I didn't let the freezing cold paralyze me. I am thankful for friends who came with their shovels and torches and scraped the snow from my lawn and showed me that the grass underneath was yet green.

  I encourage my friends who are spending a vast amount of time being overly concerned about many things, (If able, read the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:39-42), to let go and let God do what He does which is always perfect and right. Stay warm, travel safely and spread love.

Dennis   

  

The Start Of Another Year

Staying positive, focused and motivated is not always easy for me. Unlike some people, I have to work hard at it. It's a combination of several things; my childhood, my relationships, my careers, familial issues and more. I've discovered long ago that things which happen in one's life are sometimes traumatic enough to drive a person to acquire extreme behaviors, mental issues or addictions and without the help of true friends, a loving partner or a total stranger, (who has devoted his/her life to helping others through counseling and social work) some of us would, indeed go insane or succumb to a premature death. 

  No man is an island

No man stands alone

Each man's joy is joy to me

Each man's grief is my own

We need one another

So I will defend

Each man as my brother

Each man as my friend

-Joan Baez

  A new year has come. It is now 2018. If I told you that I cannot imagine what this year has in store for me I would be lying. Although I cannot predict each circumstance which may arise I can tell you that there are some things I am greatly anticipating because I have designed for them to come into fruition.  The usual "cast of characters" will also be before me in this New Year. You know who I am referring to; doubt, envy, hatred, rumor, slander, pain, ignorance; to name a few, but that's all right. They only exist to make me strong and through it all I must remember that my primary purpose is not to be an object of abuse or to be used by any person but, instead, to show the strength of God's love and with strength. 

  In 2018 I look forward to my visions and dreams becoming a reality. It took me a while, but I finally learned some of the lessons life has been trying to teach me for many years. I wish you peace, my friends. I wish you success in your good endeavors. I pray that you will no longer procrastinate in matters of your health. I pray you find the power to let go of whomever and whatever is stunting your growth and killing your dreams and aspirations. Let the paralyzing fear be cast out of your life and take that leap that you have been promising yourself you would take year after year. Explore more than your limited perimeter and travel somewhere new. Get to know new people and seek to understand others who don't look and act like you. Live your life!

  I love you all. 
  Dennis