Ain't It Good to Know...

Entering into this day, a desire of my heart was fulfilled; to rejoin more dear friends and make music like we used to! Well, kinda; we don't don't really do anything -- look, work, think, live -- like we used to and that's OK. The brother whose song and session I was invited to accent had come full circle to record a project he intended with the birth of his first son, some years ago. Dynamic as Life can be, his plans had to wait for the days upon us now. 

The soundtrack was so soulful and the camaraderie, infused with joy. Eventually, I entered the booth to sing his chorus and stood before the mic with the conviction to do well. As certain past-life lyrics left my lips, though, it was my spirit that was truly convicted. I dubbed his vocals as is customary to enhance the texture of it. I omitted some words on my tracks for the respect of it. I even added harmonies to deflect it. The blend sounded great, but no matter what I did, the uncomfortable feeling of even the slightest compromise remained within my gut.

In those wee hours, I asked the Lord for the humility and wisdom to search myself according to the Word. Some scriptures entered my heart as the rough mix was being engineered. Quite possibly I troubled the downtime flow in the room a bit with my need to offer more breath to the Truth growing within me as well. As the sunrise approached, we all parted ways and later, in silence, I received rest. When I rose, Bob Marley's birthday was being celebrated among the radio waves. His genre contemporaries at-large sang "if you run down your shadow now, you'll never catch it" and other melodies bringing the real "book of rules" to mind.

Rocking to the 'rockers' playing in the kitchen, my spirit was freed to know renewed and reinforced purpose by this lesson of shadow and light. As we move into God's Truth, we need not be hypocritical, ignorant, merciless to or enraptured by the essence of the past. Remembering where we've come from is a blessing that can strengthen our faith, especially when the previous territory has become so unfamiliar. It is then that only the light of Righteousness will clarify the lanes' boundaries and help us continue on the Way forward to new desires in Him (hymn, too).

rndm

"At even the hint of blood, healers and sharks emerge."


For the intellect(ual), of fear:
show < share with or tell    heal > smell

EtheReality

Yesterday, I pulled up in a parking lot, stopping the CD I enjoyably threatened to deafen myself with for a moment. In the seconds between turning the ignition off and stepping out, the radio played the same song I just parted with. A smile. Approaching my destination and walking to the counter, a man had taken his place beside me and attended to his own business.

Just then, another woman, Liberian in spirit if not nationality according to the little flag that adorned her rearview mirror, pulled up playing Mary J. Blige's 1994 insta-classic "Be Happy". Counter-man and I had a "Night at the Roxbury"-esque bop in stereo and laughed with each other at the random, innocent link before parting ways. Two smiles.

Later, a phone customer service rep and I discussed a matter. The cost she originally cited was a bit steep, almost ending our call and a particular hope with "Thank you for your help. Good bye." After an abrupt, "oh, wait a minute...", she mentioned the appearance of a rare, lower rate than either of us had expected. I jokingly told her that my ears were now registering her voice very clearly and we concluded our conversation in ever joyful spirit. Three, four, more...

Today's title bears more than an unexpected resonance with the name of this Blogger template, but a reminder that the unseen connects so much of our reality also. Righteousness, peace, joy and love as well as their opposites of foulness, pain, sorrow and hatred aren't necessarily visible as we encounter them, but the attention and response we give them are often what gains tangible expression by producing associated experiences. In the pursuit or as a result of any of these, we can choose to hurt or heal.

Sometimes we use machines for ease in either process. Even in those times when the bodily houses of our spirits operate as said machines, drudging away at tasks, it is great to ask for, seek and claim the Most High's guidance thereof, knowing, believing and knowing again that the blessing will be given and maintained only for the good of glorifying God.

A quick view of Merriam-Webster online reminded me that the adjective "ethereal" formally refers to what is "beyond the earth", "heavenly", "celestial", "otherworldly" and regarding "a chemical ether", the latter of which is often colorless, odorless and otherwise without detectable form in its airbound nature. What is now considered alternative medicine even considers ether a unique element.

Hey, the official fact that Luther Campbell is running for mayor of Miami-Dade County is arguably out-of-this world too!

Regardless, dictionaries, other such reference texts and the daily news are but a small fragment of Divine Knowledge, as it's deeply felt, lived and shared on the path to understanding. Matthew 12 is among the scriptures that powerfully teach the importance of our mindfulness regarding the Grace or ghosts we allow within our systems. I am so grateful for the Word and the Life it gives any receptive spirit.

Some time ago, I learned of a neighbor's complaint via our building's management that there was stomping and chanting reported from within my apartment at some ungodly hour of morning. In an instant, the place where I rested my head, the hardworking family downstairs' peace of mind, my engagement to a growing yet good gentleman friend and much of my attention for work and study were all compromised if not lost!

Outside belief and support in this trying time were so few and far between, which hurt even more, but any potential bitterness was rendered impotent the moment I placed myself in my loved ones' shoes. Some things really are stranger than fiction and require staunch faith to perceive then move past them!

The terrible fear, shock and upsets that the allegation caused (like the power behind it) were temporary, however, and are eternally conquered by the Truth which saw fit to make its way to my aid. As the only person with natural access to the residence at the time, my then "graveyard" shift job -- complete with cameras, passkey access and other living vessels working into the day alongside me -- bore the proof that removed me from such deadly folly. God be praised!

The experience was one of a few that finally kept me at the feet of my Savior with reverence and in turn placed His feet of peace in me, so as to walk worthily and upright. I didn't realize such a radical call was necessary to get what may well have been my cyberspaced-out attention where it belonged all the time, but I've happily stood still or advanced step-by-step every day since. After all, nobody told me the road would be easy, but I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.*

This century's virtual realm of vocal simulations such as auto-tune, photo retouching and failed servers is not flawless. I AM, however suggesting that upgrading the virtue of our lives in faith-full service to God, Is; Holy Will be manifest. With or without view, may we be rightfully guided to an untouchable inner lightness where we won't feel hard-driven to give of that energy with cheer!



* from the spiritual, "No Ways Tired"

grasshoppa say...

LOVE... as the warming
flame, like every expression
of the elements,

is universal
and internal. The Former 
is Eternal, One.

*

Amen.

[EditoREAL Note: Optimist that I am, by no means do I think one human word in the natural will account for or cover all the challenges and needs that the Winter's cold carries, especially for those without physical or spiritual shelter. I was inspired to humbly try my hand at haiku from my heart, though :) Love is first exclusive with its Maker then rightfully shared, my dears! Ask the Lord how you can best be of service and the way for you will intimately be made clear.]

Lifeline

"What is Man but soul and shell? Its life, but the colors of our sights and tears that leapt to die; the shapes of the hymns, hurts and surprises of our relations? Circles. Unless you rise above them, where you can witness the continuum with hopes that only Truth and Love will flow freely from both sides."

~ (c) 1999 Tara 'Nova' Thomas

TRINITY TALKS: Fibers in the Tapestry

In keeping with the healing tradition alluded to by Luke, may our act-ions and the thought essence they spring from connect us in a fashion that is pleasing to the Most High. The 28 chapters of Acts, authored through the above evangelist, is a suggested study focus for the 28 days of February.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

HEAL-THY: Self... Sufficient? (3 of 3)

I planned to complete a trinity

of healing narratives

with a focus on "me"

but a certain deletion has altered the need

for control even in that minor sense

Considering the 'thousand years' of hurt

that entered one day

there is so much... I should say

Grace

yet pays for the meals I partake

Of struggle, to You

my hardest is as a child's toy

Its understanding, an eventual, abiding joy

that every false lash up to bat on me

was long bound on Calvary  

Luke, the Bible's 'beloved physician' and one of the Gospel writers, shared a quote in his namesake book which has taken a life of its own, even outside the body of Christ: Physician, heal thyself! The Messiah showed himself strong by responding to the "massah" [Heb. test] with a humble gift of prescience that rebuked the devil while shedding light on some of the human condition all at once. He taught that temptation is essentially futile to the well-tempered soul yet, sadly, doubt and danger often seek to lurk close to home. The serpent is considered, in part, to be an ancient symbol of wisdom and healing. A single serpent on a rod hearkens to  

 

the mandate of healing forefathers such as Moses and is understood, with some conflict of opinion, as a predecessor to the winged, DNA-like 'commercial' caduceus more often associated with the medical profession. 

Even early barbers' bloodletting practice parlayed itself into similar symbology.

On the other hand, there is also the concept of the "snake in the grass", which is a dangerously cunning figure like the not-so-brotherly Judas via his sinister role in the events springing from two of the Bible's premier gardens. The following excerpt comes from a third, independent research piece from 2003 entitled "The Stranger on the Lawn" to offer another integrative approach to health and the environment (of our souls). 

Each weekday, the textbook American homeowner leaves home for his or her vehicle, [then leaves] the vehicle for work and vice-versa, ever vigilant to lock up along the way, securing themselves and property from potential harm or mishandling. Sometimes ear-piercing alarms, cameras and whole human surveillance teams are part of the equation, should an intruder become present.

With all the home and land security concerns going around these days, little do Ann or Andy Merican know that an equally harmful but terribly unassuming assailant lurks in watch from low places with every pass of the driveway, killing thousands slowly each year.

Scared? You should be, or at least quite concerned. And get this? Where once upon a time, this assassin’s arrival at one’s doorstep was considered the head of household’s fault, recent years have seen government sponsorship and even mandatory housing of the fearsome, foreign bodies. 

 I do not write of an educational exchange program from hell, but a chemical compound that has been commonly used in U.S. agriculture, public and private gardens and in [widespread], often aerial pest control since 1956.

It comes from a long line of well- and little-known career killers -- the chemical family known as organophosphates -- such as sarin (the nerve gas used in the Tokyo subway massacre of 1995), the ophthalmic agent isoflurophate and the family weakling of malathion, which, in addition to being found on your lawn and in the air any year the municipality decides that mosquitoes are bad, is also found in certain personal care products, like lice removal shampoo.

In a [case published in Vol. 36 of] TERATOLOGY, the over-the-counter malathion-based product was used by a 12-week pregnant woman, the newborn of whom was found to have defects caused by the agent. Various cancers and other systemic disorders are also linked thereto.

Appreciated as Luke's intelligence is, the supreme title of Divine Physician belongs to the Most High, in and through whom we all have our being. No matter how skilled or servile we may be to the outside world, we sometimes fall short of being good to ourselves. Such malignant neglect can take the form of overindulgences, lack of sleep, self-righteousness, not saying "no" when necessary, choosing or remaining in bad company, allowing fear to prevent good company, etc. Intentional and redeeming as it was, Christ's sacrifices might not fit the textbook description of high self-esteem. Both the egotist and the developing child might mock His stance, believing all is possible and vincible by sheer desire or will. Given enough time and experience, however, even the most lettered or daring of us learn that true Power and Wisdom existed before all we can survey, may show itself present in mysterious ways and will remain even past our varied last days.

The all-American way of total self-sufficiency, then, is a noble but somewhat false concept. In an arguably cliche sense, the "u" and "i" of unity is a must. What began as the first human affliction in Genesis 3:16 was redeemed at exactly the same time, so to speak, in John 3:16. The Divine sword created the most befitting pattern once again. Submission to God's will helps us cut our mess, whatever it may be, right out ~ without evil, danger or harm to any but the dis-ease!

In a summer 2010 correspondence with a team of youth mentors, I explained that "I consider myself a relatively self-sufficient part of an infinite network, ...[experiencing] and [expressing] energy via a highly individual, physical vessel that is undoubtedly influenced or impressed by countless stimuli [allowed through my filters] at any given moment. If I write a song, chances are, I am using a pen that I didn’t make or a pencil once part of a tree I didn’t plant or radiate and rain on, to craft letters that form words I learned along the journey." This was to show the understanding that while I am capable of their leadership, I am still able and willing to learn respectfully from even a babe. Small as I may be in grander sight of what's real, I can and will magnify the Lord as the One Who ultimately blesses and heals.