Dr. Warren Wiersbe, an ode to a life extraordinary.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe and his lovely wife, Betty.

It's amazing how long it takes for thoughts to finally gel together when we lose an extraordinary person. I've finally been able to coalesce my meanderings, and hope this is well received. Here goes...

I first met Dr. Warren Wiersbe when I was about 12, during the time I helped my parents with janitorial work. I'd heard of him and knew he was a writer, which I passionately wanted to be, so I found his desk and left him notes from, "Janitor Mark." Amazingly, he kept all those notes and filed them for safe keeping. Well, he was enchanted by my youthful exuberance and met me in person, and thus began a lifelong friendship and mentor-ship. We spent many hours talking, learning, and joking. His humor always managed to dig under my shyness and tear it loose. He was a wonderful man, and I loved him dearly.

He heartily encouraged my writing, and critiqued everything I wrote--including my first two books. The amazing thing was, though he disliked fiction, he always found time to read whatever I created. His wisdom helped me in far more than writing. He mentored me spiritually, and I will forever be grateful for his guiding light. I owe him a great debt.

My favorite memories are when he would take me to the steak house and we would have lunch together. At the time I wasn't aware of just how special those times were, but I was a kid and was at least wise enough to make those times count. When I turned 16, and got my driver's license, he gave me a congratulation card with $25 inside for my first ticket! What a jokester. The privilege of such attention was lost on me at the time, but now I can only look back with wonder.

When my son was born, we named him Peter Warren, in honor of Dr. Wiersbe. My whole family met both him and his wife many times. We didn't take enough pictures, but I'm glad for the ones we have, and he gamely posed for them. It's impossible to express just how big of an impact he made on me and my family. What an extraordinary man.

If there is one lesson that Dr. Wiersbe taught me above any others, it was quiet humility. He always gave credit to God first, and only accepted praise second-hand as the tool of the Creator. I saw how he treated fame, the way he practically ran the other way when confronted by it. He enjoyed anonymity whenever he could, but didn't complain when I'd introduce someone to him. What a fantastic example he was!

I hope that I've passed on his lessons to my own children. I hope his influence has made me a better man. I hope his memory never fades. I wish I could talk to him more, and ask his opinion on things, but that time is sadly gone. I will never forget him, or his special ministry to me.

Thank you, Dr. Wiersbe, and thank you, Mrs. Wiersbe for always being gracious and loving even when we interrupted dinnertime. We miss you both.

- M

Snuggle up to some good books ... mine of course!

During this uncertain time of illness and tragedy, we all need something to slip our minds into a better place. We need good books. We need some escapism. We need fun back in our lives.

My Erahsil fantasy trilogy is perfect for such times, if I do say so myself. These three books are full of hope and overcoming obstacles, and naturally heroes and villains. The stories are filled with enough imagination and twist to please anyone. Yes, they are labeled as a Young Adult series, although I feel the stories are for anyone willing to let their mind drift and be care-free once more.

In short, Phaedra, a girl finishing high school, and later Craig, also her age, battle to save the world of Erahsil from destruction. It's at first an unwilling mission, but quickly takes them on a journey that will see them save two worlds.

I love fantastical creatures and magical places, so I've filled Erahsil with all those aspects. My readers tell me they really enjoy it and I hope many more will experience the wonders of Erahsil.

You can find all of my books at Amazon, here.

Erahsil, book 1,    Erahsil, book 2,    Erahsil, book 3.

May you all be blessed and stay warm and healthy.

- M

The pleasure of sitting still and being quiet.

My daughter, and my brother, having fun.

Since the very beginning of our lives, we live in a world of spinning excitement, which never quite stops for anything. There's a constant whirl of activity all around us. It seems we fill out lives with so much to do, that we never pause to let it just happen. Watch a baby, as they are incapable of large actions and don't interrupt with lots of talking, and you'll see they keenly observe everything. They want to be involved in the world, but can only interact in a limited way. Yet, they are a part of it all, even without dancing around. Just because you sit still, doesn't mean you're a lump of coal.

I think we forget to stop and be quiet. How frequently do you turn off everything and just sit still? My guess is you had to think about it for a while. Our lives swirl with activity, at times so intense we get headaches from the din. We pine for vacations and to get away from it all. Well, just sit down and relax, without any entertainment or chaotic noise. Anyone can do it. Anyone can take the time. Anyone is in the position, every day, to stop and relax. It's one of the healthiest activities we can undertake, and you'll find that stress doesn't quite pile up like it usually does.

The more technology marches forward, the more I find myself wanting to let less of it into my life. It's funny, because I'm a programmer, a tech nerd, and love computers. But, I also have noticed how there's less personal contact and less community than ever before. We know more about everything and less of everyone. I think my desire to sit quietly and peacefully is a reaction to this. I'd never want less technology, as it has provided a standard of living previously unknown, but I also recognize a need to slow down and enjoy life as it is. Take a moment to sit and be quiet, and listen and dream and live.

- M

Swear to me!

Movie tough guys are constantly roughing up baddies and demanding information. One of my favorites lines is when they say, "Swear to me!" Yup. That'll work. Terrified people will admit to anything. But, you also get the opposite end, where someone swears on their mother's grave. In this instance, the oath is a mighty pledge based on honor and reverence. Isn't it interesting how the same statement can be so different in context? That's one of the big reasons language is so difficult to decipher and is among the best secret codes you can make (I love making secret codes).

Batman being tough in "Batman Begins"

The funny thing is, we do this sort of thing constantly. Sarcasm is the fine art of saying what you don't mean and implying something else. Humor is a slippery subject, but I think we can all agree it's better to laugh than sulk. Don't take life too seriously. There's so much hilarity around us, and we fail to notice it most of the time. Swear to me you'll open your eyes! Swear to me!

Ha. That's actually lots of fun to say, though I can't imagine myself being a tough guy who punches baddies in the throat--I'm just a big cuddly teddy bear. Well, I doubt movies will change this sort of thing, but we can still laugh. That's the thing about language anyway, sometimes it's just too strange to take seriously. So, paste a smile on your face and just go along with it.

- M

The smell of fresh wax and candles.

We latch onto many things throughout our lives, and a great number of them are smells we associate with memories. Good or bad, these smells are powerful. For husbands, the fragrances our wives wear are intimately tied together with our love for them. The smells of childhood imprint on us so powerfully that we can be sent back to our youth with just a whiff. And then there are the smells we just like to have around: candles, cedar, evergreen needles, and many more.

I find it interesting how we build huge industries around fragrances of all kinds. How much money do we spend just to smell nice? What about candles for our homes? Our cars? It seems nearly every activity and location in our lives is filled with good smells. That means it's not just important, but essential to who we are as people. In fact, we even bury our loved ones with beautiful things surrounding them.

Knowing this, I think it's important to pay attention to what things are cherished by the people we care about. Scents make wonderful birthday presents, unexpected gifts, and sensational house warming presents. I prefer candles, because they come in a huge variety and are easy to turn on and off (fire is great for that you know). It's a fine fabulous feeling to give something special to friends and family. I promise.

- M

Why we always need heroes

When things go wrong, we want heroes to save us. However, we need heroes anyway. We need examples to emulate, people who are greater than we ever hoped to be, living role models who lift us up simply by existing. Heroes provide hope, inspiration, power, excitement, and yearning for greater things. I'm talking about true heroes, who live their lives with passion and purpose, not the fake sort forced upon us by spiteful people. We need heroes to press us forward, guide us, and make us see a better future. Real heroes do all these things.

We don't have to be Superman to be heroes
Superman by Alex Ross

For some reason, our culture loves deconstructing heroes and either destroying or making them worthless. Sure, people are flawed, make mistakes, and generally louse things up. Heroes aren't perfect, and if they were they would be impossible to imitate. It's okay to want to be like them. Battlefield heroes inspire courage, workplace heroes encourage diligence. Heroes are found in every area of life, and I submit they are needed there just as much.

I think we have taken the danger of hero-worship too far. Sure, It's not good to idolize anyone to the point of ridiculousness, but if we only strive to destroy any great example then we lose the value of powerful role models. In an age of no heroes, there is no hope and anyone who tries is torn to ragged bits. Then, we run the risk of passing into the anti-hero, who does all kinds of mischief and does good only as an idle after thought.

We need heroes in our lives. We need to celebrate heroes. We need to once again place heroes in places of honor. And, not just military heroes, but all walks of life. I'd like to nominate my dad as my lifelong hero. Who's yours?

- M

Words of Power

One of the reasons I originally became fascinated with language is the capacity to bring hope and comfort to those hurting. Stories are especially potent in this regard, because we insert ourselves into the characters and live out their adventures. Sure, I was with Bilbo when he found the One Ring in The Hobbit, and I scurried with Frodo and Sam in the Lord of the Rings. I haven't found any other medium with such power and majesty, and I doubt I ever will. There's something very special about living through a good story; the characters become part of our lives.

A well crafted story is capable of developing truly astonishing levels of emotion in the audience. Whatever the genre, stories burrow into the heart and draw forth the power of our feelings. But, it's not just the language doing it, there is the journey to take into account. Truthfully, if there is no journey, there's no emotion. If you were told the ending, without everything before it, the story would fall on its face and bear no power at all. We all require a process of growing to reach maturity, so should it be any different with a story?

The power of words is undeniable. The right words, at the right time and place, can change the universe. I my estimation, language is the greatest power of humankind. With it, we build cities, form societies, and develop future generations. Words are the future, the past, and the present. The old phrase of, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never harm me," is true only in the sense that words don't physically injure. However, words have massive impact on our spirit. Use them with care.

- M

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.


image credit

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

Timeless beauty.

Standards of beauty are fickle, right? Fashion trends change practically daily, and we are told, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." That's all correct. But, it's also totally wrong. There is timeless beauty around us daily: flowers, sunsets, sunrises, clouds, birds, the geometry of nautilus shells, the pattern of planets around the sun, musical wind, thunderstorms, rain, fresh air. In the eye of the beholder? Who can find fault in the glory of warm sunlight on the skin? That's timeless beauty, and all we need to do is pay attention. Isn't that incredible?



image credit

Why do we value beauty so much? Aside from being pleasant to look at, is there any other reason? Advertisers spend billions on models who strut around wearing products. Movies, generally speaking, feature attractive actors playing the parts. Smiling beauties sell more stuff than frowning ordinary people. There's something in our brains that responds favorably to beauty with an endorphin surge. There's quite literally a physical reaction to beauty. You see this in various ways: pupils dilating, posture straightening, smiles, and a whole host of other responses. Have you ever bent over to smell the flowers? That's a positive response.

And, yet, we go around scoring beauty wherever we find it. Flowers aren't colorful enough, the babbling brook isn't quite the right sound, our hair isn't curly or is too curly, the sunset is too red. Actually, I bet we complain about nearly every aspect of beauty, while simultaneously being jealous of it at the same time. We battle this impulse by acknowledging timeless beauty, that never changes and is always gorgeous. And, there's beauty in actions as well: the warm hugs of family, a champion's graciousness to those behind, the helping hands of rescuers, and the strong shoulders of comforters. When you discover timeless beauty, spend a few moments to cherish the experience. It's well worth the effort and time.

- M

Forgiveness and renewal, two very important themes.

One reason why stories are created, is to form the framework of forgiveness. A surprising number of tragic stories are made primarily to spread forgiveness and to renew faith in humanity. Of course, it doesn't take tragedy to grant forgiveness, as many other kinds of stories prove, yet the device is well suited to bring catharsis to the audience (that is, to set free the pent up emotions and provide relief). Scary stories do this in a way, but it's the deep and haunting tales that grip your heart that provide the best return.

Many people find forgiveness very hard to secure. Whether it be forgiving themselves, or others, people like to hold grudges. Stories can teach how to forgive, why to forgive, and when to forgive. It's safe to say that even grudging forgiveness is better than allowing pain and hurt to fester inside. Look at the tale of "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, and we find a family incapable of forgiving anyone, and it leads to the doom of them all. What a powerful example! More recently, look at the musical fiction "The Greatest Showman," and the amount of forgiveness and renewal on constant display is breathtaking. I especially love how his wife and family renew the main character's passion for life by their forgiveness. It's inspiring.

Why do stories tackle such heavy and powerful themes? Well, why not? Stories are part of our human nature, so authors pour themselves into creating them. It's natural to talk about anything important to us. Also, stories provide a safe way to learn and express ideas. We get to experience situations unknown to us, and see how people might behave. When we watch other people forgive and experience renewal, it's easier for us to do the same. I love reading books where the main character is shattered personally, and then later is renewed to life. Stories aren't merely entertainment, but powerful platforms for teaching.

- M

The Karate Kid 2, a movie about much more than fighting.

One of my very favorite movies is "The Karate Kid 2." It follows the adventures of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Unlike many sequels, you don't need to have seen the first. Actually, it may be better to see the movies in reverse order, because "The Karate Kid 2" is the story of Mr. Miyagi. The history of this martial arts teacher is profound, deep, and resonates so well that I'd wish I had known more about him in the first movie. Sure, in the first he's a mysterious presence, but understanding who and what he is would have made the relationship between master and student far more complex and believable.

Generally speaking, the second movie is considered better than the first. Why is that? It's very simple, it's because the audience already understands the world and the players and the motivations. So, we hit the ground running and are able to quickly get into more substantial plots. Think of the widely believed best Star Wars movie, "The Empire Strikes Back." There is no setup of characters, no setup of what's going on, just an immediate danger and the beginning of Luke Skywalker's Jedi training. The movie starts with the story already progressing at a fast clip. That's taking full advantage of the history of the first film and efficiently adding to it.

Back to "The Karate Kid 2," the best part of the story is how seriously the events and cultures are treated. Mr. Miyagi's father dies at the start, and there is reverence throughout. Okinawan culture is shown with no hint of comedic wit, but instead with dignity and understanding. This film seems much more real than the first, with real problems and real heroics. Yes, having the Karate Kid win battles is basically the task of both movies, but in the sequel he earns the victory. You see him struggle and overcome, but not just him. You see, Mr. Miyagi grows too. There are huge character arcs for all the main people.

There's a test I have done with many books over the years. I flip to the last page and read the last few paragraphs. I'm looking to be surprised and to wonder how the characters got to that point. If I'm not surprised, then I know the characters don't change much. "The Karate Kid 2" passes with bright colors. It's not only a fun movie, but a good movie that teaches as well as entertains. There are lessons in compassion, forgiveness, loss, honor, revenge, love, patience, and never backing down. Sure, it's not literary artwork, but the movie has a lot to offer. Check it out.

- 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

Be careful of the heat, or suffer the consequences.

Perhaps you've heard the term "Sun stroke" or "Heat stroke" in relation to getting too hot out in the sun. Sure, you sweat and are uncomfortable, but how bad is it really? We joke about "sweating like a pig" and just go merrily about our business. In this summer of heavy heat, I feel the need to make sure everyone understands how serious this really is. You see, I used to laugh at the heat and did my best to work despite it and the sweat. Then ... I suffered a real sun stroke (to the point where I stopped sweating, got nauseous, felt chilled, all of it) and then a while later it happened again. As a result, my body became extremely sensitive to heat and I've since had heat exhaustion and heat stroke multiple times. I lost the ability to sweat at all (you might think this is great, but I cannot cool down without a cold shower, and I hope you see how limiting that is to my life), which means air conditioning is quite literally keeping me alive.

I think we forget just how frail our bodies can be, and so we tough it out and think we can will ourselves to be okay. Sure, you can build a tolerance to heat, but not all at once. You need to work up to it, and for those who haven't gotten used to hot climates it is essential that you monitor your body. Drink plenty of water, keep out of the direct sunlight if you can, and pay attention. People who are suffering from the heat aren't fully aware what's happening to them. Watching for heat exhaustion is a buddy affair, and you need to keep each other healthy.

The reason I'm bringing this up now, is I've seen lots of people saying "Just suck it up, there's plenty of people who've been hotter and they're fine." I'm sure that's true. It's also true that people survive being shot in the chest, but I'd still go to the hospital if it happened to me. Don't simplify other people's health concerns. Would you do the same for anyone you care about? I hope not. Remember, we are in this together. Don't let yourself, or others, suffer because of some misplaced sense of toughness.

- M

Real champions don't hear the crowd.

People watching champions assume that one of the motivations to win is the applause of the crowd. No, it's not. True champions don't notice adulation, and are so focused on their goals that they probably won't become aware of anything but their own efforts anyway. All focus is on their goal. Their prize. Years are spent getting to the point where they can try. If they fail, the weight is crushing, but they shrug it off and train harder. It's difficult to imagine the single-minded focus these champions maintain for such long periods. That's heroic by itself.

Why do we frequently idolize champions? It's easy to see why. Champions accomplish what we dream of doing, battle incredible odds, endure unbelievable pains, and wade through it all with grim determination. Watching these people perform is inspirational, as it should be. I think deep down we all want to be champions, even if it's only in the realm of paper folding. It feels good to succeed, but especially good when it's not easy. In fact, make things too easy and the reward is worthless. It's only through struggle that we bloom and grow.

True champions aren't in it for the glory, they are competing because they have a deep need to prove to themselves that they are capable and worthy. None expect to lose. All anticipate their own victory. Sure, there can only be a single victor in a contest, but that doesn't stop champions from thinking that they alone will stand at the place of honor. I think this is what we really admire in champions: their ability to enter competition with the faith that they have prepared wisely, trained vigorously, and will see their efforts lead them to win.

Champions don't hear the crowd, because their own dreams are shouting too loudly.

- 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

What if ... ? Grabbing story ideas from thin air.

Speculation about what could be isn't only tied to science fiction. Anyone can ask, "What if?" and apply reasoning and imagination to whatever they want. Many tremendous works of fiction have been birthed by such simplistic questions: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Forest Gump, Anne of Green Gables, Star Trek, mysteries of all kinds ... the list is endless. If you find yourself stumped for what to create, just start asking questions and let your mind wander.

I'm not sure when it became a bad thing to daydream, but it's sure battered down the heights of imagination most people aspire to. Actually, imagination is a strangely disparaged thing--people seem to think a bright imagination is bad. I can't understand it. For instance, I was helping my father put a television on the wall, with one of those extending and turning television brackets, and we were stumped by three screws that simply spun in place yet didn't come out. I sat and thought in frustration, then imagined the inside and some possibilities. In the end, we took the back off the television and discovered another bit that unscrewed rather than the screw. It was a simple thing to fix and reassemble. But, without such imagination, I don't know what we'd have done.

You see, if you begin with the question, "What if ..." then you are lead by your own imagination and experience into a completely new world. That's where huge leaps in technology come from, springing from seemingly nowhere, to dazzle the world with profound brilliance. I think back on my favorite books, and the majority are hugely imaginative. If you keep prodding yourself with imagination, you will naturally respond by fostering more imagination inside yourself. That's the best part! Clear away the cobwebs and let your mind soar into a universe of possibilities!

- M

I am so very happy to live in the time I'm in now, at this moment ... in time.

I often hear people say that times were better in the past, before everyone got in such a hurry. While this is an interesting perspective, I really don't want to go back to the days of no indoor air conditioning, ice boxes, horse and buggy, or writing with quills. If you want the sensation of those times, there are places you can go to experience it and then return to the modern world. Sure, people weren't as rushed, and that's not good, but also didn't live as long as we do now. Science has advanced to the point where we are thinking very seriously of populating other planets! Incredible.

image credit

The point I hope to make is that we enjoy looking back on days of our youth with eyes colored by nostalgia and happy memory. While I agree that our lives are invariably simpler as children, the times are certainly better today than ever before. The technology available to us is dizzying. I do understand that many places don't have access to these wonders, and for that I'm truly sad. Wouldn't it be grand if everyone had whatever they needed? But, the world doesn't work that way, does it?

Despite our feelings, time marches on and on and on. Unless we stop inventing things, technology will also march forward, as will our desire for more. Isn't it funny how happiness and contentment change when we see new things? However, there are many advances which only came about due to dissatisfaction with the statue quo. Is it bad to improve things? Of course not. That's why I'm very happy to live in the now and not in the then ... in time ... I mean present ... the current ... today.

- M

Home is where the heart dwells.

image credit

Have you ever been away from your home for a lengthy time? When you return, it's much more than sleeping in your own bed, surrounded by things you treasure. Home encapsulates everything we hold most dear: our family, our memories, our love. We lavish money on our homes, turning them into outward expressions of ourselves. By doing so, we put our hearts there and make it comfortable. Home is safe, cherished, desirable, and certain. Losing a home is crushing, even when nothing else is lost. Home is a sanctuary, where we can go to escape the villainy of life.

When we finally grow to the age where we leave our parent's house and fly to our own, it's tough and challenging. Until that point, we relied on someone else to provide the impetus to turn a place into a home. Crafting your own home for the first time is a mountainous achievement, yet we must go through the process or we never grow to full adulthood. Baby birds must eventually leave the nest. It's frightening and wonderful all at once. You'll never be the same again.

I think the concept of home is as natural as the need to breathe. We crave a place to belong, where we are totally ourselves (warts and all), and where the world only intrudes as much as we allow. Our hearts form a lasting bond with our homes--hardly a surprise, considering we spend a large portion of our lives therein. As a parent, I also want my home to be home for my children; a sanctuary they can run to when they cry and hurt. Maybe that's why we usually make it a point to compliment someone's home, and why the owners are so happy and proud to receive the kind words.

- M

Knots and Ropes and Confusion

Since a child, I've loved knots. No, not because I'm good at them, but because they infuriate me. How is it possible for shoelaces to be correctly tied, yet when you pull the ends they turn into Gordian Knots (a mythological knot so complex nobody could ever untie it ... it was defeated with a good sharp blade). Sure, I understand what happens, yet these knots are frequently so tight that I am completely unable to undo them. I suppose any knot is difficult when pulled with great strength, plus my fingernails are always short so I don't have much prying ability.

The vast array of knots is inspiring. Think about it. A length of rope can be twisted in such a way as to tighten under stress or release itself when yanked, to join pieces together or form loops, to guide horses and hang pottery. Some are purely for ornamentation, while some are objects of attack. If there is a job to be done, it's likely a knot can be employed to do it. I have a book in my office about knots, and there are over 200 kinds, with pictures showing the methods and uses. It's bewildering. I suspect you could spend a lifetime learning them and never untwist them all.

Sailors are often tested on their seamanship by tying knots. It's a show of intellect, cunning, and knowledge. Knots do indeed make fabulous riddles, such as the Gordian Knot, and are woefully forgotten. We no longer teach them, hardly use any (beyond our shoes), and have lost the sense of their many capabilities. Is modern life so technological that we don't need to use knots anymore? It makes me sad. Sure, knots raise my blood pressure, but that's not a good reason to get rid of them. Maybe there's still time to bring knots back to the forefront? I hope so.

- M

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day to America!

Today we celebrate our many freedoms, enjoy family and friends, eat good food, and light fireworks in celebration. Such freedom came with enormous cost and requires diligence and courage to maintain. We must never forget why our nation was founded. America was birthed from the idea of individual freedom, where personal religious beliefs aren't mandated by the state and where even the lowliest person can own their very own slice of land. Hard work is encouraged, as is participation in the political process. All citizens have a voice, and the government works for us.

This is why we celebrate. This is what we celebrate. This is what we hope for the rest of the world.

- M