And Here We Are All Over Again

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth.Chinese Proverb
 Whenever a new year dawns upon us there is so much revelry and rejoicing and partying and the making of resolutions.  We view the New Year as a time to start a new beginning; a chance to become better as a person, to take challenges we have been too fearful to approach before.  As our thoughts become primarily retrospective we are all too aware of how short and precious our lives are.  I have heard elderly people comment, "I have more years behind me than I do before me"; However,  the truth of the matter is that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  The proverb tells us to eat, drink, and be merry but not at the expense of forgetting our God and our neighbors.  I see myself as a fortunate man.  I have a loving and understanding family, I have friends who I can talk to and pray with and discuss my thoughts with.  And if our opinions differ, we can still continue in a solid relationship that is based on respect and sincere love.  Friends, true friends, will not chide you for your beliefs. I have the greatest friends who honour my need to maintain a peaceful and stress-free environment. For this I am very thankful. 
 The morning is quiet and serene. We had a bit of rain last night or early this morning and it has caused a tranquility to blanket the entire neighborhood.  My David is home with me today.  He made his own breakfast all alone this morning, (under my supervision, of course).  He made pancakes, ham, and apple juice.  I love him so much and it is a blessing to see him excel daily after the doctor's despondent diagnosis of autism at age 2.  Many who have met David will agree that he is, indeed, an awesome child.  He will be 14 this month.
 As the Chinese proverb mentions at the beginning of my writing, the true miracle is walking on this earth.  It is not an easy feat.  Some people are never able to muster the courage to step out into life.  Yes, the world is unpredictable, harsh, big, mean, and a host of adjectives I do not have the luxury of reciting at this time, but you get the picture.  To those of us who have crossed over the threshold into living on this earth we have found that the utmost faith and belief in God is the beginning of our success and survival on this earth.  It is not an option, it is a prerequisite. On our journey we will also come into contact with both good and bad people.  We will have an immediate inclination to dismiss the very memory of our bad relationships, but as I learned in the military "we can learn from bad examples as well as good examples".   My prayer today is a simple one: I pray that all of my friends will slow down their breathing today and savor the richness of their lives.  Touch others  as if you will never see them again after today.  Let your kindness and giving supersede even your own expectations.  Do not look at the material possessions you possess for they will hinder you in your giving, but instead, believe that the earth is the Lord's and all that is within. He will provide your every need.  I recently witnessed this truth with my own eyes this past weekend, as well as several others.  God will take care of us as we care for one another.
 I am long-winded today, but what the heck. It's Friday.  I love you all.
Dennis

Another Road Trip Inside

 Yesterday was a road day. To begin with, that morning I had an appointment on business.  Later that evening as I began to relax, my wife received a phone call from a family member informing her of their mother's recent hospitalization.  We simultaneously got dressed, got fed, texted my family members and solicited their prayers, and set our sights towards Mother.  (The rest is family business, but I will tell you that mother is doing better).
 After returning, I was somewhat wired, (as I always am after a road trip), but I forced myself to go to bed at 3:30 a.m.   When I awoke later that morning I was thankful that I had the will to get up and become involved in my family's beginning of the morning.  My life is being filled with people who were once lost to me. I treasure and appreciate the opportunities I have been given.
 I have come out of my African Room to sit on my porch (Yes Victor, The Porch).  My front porch, as well as every other room in my home, was recently transformed into a reservoir of laughter, singing, jokes and old stories from my eldest brothers, Junior and Alfred.  (All of my older siblings carry the history of my family of origin in their heads).  The holiday weekend we had just shared was one filled with priceless memories.  No camera could photograph the love and the joy and the thanksgiving we all felt as we congregated with  one another.  
 Let me describe my feelings this morning, (to those of you who are stuck behind some desk or are not able to do what their hearts yearn to do daily):

The air is full of frangrace
The sun is bright
a cool breeze blows continuously
A landscaper's tools buzz in the distance on a nearby lawn
And I feel contentment.

  I am most thankful to God to have been blessed to see my siblings again, as well as so many friends and extended family.  Of course, everyone; from both sides was not there.  We have a large family and people have their own personal reason as to why they cannot attend some events.  I'm not mad at them.  It's a definite right that we all have and it would be a more powerful right if we all realized it.
I believe that next year will be even more memorable.  For many years the only situation that brought the Fayetteville Spain Family together was a funeral.  We had witnessed the unexpected death of my mother first; years later it was my father.  (There is so much that comes afterwards that it cannot be written on paper).   I do believe that our recent gathering was one that will become an annual tradition.
 If you find the time today I ask that you do this one thing for me; Take a few minutes to look around yourself. Notice only the people and nothing else.  Can you find some type of common ground with all of them?  (if you are alone, simply imagine a person(s) and go there).  We all have much more in common than we think we do.  If we could only get past appearances.
I pray your day is blessed,
I love you all,
Dennis

Caylee

“If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience.”

I was poised to write about my family's recent visit to my home.  I was prepared to talk about how great it was to see my brothers and sisters, their children, and other family friends.  I was ecstatic about going into the recording studio with them to sing on a new track. I was ready to talk about the great time we had for nearly 3 solid days.  But today a little girl named Caylee was forgotten by our legal system.  You see, 3 years ago someone took her and killed her and her remains were found months later bound with duct tape and discarded as trash.  Her mother, Casey, did not tell a soul that her daughter was missing until pressured to do so 31 days after her disappearance, and after 3 years a jury has declared Casey "Not Guilty".  O.J. got away with his crime for a time, but God will have his say with Casey as he did with him.  It is true that you reap what you sow.  

 I will talk about my family gathering on another day.  I just want to give this time, this day, to Caylee.

May God have mercy on our souls.

Love you all,

Dennis

By My Own Hands

I am up, but I am still in bed. I awoke to a rainy morning. David and I are hanging out again today.  I have several things that I plan to do today but none of them are urgent. I received an email from a very dear friend with whom I worked with at the VA hospital.  She is the epitome of giving, as God would have us to be givers, yet she sometimes suffers ridicule for having such a devotion to God and His people.  We are living in that era that the Bible speaks of; a time when men will become lovers of themselves more than lovers of God.  I struggled with this permeating attitude for many years while I worked after my military retirement. It is only certain that the times that are upon us will only worsen.
In my back yard I have a built up garden trough with a trellis.  The previous tenants had painted it with the most ugly mix of colors.  My initial inclination was to tear it all down and be rid of the eyesore once and for all but my wife insisted that something could be done with it.  This weekend we went to Home Depot and purchased a gallon of barn red paint.  I painted the trough and the adjoining trellis as I listened to a gospel CD on my boom box.  Before long the trough begin to look almost brand new as I stroked, brushed, and rolled the paint onto its unattractive surface.  I must admit that I was somewhat proud of the transformation that was occurring right before my eyes; and even more so by the actions of my own hands.  Life is like this. There are many things in life that we desire, many things we may even covet because what we possess never seems to add up to what is "over the fence" on our neighbor's property. 
The truth is that we must apply our own efforts to our "gardens" to derive beauty from it.
Have a great and productive day.
I love you all,
Dennis

A Saturday Afternoon Meditation

I have been at rest for the last few days.  I had to listen to my body as it told me to replenish my mental and physical strength from events of the past week.  I normally like rainy weather and we have had quite a bit of it lately; with an occasional tornado touchdown. There have been several record-breaking events this year; floods, tornadoes, and fires alike. It all has somewhat of an apocalyptic feel to it.  This year's events can either cause one to cower in fear in the security of their home or stand boldly and continue to live their lives. Which shall you choose?
 
We had the funeral my neighbor, Dave today. Me and several men in my neighborhood were pall bearers.  I love my small community and the people who live nearby.  We have a private, yet friendly, neighborhood and that is exactly how the funeral was conducted.  So many thoughts transpire during a funeral.  Today I was able to look into my wife's eyes and tell her that I am truly not afraid to die.  I've not been afraid of death since I gave my life to the Lord years ago, but I have always been one to tell God how long I needed to live.  But He knows what is best and therefore I can only try to live without regrets. I live my life for God and me so there is no need to fear.  I used to try to live my life for others but that is a sure way to become lost and confused and sickly.  Every man must seek out his own soul's salvation. There truly is no time to try to please everyone else because you will only end up displeasing God. You will not always be popular when you go against the grain, but wasn't that what Jesus was referring to when he spoke of taking the narrow way? There is so much I can say on this subject but I don't feel like it right now.
 
I am thankful that God is allowing me to have my siblings and their families join us here at my home next month. I love them so much and I look forward to seeing them again.  I believe the Lord will bless us with a great and loving meeting.

I pray your weekend is well.
I love you all.
Dennis

For Whom The Bell Tolls...

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

-- John Donne

I had a good morning.  My wife went to work at an earlier hour than usual so I was able to make breakfast for our son and take him to summer camp.  Later I went to the recording studio for a couple of hours to begin work on some new material.  I had lunch on the way home and decided to take advantage of the climate and mow the lawn. A thunderstorm was approaching and the weather was overcast and breezy.  I finished the front yard and moved to the back which is much larger.  I picked up the pace lest I get caught in a sudden downpour of rain.  As I was midway through the yard my elderly neighbor came out of his back door and approached the fence that borders our property.  I pushed the mower to where he stood and asked, "What's up, my friend"?  "Do you know my neighbor on the other side of my home?" he asked. "Sure I do.  Are you talking about Dave?" I inquired.  (I first met Dave when we initially moved into the neighborhood.  Dave, like me, was retired Army.  He was very hospitable to me and my family.  We would sometimes see him and his wife taking a walk thru the neighborhood). 

"Dave died this morning", my neighbor said.  All went silent around me and suddenly I was vividly aware as to how heavy I was breathing.  He told me that Dave had stomach cancer and had been diagnosed before we arrived to the neighborhood.  He was always so busy in the yard. One would never have known he was suffering from any disease.   "I didn't know if you knew him", he continued, "but in case you did I thought you would like to know", he said.  "Thank you. My wife and I will pay our respects later this evening."  My elderly neighbor turned to go back inside his home.  I started the mower and began to pray for Dave's wife.  It began to rain. I put the mower in the garage and came inside.

It was nice meeting you, Dave.

Dennis

Wilbert Spain, Sr

Father's Day is soon approaching.  I personally do not make a big deal about it for myself but my wife does.  Although I am very appreciative for the attention shown towards me on this day of recognition by her and other members of my family, this is the time when my thoughts are predominately of my father, Wilbert Spain, Sr.  My father died of cancer in 1998.  I was still active duty military but my family and I were able to come from Alaska (where I was stationed at the time) to attend his funeral in North Carolina.  I will not dote on any negative exaggerations or  rumored particulars of my father's life, but instead I will use this opportunity to love him all over again.  
I will love him for his 20 plus years  of service to our country in the United States Army.  I will love him for marrying a sweet young girl from Durham, N.C. with whom he fostered a family of seven children; 5 boys and 2 girls.  I will love him for the rough times he and my mother went through but never settled for a divorce.  I will love him for keeping the family together after my mother's untimely death at a young age, even though he had not a clue as how to be a parent to us.  After all, that was my mother's job and he was just supposed to bring home the bacon.  I will love Wilbert Spain, Sr. for liking his alcohol because it would help him forget and ease his pain and broken heart, if only for a short while.  I will love my father for his quoting of scriptures and his singing of Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge and others.  I will love him for his "jump off the kitchen chair"  demonstrations of how to execute a proper PLF  , (parachute landing fall) when he and his Army buddies would get together at our home on occasion for drinks and socializing and poker games.  I will love my father because he chose to remain in this world when his demons urged him to exit this life prematurely.
To Wilbert Robert Spain, Sr. and all the fathers who are deceased or no longer with their families for whatever reason:
Happy Father's Day.  I love you so much.
Dennis