What is joy? It could be many things. A clean conscience, or clean socks. Getting a stocking full of goodies for Christmas. Fishing. Running. Painting a picture. Watching an eagle fly or a fox leap in the snow. Many things can bring joy. I hope your life brings you much joy. I am especially joyful today, because my first eBook is set to publish on January 1st. I am thankful for the people who have coaxed me along. I am thankful for the time I can devote to writing. I am thankful to The Lord for giving us many gifts...the greatest of all: HIMSELF. Life changes, and we change also. It is good to make the best of every straight and every turn in the road. Not saying that I have always made the best of things, I actually have not in many cases. But I have tried. I do try. Hopefully, as a person ages, if we are not smarter... then at least we are more experienced. Many times we start things, and just never get around to finishing them. We run out of time or energy. I am so guilty. But in defense of the Starters, who are not finished yet, the Lion King Song "The Circle of Life" describes the epic battle we all wage: So TODAY I am celebrating the success of finishing this one project. I hope you can look back over your year or years and see the rewards of your efforts..finished or unfinished. Guaranteed, the path behind you has changed because you walked it...there is a rippling wake following all of us. I hope you can look back at it and see the wake of good ripples you have made. And look forward with joy and peace in your heart. Having motivation to keep walking on. It is customary to beat ourselves up constantly over what we NEED to do, or what we have began and not yet finished. Or maybe even what we NEED to BEGIN. We say we failed at this or that...perhaps some things are not even for us. Fish will usually fail at climbing trees...find water if you are a fish and then swim like crazy. Falling is not failing, it is an opportunity to learn and build muscles getting back up. It is an opportunity for others to be inspired by watching your process. It is an opportunity for others to put out a hand to help. And the helped, need to extend a hand to help farther down the road to someone else in the ditch. Life is a circle, a merry-go-round, don't let it sling you off and no shoving other people..remember the playground rules? As long as we are trying it is not over...keep breathing, keep trying. And history proves that when it is time we will, you will. Sometimes, actually always, the time just has to be right. December is not the time to plant corn in most cases....but when it is warm in spring - Get to planting that corn. Don't aggravate yourself all winter because you don't have corn in the ground. Even a cat crouches before it leaps. When it is time to be still, be still. When it is time to move, move. Now, if only Pj will do all of this....yes, I am trying. Still breathing, Still trying. Still a work in process. <><><><> ANYWAYS.....Looking forward into the coming year....I am planning to pull out more manuscripts and pieces of manuscripts from the dusty archives. And do some new writing also. The time is right for me for these tasks. I hope you are encouraged to do what the time is right for you to do. Have a happy ending of 2015 and a productive/successful 2016. And joy. Have some joy. Yours Truly, Pj Swink
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Contrast.
Black and White Dark and Light Dull and Bright Contrast. Neither an EITHER nor an OR Contrast exists only as an AND. Contrast is the edge of things Where the various opposings meet and sharply unite. Yet not blend. Thus the brightness of the line of contrast. Like Missouri and Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, United, yet different. Same, yet not so. The edge of sky, Where it touches the mountains and trees. The edge of sand, Where it finds itself embraced by the sea. The line of sky on the far ocean horizon, as the two merge into distance, only because of the limits of our eyes. The special place where the trio of sand and sky and water meet, As an ever-moving line. Moving Contrast, uncontainable except in a moment. And then, not really contained, but shared for a fleeting instant with a human hand or bare foot. Contrast... Consider with me the perspective beyond bland. Be brave with me as we hold up opposition for viewing, Not only side by side, But closely touching. The Left and Right as integral parts of the whole. Contrast is sharp and often extraordinarily painful. It is an edge, the vanishing end to a knife's blade. It is the point of the tearing of bandage from wounding. The coldest water at first touch of warm skin. The final jump of an eagle's feet from cliff to air. Unmixed separates together, ever defining the edges of each other. There is a beauty in contrast. Even a necessity. Contrast often is only a sliver. The sliver between here and there, this and that. Us and them. It is the point at which we realize we are searingly alive. And so, Overcome by the beauty of life's contrast we smile as we cry. Yesterday touching today as today runs into tomorrow. So often, and so easily, We immerse our own selves in what WE know. And yet, There is always another perspective. Valid or Not. Another. To know and appreciate our own perspective better, Can we venture to entertain the wearing of the shoes of another? The wearing of the ocean on the sand, May or may not change the sand, But does not destroy the sand. And conversely the sand rises up a standard touching the ocean, But does not annihilate the water. Fear is born and bred in the unknown. So don’t fear. Know. Watch & Assess. Decide. Know an opposing view, And thus better Know Thyself. Know better what you should do. Being ever mindful of the blessed line of contrast. Yes, a Blessed Line. Do you see? And with me you might passionately disagree, But yet, I will be friendly like the sea to the sand or the sand to the sea. It is the way I have learned to be. If you find it in your heart, Be like this with me. In all our contrast, we are human beings after all. Running the same human race together each day. Holding each of us our own ideals, carefully formed. Honed by the contrast we dare to see. Thank you when you contrast me. <><><><><><> Let me leave you with a quoting from One far smarter than I. "Matthew 5: (KJV) 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." ....Excerpt from “My Life as a Cup"......
And the eye said to the ear, “Dude, why do you not just look and see…..it is as plain as day to me.” And the ear, hearing the eye’s anger replied, “What do you mean? If you would just listen you would know how things are.” And the mouth was silent……because the brain had already told him that when the eye does not hear and the ear does not see….things are as they should be. Let it be. -------- We are part of a greater whole…..and not all will see eye to eye nor hear ear to ear. And this is okay. It is the eyes that see, the ears that hear, the mouth that speaks or remains silent, the brain that thinks, and the hand that both caresses and holds the mallet awaiting the move of the arm. We all have purposes, some similar and some varying. Each must know and do each’s own role….and avoid the role of another. All are necessarily linked into the whole. To find your own role, and to act within it to the fullest….that is peace. To find balance amidst the endless shaking…..that is rest. To be who and what we are each and every minute, regardless of and in spite of those whose role it is to stir chaos….that is the sign of our hope and our strength. To be overcome with love, and to continually sling fear away from us as sweat from our brows….that is God working within us. To be kind, anyways and always, is God working amongst us.” Dear Readers:
Thank you for your attention to my blog. I appreciate you. Also, I am happy to tell you of some recent success. The post “God Bless The Friends” previously occupying this space has been added to a collection of published poems and prose entitled “31 Scraps And A Couple More.” The eBook “31 Scraps And A Couple More” is available FOR FREE DOWNLOAD for a limited time via Amazon’s KDP SELECT Program…starting January 1, 2016. By choosing to enroll this eBook in the KDP SELECT Program, I agreed to make the digital format available exclusively through KDP, and for free, for a limited time to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. That would, of course, include this poem/post “God Bless The Friends.” Please Click on THIS LINK at AMAZON for your FREE DOWNLOAD. I am sorry for any inconvenience… And Again, I encourage you to download NOT ONLY this post, but the complete collection at the Link noted above. Thank you again for your consideration. Have a very good day. Pj Swink Just Saying…..the king is naked.
Disclaimer: I am not picking anyone. I am not judging the right and/or wrong of these things. I am simply pointing out some observations, just like the child in the story who looked at everyone oooohing and awwwwwing at the naked king’s clothes…. saying in bewilderment, “The king is naked!” Please do not be offended, unless you just want to be. Of course, be free to do what you want, you are free as I also appreciate being free. I celebrate our freedom to speak, and to agree and disagree. Know that I am not pointing at anyone, only at the general phenomenon developing in our culture itself. ----------- Just Saying….the king is naked when: The beauty of a woman is defined by actresses, models, and other women, on TV or print publications in full makeup, perfectly tanned and toned with access to touchups and retakes. Oh yeah, some even with surgically enhanced or de-hanced features also. If only I could add a few inches to MY stature, huh! Then I would be taller. How do us regular, ordinary, doing-the-best-we-can-with-what-we-have-to-work-with women compete with that? We wake up every morning with no makeup and bed-hair. I am suspect that those setting the standard for beauty have no makeup and bed-hair sometimes too. I just bet they do. What do you really think? When well, look, it is the same thing with the guys. The men on TV and in print publications that are so “Hot” probably make being and looking “Hot” their full time job. How does the regular Joe working all day to pay the mortgage, car payment, etc…. have the energy or time to tan and muscle up and compete with that standard? And also manage to spend quality time with the wife and kids. And lend a hand to help his neighbor. And all of that stuff he needs or wants to do. ?? -------------------- When police are not our friends, but are subjects to be taunted, ridiculed and disrespected. On this topic I think maybe the king has been naked so long that he has forgotten what clothes even looked like. Same for teachers….when did our culture make them a subject for mockery? I am not that old and I remember when we said “Yes sir. Yes Ma’am.” And we meant it because they were not only our elders, but held authority. The king is naked when those who protect us and teach us are disgraced and then the disgrace is celebrated. -------------------- Just saying. And although there is more to say about this….I am shutting up….because you either know what I mean and have examples of your own to add….or well, you have already quit reading because you think the king’s clothes are really super cool. The End Dear Readers:
Thank you for your attention to my blog. I appreciate you. Also, I am happy to tell you of some recent success. The post “The Short List of Exciting Things” previously occupying this space has been added to a collection of published poems and prose entitled “31 Scraps And A Couple More.” The eBook “31 Scraps And A Couple More” is available FOR FREE DOWNLOAD for a limited time via Amazon’s KDP SELECT Program…starting January 1, 2016. By choosing to enroll this eBook in the KDP SELECT Program, I agreed to make the digital format available exclusively through KDP, and for free, for a limited time to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. That would, of course, include this post “The Short List of Exciting Things.” Please Click on THIS LINK at AMAZON for your FREE DOWNLOAD. I am sorry for any inconvenience… And Again, I encourage you to download NOT ONLY this post, but the complete collection at the Link noted above. Thank you again for your consideration. Have a very good day. Pj Swink How is it that one leaf catches the breeze when none of the rest of the tree moves?
Have you ever seen this phenomenon? Can you with certainty explain it? On a calm morning, with birds chattering and zooming about between trees and freshly filled feeders, just as the sun is about to squeeze up over the mountains, it will happen. One maple leaf, dressed in its best red will flap. Pause. Then flap again. The remainder of the tree stands frozen as if it were in a snapshot. Did a tiny breath of breeze catch it and flip it like a teenage girl tossing back an errant curl? Did a bug crawl across or drop onto it and tip its balance, and then rebound from it as from a flopping diving board? Was it just my imagination? The sticky from the hackberry tree dotted the freshly painted decking. My house shoes made a peeling-snap sound as they stuck and unstuck each step. I was not thinking of the bob-tailed cat as I escorted the little dog around the porches to the yard. It was just breaking day after one of the first calm cool nights of autumn.
And then I heard him calling. It was not the normal spoiled “Meow” with which I was familiar nearly every morning, as he would cross the yard or road from the adjoining forest. “It was a Help Me I Am Dying Call”. It had the element of weakness. It noted distress and fear. It was a cry of pain. I knew something was immediately wrong and he needed assistance now, or may not ever again need it at all. I cut the little dog’s running short and called her back to the house. She would only be an added worry if she were allowed to “help” me in the coming rescue. She would be safe and out of the way inside the house. Pajamas alone are not appropriate attire for rescues, so I hastily re-entered the house myself. Changing shoes and acquiring a coat, I exited in route toward the frail cry. Dual ears are amazing. We are blessed to hear in stereo naturally. And by having two ears we can follow a noise to its source. I followed the continuing cries down the driveway and across the highway toward the mass of trees and colorful thick underbrush. I thought at first he was in the forest. But as I approached a large oak tree in the open before the forest I realized the bawling was above me. There the bob-tail laid across a limb half-way to the top looking at me. He was not sure if I was help or to be feared. He moved his head about quickly looking. I talked to him. He was searching to see if he recognized me as his own. He became convinced enough to begin descending awkwardly down. Something was wrong with his usually elegant climbing. Almost falling, but hooking a claw at the last opportunity, he swung downward, paused in mid-air and then dropped onto the ground. He instinctively crouched and prepared to bolt. I talked to him and he relaxed and straightened his legs. His left hip was stiff. But on closer examination I saw no blood or open flesh. He was jumpy. He was too jumpy to hold. When I tried to help him he moaned and hissed….not as to threaten, but to say “Oh man, I am hurting.” I encouraged him follow me to the house and then made him a comfortable bed for the day inside the safety of the house. Over the next few days he recovered into his regular arrogant self. We will probably never know what happened during the night. The neighbor told us she heard a scuffle during that night. We wonder if a passing car clipped him. Here at the foot of the Smoky Mountains there could be all kinds of predators present who would love to snack on a cat. Sightings of panthers, wolves, coyotes and foxes have been reported. It could have even been a raccoon. They can be vicious. Nine lives are handy. And so are claws for climbing trees. We will probably never know what transpired, and the bob-tail is keeping the answer to the mystery to himself. Wouldn’t it be interesting if they could speak in human? Well, yes…..except some of what cats had to say we might not want to hear. How to write? How do you help it?
Is it a matter of picking up a pen? Or maybe a typing exercise? Are you brave or fearful to share? Can you simply start to scribble? If not now, so then when? Can you speak in stillness? Will you share endless thought? Is it the result of long-term madness? If so, then what of releasing it? Will a part of self be lost? Will the words ever rest? Or will they morph into emotions yet unexplained? Is it a matter of if you can? Are they drawn out by their own likeness? Is it a rupture of the heart? If not here, so then where? How to write? Can anyone really say? The means, the mode, the direction; Can anyone declare the way? Does the means really matter? Is it a case of literacy? If so why, when many words are trapped inside minds? How they ache for the page or screen, Especially when they are mine. Dear Readers:
Thank you for your attention to my blog. I appreciate you. Also, I am happy to tell you of some recent success. The post “Regret” previously occupying this space has been added to a collection of published poems and prose entitled “31 Scraps And A Couple More.” The eBook “31 Scraps And A Couple More” is available FOR FREE DOWNLOAD for a limited time via Amazon’s KDP SELECT Program…starting January 1, 2016. By choosing to enroll this eBook in the KDP SELECT Program, I agreed to make the digital format available exclusively through KDP, and for free, for a limited time to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. That would, of course, include this post “Regret.” Please Click on THIS LINK at AMAZON for your FREE DOWNLOAD. I am sorry for any inconvenience… And Again, I encourage you to download NOT ONLY this post, but the complete collection at the Link noted above. Thank you again for your consideration. Have a very good day. Pj Swink |
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