The Man in the Glass

The Man in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn't your parents-your children-or wife
Who judgement upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum,
And call you a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.
He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he's with you clear up to the end
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life,
And get pats on your back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears,
If you've cheated THE MAN IN THE GLASS!

author unknown, given to me by my daughter.
ctrygirl 2009 (pic from my ctry home area)

The Darkness WILL come.....

Ae you struggling with the darkness,
at every twist and turn?
Are you faced with indecision,
unsure of what collision
you will come across today?
Are you unsure of the way?

Do not feel alone my friend in need,
for many of us go unseen,
you are not solitarily there you see,
for so many follow and that is the key,
to knowing you are not so vastly isolated,
instead quite dilated,
in the numerous others that tread that path too
but they may not show it to you.

Just remember when the darkness falls heavy, hard and fast
that there are those out there ready to catch
ready with a helping and loving hand,
and lift you to a higher land,
of where you feel surrounded by warmth from the heart
believe me with YOU this did not start.

Seek those who can understand and truly know,
the depths to which a soul can go,
and yet revive itself through faith,
knowing that each are in their proper place.
Regardless how askewed it all may seem,
darkness is nothing but where your inner light can gleam,
and reach the outer edges of the realm
where others often have fell,
extend your heart and hand
through that murky land,
and soon you will see,
you were never alone in even the darkest of seas,
but someone who cares,
or has simply been there,
awaiting guidance or a caring hand,
and there you are, there you stand...
among the darkness with your new found friend,
even though you may never meet again.
You've made a difference that will pull you through,
the darkness that often overcomes you.

I've seen the pit and walked the course,
Often I revisit it without knowing the source
of my immediate plunking upon the floor,
not knowing why I've reentered here for,
yet ever upward I must look and seek,
that friendly hand offered so meek,
but once entwined will become united.
Never forget that you do not walk alone,
that lampless path, that dark winding cone
that sent you spiraling down to the darkness where you thought you were alone.

(a GREAT friend sent me this quote that I feel goes perfectly with this poem I wrote: THANK YOU GOOD DOG!!
"Problems are messages."
Shakti Gawain
ctrygirl 5 09 (pubdom.pic)

How oft we forget.....

Habakkuk 2:4
(4) " Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith

Matthew 7:2
(2) For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you

Oh how often we forget,
that judgement shouldn't be sent,
toward any soul upon this plane,
although you see it over and over again.

Why do we think that our way is right?
When there are those shivering in the night,
afraid of what lies within their minds,
fighting against it time after time,
every effort they put forth in the morn,
to face life as simply a "norm",
knowing if they don't don the mask,
that judgement awaits from those they expected it last.

But do we heed the written WORD or do we hide behind it instead,
ever justifying it in our own heads?
Empathy, Sympathy, Consideration and Compassion,
What will it take to make this happen?
I fear it would take others walking in the footsteps too,
of those they choose to judge and view,
in their OWN little boxed in world of perfection,
they sit and watch, for any deflection,
from the way they want others to be,
regardless of how hard the other may be trying to conceive
what is expected of them each day, each moment, each second,
to just fit in and be accepted.

Take the time to review your reflection
and perhaps you will be able to see your own imperfection,
yet don't be alarmed, don't be depressed,
for diversity the Lord gave us IS best.
He knows the way and never makes mistakes,
so never fear the shape your reflection takes.
Just view it rather unbiasedly,
and realize that it is the beauty you also see.
Now apply that knowledge to your friends, family and acquaintances,
and be at peace with your vast differences,
for that is what makes the world go around,
each one dancing to their own sound.

Just be still and know, be quiet and listen
for the wind and nature forces are whisperin'
let your true light and love show each day,
face what you can and duck out of the way
of those things that you feel are too intense for you at this time,
yet never judge or seek reason or rhyme,
for there are so many things in this world of mysterious ways,
that we will never be able to fully understand or to say...
we completely understand our path today.

So go with the flow, try to bend and not break,
for the Lord will always take,
the correct direction even if you seem lost,
just follow your heart at all cost,
but never forget to listen to that voice in your head,
ceaselessly whispering do not be proud and judge, instead;
be patient, be vigilant, be true
to the WORD that was given to you.
We all are children of such divine light,
to judge or to stifle another is not right,
for that would be pointing the finger in a direction you don't want to do,
for never forget, all was created by the LORD too!

(pubdompic) Ctrygirl 5 09

I'm thankful for All this and MORE!

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient.
Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; It has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked so many things over the years.
The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing, the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play.
Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.
Amen.
THIS SO EXPLAINED TO ME WHY WE ALL NEED TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THINGS!!! THINK ABOUT IT WHAT WE GET UPSET WITH SO OFTEN IS OFTEN WHAT SUSTAINS US!! NEVER FORGET TO BE THANKFUL!
(prayer borrowed from DailyOM 5/09)
ctrygirl

One of those small differences...

Even though spring has just begun, my husband knew that I was a little down one day when we were out four wheeling (probably because I wasn't talking incessantly tehee) but he was IN TUNE with my heart and mind and the state of my being. THIS is one of the small difference of which i spoke on my last post...just as I stared into the sunset, taking in all the diversity and beauty around me yet still in an internal slumped state (although that mask showed a smile)...he listened to my internal voice without my awareness of it. He knew that I just needed a little human touch of kindness out of no where...and here he came with a collection of foliage gathered in a bouquet for me. It consisted of fall leftover beauty mingled with new growth of the season. THIS is the small touches, the small differences of which i speak. It takes but a moment in ones day to change another's outlook or pull them from their inner turmoil....if only for a moment....that moment is PRICELESS!!
ctrygirl 5 09

One small difference...

I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they
are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small
difference after another.
- Ellen Goodman

So often we get caught up in the BIG projects in life, letting the small yet vitally important human touch fall to the wayside.

In a time of frightening headlines, disruption in the global world, and conflicting opinions/ideas/reports from the media no wonder we have lost the focus of what direction our paths are leading us.
One small step at a time, and as the wonderful ctry singer's voices ring from the hills singing "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus"...it renews my soul and reminds me of the fact that is all we have.
THIS MOMENT<
THIS PORTION IN TIME
to reach out and help another, to make sure we are doing all we can to balance on that straight and narrow path, and love each other.

Not in the sense of feigning goodness and charity to make ourselves look good, or get a tax deduction on our returns, but to simply be HUMANE to each other and look at your brothers and sisters of this world and reach out a hand somehow (even a word of kindness can go miles into the heart and psyche the the receiver) WITHOUT looking for recognition and praise or reimbursement.
If they need your coat, give it and with it give also a blanket without expectation of return or reward.

Never forget, no matter how down and out you may feel, no matter how the day may be turning dark or cloudy, no matter if you are at your lowest point mentally; there is someone out there in a situation worse than you find yourself.

The focus of this quote I placed on top of this post says it all....it's all in the small things we do for each other. A kind word, a virtual hand reaching out to help one in need, giving of material things (which will rust, rot and corrode should we worship them or be subject to thievery) without regrets in the heart.

No, we should not succumb to all views and ideas, meaning those that go against our morals, principals and ideas of the path GOD has chosen for us.
BUT we can accept and LOVE the diversity, the wonderful thought processes that have been given to us by a divine power, and respect the differences we see amongst ourselves.
For as the old addage goes...."walk a mile in their shoes".....actually there are times a mile isn't necessary but a simple moment in time to stop and think what has created the situation you find one in need in.
What has led them to their broken hearts, their bitterness to others, their judgemental behavior, and the prejudices they hold (quite often unrecognized by themselves even)? (And I do not exclude myself, for I know there was only ONE perfect person and it sure ain't me!!)
This post is simply to make one realize that a MILE is not always necesssary....a MOMENT may speak VOLUMES> for to place oneself in the core of another's heart, mind and life journey will inevitably give a more untainted view.
Just ONE SMALL DIFFERENCE AT A TIME can change a life, can touch a heart, can help heal the wounds that might not show but are inevitably there. We all could use that could we not??

(If you have never read the GOOD DOG Blog then I suggest a peek, there is a post further down on my site here that gives the address to it.....it is a glimpse into your OWN mind through the use of the greats and their intense knowledge and good advice)
...and remember to check the man in the mirror
...are you please with what you see? Keep in mind I speak of beneath the surface layer.....
The small things, the details, the things we would often take for granted or crush beneath our hurried pace, those are the things that touch the heart and heal the soul.
Look past the dark clouds and into the beams of light that peek through and penetrate the darkness, for they so resemble the masks we all don to present what we WANT the world to see not the shining child of light that we truly are...be yourself and be not ashamed for the Lord doesn't make mistakes and it certainly seems diversity was in his plan. Accept it and know even though it oft doesn't seem like it we are all quatumly entangled, all in a very fractal world, and a simple stone's ripple does flow quite a distance.