Endless patience

Have you ever watched a cat stalk something? The pure patience of cats, in this regard, is impressive. They sit perfectly still (aside from a twitching tail) and track their victim with their eyes. Slowly, they move into position, glide forward when unobserved, wait and watch. Then, their muscles coil, their body bunches, eyes widen and breathing slows. The moment of attack is unexpected, sudden, and often successful. Being on the wrong end of such activity is unnerving, to say the least.


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This is a visual example of patience. We all have the capacity to wait, but many of us have a hard time doing it. It's likely because when we sit still, we feel the lack of movement in a psychological way. We get jittery, restless, and want to fill the silence with any sort of noise. I've read that if people are subjected to a pure white room, with zero noise at all, they go absolutely nutty. However, you can learn to be patient, and it's a skill well worth developing. Take a pause, catch your breath, and simply let the world whirl past. After a while, you'll find it refreshing to step away from the chaos of modern life.

Isn't it strange how when people actively escape the frenzy of activity, they are considered hermits, or worse? Sure, it's unusual, but why such animosity against people who only want a slower paced life? I don't know the answer to that. What I do know, is we live life at far too great a pace. There's plenty of reason to slow down and enjoy life for what it is. Not everything should be done in a hurry. My wife's father was the greatest example of patience I've ever witnessed, and he remains an inspiration to me to this day.

So, take the time to let the threads of life out of your grasp for a while. Bask in the silence. Pay attention to the world around you. You don't need to be a hunter to have patience, just the willingness. Maybe the results will surprise you, frustrate you, or encourage you. Patience is a worthy skill to develop.

- M

Going to the beach to avoid the Sun ...

My life is filled to the brim with curious oddities. I love meat, yet am allergic to bacon. I enjoy the outdoors, yet can't stand the heat. I love music, yet have sensitive hearing. Well, I've added another to the list: I go to the beach so I can avoid the Sun. Yup. You heard me right. Not the Sun in particular, but the massive heat wave we've been experiencing in the United States. I have lost the ability to sweat, so the only way to cool off (aside from shoving ice down my throat), is to let running water carry the heat away. The ocean works impressively well at that task, therefore the beach was calling me over ... the family came along too, I'm not a tyrant.

So, there I was, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, with a t-shirt covering my chest and a cowboy hat giving shade to my head. About the only skin actually exposed were my legs and arms. I'm happy to say I didn't get a sunburn at all. I did get a little red, from reflected light, but overall I'm unscathed. I found it interesting how many people did all sorts of things to avoid the Sun on the beach, like using tents and umbrellas and sheets. It's funny to think we travelled all that way just to cover up and ignore the blessings of nature all around us. But, that's what vacations are for! To ignore life and goof around with stuff that shouldn't matter, yet is so very much fun. We saw dolphins!

I try very hard to notice the tiny trinkets of wonder in daily life, but when you go somewhere new and experience things from a fresh viewpoint it really isn't hard at all. I'll be the first to admit that I get stressed far too easily, and frustration rises and I have a tough time maintaining composure (my wife is helping in that area, God bless her). Life is good, nature is good, family is good. We simply need to open our eyes and take it in. Maybe we'll go to the beach next year? I have no idea, but I am positive that I'll be covering up again and avoiding the Sun as much as possible.

- M

Sleep ... you are feeling sleepy ...

I've always been someone who enjoys being awake at night. We call such people, "night owls." Yes, I realize it's kind of silly, considering owls are known to be active at night, so why not just say "owls" without the "night" in it? I don't know, but it's the phrase. I love the dropping temperatures, the quiet atmosphere (people usually go inside and to bed), and the darkness. My mind is clearer at night, and it's when I get the majority of my writing accomplished. I love it. But, the night is when we naturally sleep, so I also run up against the need to close my eyes fighting against my desire to finish whatever I'm working on. Yup, it's tough being me...



Angel, our cat, absolutely terrifying!

Are you getting sleepy yet? I've read that yawns are oddly psychologically infectious, with the prodding being so powerful that simply reading about stifling a yawn is enough to make readers want to stretch and get out a good yawn. What yawns do for us is still a mystery, but our bodies love doing it and we sure enjoy the feeling too. I will say that when our cats do it, they look positively EVIL! Trust me, if you haven't seen a cat yawn, it will make your skin crawl. Yeesh. I think their real nature slips out a bit at the end of a yawn.

Our bodies apparently have a sleep cycle rhythm that impacts our health and happiness. I'm of the opinion that it's incredibly easy to break the cycle and throw ourselves into chaos. It's too easy to burn the candle at both ends, working late and rising early, cutting short our sleep to no good effect. At some point, our bodies must recharge and relax its burdens. Sleep is essential to our health (some very terrifying experiments have proven this beyond all doubt), so I am doing my level best to lull you all into a comfortable and leisurely bliss ... and then you will sleep without a care or worry. Let your eyelids slide down and carry you into dreams of fantasy and imagination.

- M

Sometimes, it only takes a birdsong to cheer you up.

All my life, I've relished the nature around me. Sadly, I'm often allergic to it as well, but I don't let that get me down. It's fun watching ants, listening to the birds, playing in the water, and finding shapes in the clouds. Birdsong is generally recognized to be cheerful and lovely to hear, it's incredible how they never miss a note and are constantly happy to belt their songs out to the whole world. Then there's the glorious sound of flowing water, wind through trees, waterfalls, smelling flowers, and the list goes on.

I wonder why we don't simply sit back and enjoy nature more often? We rush to and fro, doing many important things, yet hardly spare the time to take in the glories everywhere else. However, nature gets along just fine and is always there when we finally open our eyes. I heartily encourage everyone to relax in the glories of the natural world (except mosquitoes, the little winged monsters). When I was little, we took many vacations just to see natural wonders--the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, many mountains, the Great Plains, and even Carlsbad Caverns (a magnificent hole in the ground).

One of my great regrets is that I haven't given the same gift of experience to my children. Vacations just haven't worked out all that often, though we have had some. Spending time with your family is important, and if you can include a grand wonder then so much the better. Missing that, you can easily go outside, grill some hamburgers, and play in the grass. Then, sit back and find animals and teapots in the clouds. Nature is fun!

- M

The mind boggling complexity of everyday life.

Technology is all around us. The range of human invention is absolutely astounding to me. The lowly pencil is a marvel of engineering. Our dishes and cups are perfectly milled. Even the water we drink is carefully cleaned and processed to filter out the bad to keep the good. The wealth we enjoy on a daily basis is hard to fathom, even a scant hundred years ago. But, have you ever stopped to think how all this is accomplished? The factories that produce pencils are absolute marvels! I watched a documentary about how ballpoint pens are manufactured, and the technology is bewilderingly complex. For instance, the little ball at the functioning point of the pen is so perfectly made that there is only space for ink and none for air--and those balls are microscopically tiny.

I love to learn of the sequence of advances leading up to modern technology. Often, it's expansion and extension of already known ideas, pushed into new arenas and modified to work. The refrigerator is a side-effect of scientists working to discover absolute zero (a temperature so low that not even atoms jiggle about and no heat is found). The plastics we find in daily life is not the same we started with, but is a finely tuned product with a huge variety of strengths and capabilities. Even the paper we use is wonderfully suited to our needs, and we hardly give a thought to how it's made.

Many early science fiction stories used a plot of dragging a future man into the present, where people would question him and try to learn new technologies. These attempts would always fail, because even a scientist would not be able to completely detail even simple tools. After all, you can drive a car, or rebuild an engine, but could you give schematics and processes and tools for building one from scratch? Even if you did the design, there's the fabrication and metallurgy and skills to go along with the process. Today, I very much doubt any single person could be of much help to someone a hundred years ago, other than to offer ideas and concepts.

Isn't that amazing? We live in abundant times of sheer magnificence. Take a little time and appreciate what's available to you daily. We are blessed.

- M

Time moves so quickly!

Perception is a strange thing. For instance, when taking a test I swear the seconds turn into minutes, yet when I'm enjoying time with my wife the hours turn into seconds. How is that? The old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun" definitely applies, but our sense of time passing can't possibly be that unreliable ... can it?

When I was actively pursuing martial arts (I still do, but can't devote my entire activity anymore), there were certainly occasions during simulated combat where time nearly stopped and it was like being inside a Matrix film. What happens is your brain is so hyper-focused and aware that its processing at a speed totally abnormal to usual life ... which has the result of stretching those times to ludicrous levels. So, it follows that when you aren't as hyper-alert--such as enjoying a date with your sweetheart--that time simply rushes past without your awareness.

As we age, we tend to relax in our daily lives. The world isn't as great a mystery to us, so we let our attention slacken. So, again, the youthful have an advantage in time (though I doubt they feel the same way about it). What's fascinating is hearing people complain about not enough time, or things going too slowly. We all know that time doesn't change, so why fuss? Maybe it's because we regret lost opportunity? Perhaps we yearn for an event to happen? Whatever the reason, time isn't as stiff a concept as math suggests. Our perceptions color everything we experience, including how long it takes to finish a test, or enjoy a circus.

- M

Tough choices

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Have you ever faced decisions where there's no obvious right answer? How about times where no matter what you choose, it all goes wrong? Sometimes, life drops you in the dustbin and doesn't seem to care one bit about what happens. We all face tough choices, impossible situations, and moments of utter despair. What do you do?

Family, friends, and faith do a great deal to help, but in the end you still have to bear the burdens of life personally. Isn't it interesting how often people will say, "I know how you feel," and you think to yourself, "How could you possibly understand? You're not me." People want to empathize, to show their support, and usually don't know how to express it. I think life would be impossible without them and their shoulders to cry on. And, faith can give you wings even when you are defeated and crushed. Again, I can't imagine life without faith.

Tough choices are inevitable. I wish life had a specific instruction book for everything; put Tab A in Slot B. Wouldn't that make things easy? We wouldn't have to fret and suffer under the knowledge that we don't know everything. However, then we'd be only automatons grinding along the tracks of determined, with no self-determination at all. I guess it's the tradeoff we make for having freedom. Liberty is both a privilege and an enormous pain in the hind quarters, but I'd never give it up. But, at least we don't have to face tough choices alone.

- M

Budding flowers, growing grass, and the glories of the outdoors.

Around our area, things are budding and blooming. The tulip trees are lovely (at least until the first heavy rain knocks it all down) and grass is poking up from the ground. Everything is growing and lush, glorying in the sunlight and drinking in the rain.

I hate it.

Okay, no, I love seeing the beauty of nature, I truly do, but my allergies go absolutely ballistic with all the fluff in the air. I'm pretty much allergic to everything--except cats, oddly, but give it time--so the growing season is especially problematic. However, I can still find a good window and watch it along with everyone else. It's glorious and I miss being able to go out for long walks with my wife and lay in the grass. Well, life changes and I must adapt.

That nicely brings me to the topic of bugs ... get ready for the invasion of gnats and flies, wasps and hornets, bees and moths. It's a good thing we have bug spray. But, even bugs are fascinating. At the last state fair, I examined some really incredible displays showing bugs from around the world. The variety is stunning, and their beauty undeniable. Butterflies and moths are flying paintings, hopping critters come in so many sizes I could scarcely believe it, and we all know how gorgeous caterpillars are (except the kind that will actually kill you with their poison hairs).


Amazing, right? They are called Glasswing Butterflies
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So, yes, nature is flexing its muscles and bursting out all around. Enjoy it, while it's being civil and kind and beautiful.

- M

The best smells in the world

Are there some scents that you prefer over any others? For instance, many people love the smell of roses, or flowers in general. I adore the smell of the wax I use to protect my swords--yeah, I'm weird--the scent of rain in the air, and I love snuggling with my wife and smelling her hair. Smells run wild through our lives, and provide huge signposts for our memories. Massive industrial complexes exist solely to provide fragrances and other stuff that smells good. Have you ever taken a look at all the buyable things with artificially enhanced or provided smells? It's incredible.


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Love the new car smell? No problem, just go out and buy a bottle of the fragrance. Enjoy the wispy tanginess of a tropical beach? Here you go, beach-in-a-jar candles. I suspect there is no natural smell without a candle dedicated to it (okay, probably not an outhouse). Clearly, we value the smells around us, to the extent we even spray pleasing aromas onto our own skin with cologne and perfume. In the future we'll likely have the ability to exude these fragrances with a phone app controlled bracelet, or necklace.

Imagine taking a photograph that not only captures the image, but all the scents associated with it. How about sampling a cake just by pulling up an example on the internet and touching a probe to your tongue. Will it be possible to change the flavor of a simple sirloin steak into the finest Kobe beef in the world? Are we approaching a time when our very perceptions will be as virtual as the images we examine? Hmm, maybe, but I still will prefer the real thing. Nothing can ever replace the reality of leaning over and smelling a freshly blooming rose.

- M

Actions have consequences, right?

In stories, and in life, actions have consequences. Within the realm of stories, consequences are managed by the author, and hopefully reflect a reasonable outcome. But, it's amazing how often obvious consequences are twisted and molded to fit plot, rather than actions. I'm of the opinion that plot and character should go hand-in-hand. If plans, events, and consequences are not organically produced by direct character action, then the story can feel forced and unbelievable. Audiences need to dance in partner with the story, willing going along, and enjoying the rhythm. You can't force a dance--it has to be mutual.

I am King, watch me Dance!
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When a story is short, such as in a movie, these consequences stand out even further. One complaint I hear a lot about many modern films is the lack of punishment for misdeeds. If a hero acts in a criminal way, why should they be rewarded? Well, when the movie demands it, then the story provides it. Vigilante stories fit this method the best, and audiences love it and dance right along (just think of Batman). But, if things spiral out of control the fix is in and audiences see the manipulations.

So, is a story supposed to fit reality and it's unflagging consequences ? Well, sure, if you want it to. However, a story isn't true life and the author can fiddle with the mechanics. Again, writing is about crafting the best story you possibly can. Unless you're writing factual history, then playing with the odds are all part of the game. Just don't do it so much that the audience stops dancing and wonders why their feet are sore from all the foot stomping.

- M

Headaches are never welcome

Have you ever had a headache? If not, then have you ever been in a situation that can be classified as a "headache?" Probably all of us have. The phrase typically means that a situation or problem is tough and problematic. Dealing with such things are tough and make you rub your head in frustration. Headaches. Now, if you do actually have a physical headache, you have my sympathies because those are terrible.

Life isn't gentle, and life isn't fair. I think that should be stamped on the inside of everyone's eyelids (joking, of course). The point is, we can't escape tough situations. Yes, they cause headaches, but when we pass through them, hopefully successfully, we grow personally and mentally. Without difficult times, we all would be pathetic weaklings, unable to adapt to change. Stress is necessary to maturity--though constant, unceasing, stress is awful and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Why bring this up? Well, I see a current trend toward making everything easy and stress-less, with no headache-inducing problems. This won't help the next generation of young adults. I sure don't want my doctor to view my diagnosis through the lens of not upsetting me, or my auto mechanic to ignore my brakes because telling me they are bad would make me fret. No. Don't hide the truth, don't suppress the difficulties in life. Face the headaches straight on, get past them, and mature as a person. You'll be all the better for it, and oddly will discover fewer headaches in your future as a direct result.

- M

Faced by absolute reality

I've been watching a show called "Canada's Worst Driver." It's interesting to see how many of these demonstrably poor drivers argue how they are indeed very good. One activity on every season is a test called, "Know where you're wheels are." The goal is to stay on two narrow paths without falling off. The drivers nearly always state beforehand that they will ace the test, and some do, but then when the wheels crash off the drivers are mystified. There's a definite lack of perspective and an unwillingness to accept criticism, even when it's the undeniable reality of wheels falling off a rail and the only possible cause is the driver's own mistakes.

I'm guessing none of us enjoy criticism when we do things wrong. It feels bad to have our goofs pointed out, and it riles our defensiveness. However, it's absurd to deny reality and truth only to cover our feelings. At some point, we must humble ourselves and accept responsibility. This is maturity in play, and we hopefully teach our children to choose this path. I believe we only truly grow when we mess up and have to learn to do better. Mistakes are a significant key to victorious life.

Back to terrible drivers, I am happy to say that the majority on the show do eventually own up to their failures and proceed to learn a great deal. In fact, I'd wager they become fairly good drivers simply because they have identified their weaknesses and constantly work to improve. This proves how patient and longsuffering instruction is ultimately rewarded with success. I'm encouraged by the show. I'm happy to see people grow better. Mostly, I'm glad we aren't as stubborn in our stupidity as it usually appears.

- M

Hearth and Home and Fireplaces.

Until we moved into our current home, we've never had a fireplace. Sure, I've been around them all my life, but only as a visitor. Now, I wish I'd had one all along. There's something very special about sitting next to a crackling fire, snuggled up with your sweetheart, and talking. It's charmingly magical. Of course, most fireplaces do generate quite a lot of heat, so they do have a great amount of usefulness. But, for us it's mainly a wonderful luxury, and I'm grateful to have it.

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I've enjoyed campfires throughout my life. I've roasted marshmallows over them, sang songs around them, and fallen in love beside them. The romantic in me wants to carry a portable fireplace wherever I go, though that's not entirely possible. I do get to cook on a grill, so that's fun, but there's no comparison to the warmth of a fireplace.

One thing I've found very interesting about the fireplace is our cats don't seem to care. They've sniffed the heat, nosed the cooling embers, but haven't basked in the warmth even a moment. I'm not sure why. Perhaps they don't like all the reflected heat? Maybe it's the dancing flames that spook them? I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, they sure have disappointed me. I was certain I'd go to the kitchen to get a cup of hot chocolate and find both cats lounging on my seat. Oh well. Life isn't always fair, is it?

- M

The importance of story

Public Storytelling

Why are stories important? I've posed this question to myself many times. As a writer of mainly fiction, it seems like pure hilarity that such stories would have any lasting importance, yet fiction stories from centuries past are still with us. And, I'll go even further and suggest stories of all kinds are worthy methods to pass on knowledge, morals, viewpoints, history, and whatever seems important to the author. I think it's fair to say the modern world understands how advertisements are very persuasive, so why not even more a story we live with through hundreds of pages?

Stories make the lessons of life easy to understand, demonstrate situations we may never face, and provide context for all of it. When we walk in the shoes of the characters, both true and fictional, we learn to see the world through their eyes. Part of the nature of their character grows within us. That's why I think characters like history's Abraham Lincoln, or Tolkien's Bilbo Baggins, are so engaging. Stories are capable of changing perceptions, opinions, the past and the future. They are a powerful tool, and should be used accordingly.

Most of all, stories are fun and should be enjoyed. I love good stories of all kinds--even bad stories can be fun if you don't take everything seriously. Children love bedtime stories, to delight, terrify, and tickle their fantasies. Plus, stories excite our brains, open new pathways, and help us in many other ways. Yup, stories are life itself. Stories will never die!

- M

Origami ... where art and fun collide.

An origami rose
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Have you ever made a paper hat, or boat, or frog, or replica of the painting "St. George and the Dragon." Origami is the art of folding paper. I pretty much stopped at making a paper gift box, so I couldn't even call myself a beginner. However, I've seen some of these works and am truly astonished at the possibilities. There are pieces of origami so complex and artful that they are considered priceless ... wow.

Do a quick search online and you'll discover galleries of origami that will challenge your definition of paper folding. How is it possible to achieve some of these designs? I doubt I could replicate these things in clay, much less paper. Absolutely incredible. And, if you've examined how they are made--using wet paper, multiple pages, alchemy and magic--then you know how fantastically impossible they are. I honestly can't imagine ever doing it, even if I was immortal and spent all my days trying.

For these reasons, I find origami fun and enjoyable, but also a form of art that's impenetrable by most human beings. I'm sure most anyone could at least paint something on canvas, or carve a thingie from wood, or even screech out a tune on an instrument, but delicately folding paper into Chinese dragons and spectacularly lifelike swans is so far beyond those others that it's hard to believe anyone can do it at all. Okay, I admit to exaggeration, however origami is definitely art and I love seeing the really good stuff. I suppose it's akin to my fascination with Bonsai trees (also an art, but it's more like a dance within nature itself), in that I love delicate treasures. Maybe someday I'll learn ... maybe.

- M

Preparing for the next year ...

It's almost a new year, and so people are thinking of what they plan to do, what they won't do, and how they accomplish it all. It's time for New Year Resolutions, and measuring our past performances. Hopefully we keep things simple and realistic (so, no pledges to surf the waves of Jupiter this year), and truly plan to achieve what we set out to do. I'll be honest, I don't really make resolutions of my own--I just don't see the point--but, that might be changing. I do see value in making long-term plans (even though a single year isn't all that long, really). At least, take the time to consider what you'd like to do.

Some things are easy, like school and work and planned holidays. For me, it's the smaller things that are the most complicated. Why is it so hard to plan cleaning the garage, or seeding the front lawn, or organizing the bookshelf? It seems like whenever obvious road signs are available, then we let those set our goals for us, but when we must set our own goals it's a wrestling match we don't win. I believe that's one of the biggest reasons so very few become ultra-successful in life. People who set goals, strive to achieve them, and then set new goals, are the ones who get things done. Think about it, would you rather have help from someone who never completes anything, or someone who gets things done?

It's also tradition for a new year to bring about a clean state of affairs. It's like getting a do-over in life. Sure, it's just a tradition, but there's a great deal of truth to it. Once in a while, we need to let go of old failures, or successes, and move on to different things. A new year gives permission to do that, in a way that's as simple as a calendar. So, take the leap and jump into the new year with eyes closed, nose plugged, and feet braced. Who knows? Maybe you'll land in a pool of strawberry jam ...

- M

Special memories are worthy creations

There are times when you don't want to forget even a single aspect of something, such as: baby birth, your wedding, meeting a long-lost friend, birthdays, holidays, vacations, and the list goes on. The reason we do this, is because all we can really carry with us in life are our memories. No matter where we go, no matter how lost we become, no matter how old we get, memories remain with us. The really special memories are like glittering jewels, and we take them out from time to time just to peer inside and relive something wonderful.

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When my children were little, we actually had a complete whiteout blizzard (yeah, living in the southern United States, snow is special). My wife and I bundled up the kids and we walked through the snow, to get hot chocolates at the nearby gas station. The kids hated it, but I told them all to focus and fix this event in their minds, to form a long-term memory. Guess what? Today, they do remember, and remember with great fondness and joy. It's a treasured memory for them.

Why do I bring this up? Well, with the Christmas holiday in the next few days, I hope you will all find new special moments to seal into treasure boxes inside your memories. Gifts, food, and music is all wonderful, but really grab onto the times with loved ones. Capture those events. Ingrain them into your long-term memory. Realize the importance and make the effort to pay attention. Life is far too short to miss the really good stuff. Take a few seconds away from your busy schedule, and stoop to smell the flowers you pass on a daily basis.

- M

I woof you! Here's a gift ...

For Valentine's Day, my wife bought me a little stuffed animal dog, with the phrase, "I woof you!" on its side. I have it sitting at my desk. It's colors are ridiculous, it's a dachshund--so is wildly stretched--and there's a crazy smile on its face. The whole thing is silly. And ... I cherish it. My wife searched, found, and purchased this stuffed animal, for the sole purpose of giving me a token of her love. Of course it means the world to me.

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Have you taken the time to give a gift of love? They don't even need to cost anything. Remember when you were young, and you made something out of a stick and gave it to your mother? She adored it, right? Yup. When we grow older, we still like getting those stupid little tidbits. Maybe it's because it demonstrates that you were actively thinking about the other person, or just that we like getting presents, but there is a lot going on beneath the surface emotions. I think it comes down to needing to be important to each other.

For some reason, there are those who disparage and put down these simple tokens of affection. I don't understand it. People want to give them. People want to receive them. Are the complaints real, or just sour people who haven't gotten any? Even at work, a simple gift is a huge gesture of friendship. Never underestimate the power of a yellow highlighter, or a can of soda pop. Find something unexpected and give it away ... who knows where it will lead.

- M

Communication changes, are we losing touch?

Cell phones are everywhere these days. According to recent studies, younger people tend to favor texting over actually speaking with one another. It must be true, because I've seen numerous youngsters sitting together, walking side-by-side, and enjoying meals, while spending all their time staring at their phones. I even watched in silent awe as a trio of girls went past, texting each other and laughing. What ever happened to looking someone in the eye and saying what you mean? It's odd to me.

Now, I adore gadgets--despite barely having a cell phone--and am genuinely thrilled to get any new toy, but this communication style flies right over my head. There's so much more to communication than only the words. There's body language, inflection, tone, rhythm, stressed words, pauses, and on and on and on. Those things don't come across well in texting (no, emoji don't count). It's also much harder to be snarky, snide, and sarcastic via text (at least, not unless the person you're texting completely knows how you think).

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It's interesting how in our modern age of instant communication, we are losing touch with each other on a personal level. Neighbors are a treasure going untapped most of the time, and we do so little to change it. Sure, if you text it's less likely you'll get a fist in your mouth, face hurt feelings, or otherwise deal with communication as it happens. We want contact totally under our own control, when we're ready for it, and not when it actually takes place. I think that's sad, despite the incredible technology. It's good to sit down and talk with someone, to really get to know them. Why should we be uncomfortable with such a natural method of expression?

- M

Pain and sorrow. Why?

Las Vegas, Nevada. Sadly now connected with the worst shooting spree in United States history.

Why does tragedy strike over and again? Why do people inflict such pain on one another? Why doesn't it stop? The news is bloated with constant stories of suffering across our world. It never ends. I hope and pray for the people in need, and those who lost loved ones. Despite the pain, there is still hope for better. Have faith. There is victory over evil. I believe it completely.

May God ease the sufferings of all those in need. My heart and prayers go with you all.

- M