Givers and Takers

“There are two kinds of people in the world: the givers and the takers. The takers sometimes eat better, but the givers always sleep better.”
Danny Thomas

:)

Crowded Thoughts

Some days, I don’t have any thoughts because
it’s already too crowded in there ….

How about you? Have you ever tried to enter your brain room and be told at the door that due to overcrowding, from those pesky, annoying little thoughts, you are not allowed entrance at this time? Do you ever get that crowded feeling within your own mind?
:)

copy paste not working

Due to the copy/paste feature not working I am not able to add new posts.....
If this keeps up, I may have to move my blog!!
:(

Early Bird Matinee

I love to wake up early and listen to the birds chirping before the sunrise. This is nature at its finest, purest moment as far as I am concerned. As a matter of fact, it’s now 4am and I already hear some birds chirping…. a full two hours before the sun rises!

Somehow, though, I don’t think this is what the movie theaters had in mind when they came up with the slogan, “Early Bird Matinee”!

:)

the Present Gift

A friend told me.....

Today is a GIFT
Because it's the PRESENT!

Something to ponder.....
:)

The ThunderStorm

You are such a wonderful person....

Life with you is like a day at the beach … perfect weather, family and friends are there; playing in the water, grilling and joking around… at the beach with a light breeze on a warm sunny summer day.

Life doesn’t get any better….

THEN, suddenly, out of nowhere, a thunderstorm rolls in and within a minute, all hell breaks out and everything changes…. the rain pours down, thunder and lightning all around, family and friends running for cover… the party is over. Mood ruined.

That DARK CLOUD is always on the horizon… always in the corner of my eye, ready to rear its ugly head…the change in mood, ready to roll in at a moments notice, without warning … to ruin everything…

So is life, WITH YOU…..My Luv…...the thunderstorm
:)

The Black Crowe

The Black Crowe
Sitting on the edge of the chimney
On the rooftop
Above the 5th floor
Watches the setting sun

Stoic and proud
He sits alone
Daylight turning into darkness
He redies for the night…

Groups of black crows fly by
Young and old
This black crowe ignores them all
Sitting on the edge of the old chimney
All alone

Is he young or is he old?
Is he you or is he me?
I wonder…
Readying for bed or readying for the end?

Watching his sun setting
This lone Black Crowe
Like great Indian Chiefs of the past
Wise, stoic and proud
Dies alone

jbm
:)

The more I am

The more I see
The less I know
The less I know
The more I see

The more I see
The less I am
The less I am
The more I see
ME...

...thus, the more I am

And u?
:)

Improving your own self

"There's only one corner of the universe

you can be certain of improving,

and that's your own self,"

-novelist Aldous Huxley

:)

Follow the Middle Path

Trust yourself ... and follow the MIDDLE PATH ... for along this path ... you will find salvation, you will enjoy freedom, you will see your true self but most importantly, you will become happiness.....
:)

Philosophy is Wonder

"Philosophy begins with wonder, and even now it is wonder that causes philosophers to philosophize. At first they wondered about the obvious difficulties and then they gradually progressed to puzzle about the greater coming to be of the universe. Whoever is puzzled and in a state of wonder believes he is ignorant .... (and begins to Philosophize) ....."

Aristotle, Metaphysics, 1.2 982b.

:)

Christian Torture

A recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals that the more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists. (it also found out that people unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it!)

According to the survey, white Evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified -- more than six in 10 supported it.
(And a higher percentage probably supported the Iraq war!)

Doesn’t seem very “Christian-like” to me now does it?

This makes me think about the Christian’s favorite bumper sticker, “What would Jesus say?”

Yes indeed, what would Jesus say?

As I recall, according to the bible, Jesus said something about “…throwing the first stone…” and then took it a step further with “Love thy enemy….”!

Funny, but that’s what I always thought Christianity was supposed to be about (Love) and not about supporting war and torture!

Oh well, what would I know about Christian (hypocrisy) … since I only grew up in the Christian Church….!
:)

Poem for Heidi

Poem for Heidi…

When I crawl
I crawl
When I walk
I walk
When I run
I run
But
When I dance
I dance with you

When I jog
I jog
When I skate
I skate
When I drive my car
I drive my car
But
When I ride my bike
I ride my bike to you

When I lay down
I lay down
When I close my eyes
I close my eyes
When I fall asleep
I fall asleep
But
When I dream
I dream about you

When I read
I read
When I think
I think
When I write
I write
But
When I write a poem
I write this poem for you

When I watch the sun rise
I watch the sun rise
When I feel the sun set
I feel the sun set
When I gaze at the stars
I gaze at the stars
But
When I soar to the heavens
I sour to the heavens with you

When I’m sad
I’m sad
When I’m happy
I’m happy
When I smile
I smile
But ....
When I love
I love only you!

:)

RIP Dad

Rising from the depths of the deep blue sea
Souring majestically beyond the red, white and blue sky
As it’s earthly journey has reached the end
This soul flies on

Once, not long ago
Or so it seems
This soul entered earth’s plane
A soul so vibrant so eager

Eager to learn
Eager to play
Eager for joy and
Eager for life’s game…..

The printed word became his playing field
Baseball to basketball to football
He knew them all
For the game was his game

And now the time has come
Time to begin anew

It's goals accomplished
It's earthly light diminished
Friends touched
Touched by friends

The tears are dry and gone but the smiles remain
Remembering…the good times had
The abundance for life
Never slowed…just kept on growing
For this soul I called Dad

Serenity and peace achieved
Stormy weather past
A light breeze is now behind him
And smooth seas surround him

As night turns into day unto night
This blinding sun, which years ago rose
Has set into the deep blue sea

For the sea is his friend
As it has always been….

RestInPeace, Dad
RIP…….

jbm :(

Have it, not have it

For it's better to have "it" and not need it
then
to need it and not have it!

jbm
:)

A stretched mind

'A mind once stretched has a difficult time going back to its original form.'

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Think about it....
:)

Melting Pot vs Boiling Pot

America claims to be the melting pot of the world and in many ways, this is true as it probably has the most diverse population of any country on earth.

However, from my own personal experiences, it is more like a boiling pot and its boiling over! With speeches of hate, prejudice and fear of foreigners being sprouted on a daily basis by politicians, religious “leaders” and resentful individuals, these non-truths are being accepted by the ignorant and educated alike as the truth according to the bible! This American boiling pot has become full of bigotry and hypocrisy. Blame for everything from crime to poor education to job losses and to the high cost of medical coverage is pointed toward those who “are not like us”. Let’s blame all of society’s woes on the Mexicans, the Muslims, the Jews, the gays, the liberals, the blacks and the list goes on and on and on….. The finger is always pointed this way and that way and over there, too, but never in the mirror! Blame is directed not at individuals but at groups of people: The Mexicans are the cause of it or the Muslims are the cause of it… No, this is not a melting pot but a boiling pot where the boiling hot water is splashing over the edge of the pot and burning the hand that stirs it.

On the other hand, where I work at, over here in Germany, a large part of the 150 or so employees are “foreigners”. Myself included. I have co workers from around the world including countries such as America, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Poland, Africa, Spain and so on….

In the year or so that I have been here, I have yet to hear any racial slurs or hateful comments directed at a group of people. We may not like certain people, but it is directed at the individual, not at his race or place of birth. This is the way it should be (in this context). We will not get along with everyone, but there is a certain amount of respect. Respect not only for the person but respect for all the diverse nationalities at work here in my company. I take my hat off to the management who hired all the people here. Not only did they hire a diverse working force from around the world, but they also hired Germans, educated and non-educated alike, who have a proper view of, a healthy outlook toward and an acceptance of the foreigners amongst them.

To me, this is a true melting pot. It may only be a small firm in a small city, in this vast world (that is getting smaller by the day) of ours but Americans can learn from this cohesive atmosphere here in this firm in Germany. This melting pot has many ingredients mixed in but it’s not boiling over and the end result has a flavorful taste about it….that benefits and feeds all of mankind in its own, small way.

This American boiling pot is harmful, as well, to ones own spiritual well being, while, within my own melting pot, as I talk to and learn from my co-workers about their homelands, about how they do things in their countries, I feel a certain growth about me. A growth that cannot be described in words but is a feeling within me… a spiritual growth, perhaps, as I feel that I am becoming a better human being along my jouney…..

So, be weary of these so called “leaders” around the world who shout voices of hate, not for the good of mankind but for their own gains, into the wind for they are leading their “followers” down the wrong path. This deceitful path they are creating will stunt your spiritual growth and the negative karma will follow you with its due restitution. Turn your back to them, reject them and embrace the way of the good and the compassionate heart that is within you for it will set you free to continue advancing along your own path of power, your own path of spiritual growth that will lead you to the truth and true freedom.
:>)

2008 unto 2009: Moving Forward

Ok, now that the holiday seasons are over, now that 2008 has given way to 2009 and everyone is back to their normal routines, its time to MOVE ON!

Take the time now to look back on 2008: reflect on the ups and downs, the positives and the negatives, the good and the bad… then MOVE ON!

What did we learn? What did we do right? What happened? What could we have done better? Honestly reflect on these actions, then put ‘em away and go forward! Just as 2008 is over and will never again be, so will the choices we made last year. We can not change the choices we made but we can learn from them for future usage; Think about the choices (good and bad), honestly reflect on them, learn from them and then let em go… 2008 is now in the past and so are our actions and choices. Learn from the past, turn the page and start writing the next chapter in the book of your life…...... and MOVE FORWARD!

"One of the hardest things in life ....

.... is to put the past behind you and to move forward."

Nobody ever said it was easy but we can do it!
You are not alone in this journey.

Have faith in yourself!

Best of luck to all in 2009!

Special greetings to Sophia, Rambler, Siegfried and Jim.

JBM

(:>)