Red Rover

 I remember Phys Ed in grade school.  Exercise, fresh air etc.

I preferred individual efforts.  Team stuff meh.  

So Red Rover was one of those exercises of one against the crowd.  Look up the history.

2 teams, usually north and south interestingly, form.  The cry is given 'Red Rover Red Rover, send-right over.

The called run and attempt to break the chain of arms and hands, til none are left.

Kinda like dodge ball, where someone literally dodges getting hit by an opponent as teams increase.

Or tag where one tries to avoid being touched/tagged and either out or forming groups/gangs tagging.

Is this like life?  Conditioning along with testing?

Well, teams can be important for goals, but we must be able to resist and work alone.

Send Freedom right over!

Adoptive

 There is much conversation regarding family of blood and family of choice.  I've talked about it on the blog.

Bloodlines continue to be a topic of interest.

Bloodlines exist for all actually, for weal or woe.  They have significance, but equal amounts of a certain family/clan can mean different things.  Life and free will play a significant part.

In psychology, we have the socalled 'debate' of nature or nurture.  Actually I see it as both.

Some are born a certain way, but just as often others are 'made' or fashioned a certain way.  

Say you adopt a child then bear one or vice versa.  They are family.  Only the warped lord one over the other.  So they are raised, once again for weal or woe.

As for weal or woe, I suggest delving into that and learn what is what for those of us who are Light or dark.

Choice.  Free will.  We each deal with these every day.

I learned about content of character from my Dad.  We happen to be blood related.

Also, I have learned many positive qualities from friends and their families and so many acquaintances.

It was a start and there is no boundary for such things.

Truth, Light and all good things await us.

I learned to fight spiritual evil from my brother from another mother.

It never stops.

Counsel...

 Advice.  

Problems are seldom whisked away poof.  They get worked through.

Some have been placed in position to counsel troubled folks.  A privilege.  A responsibility.

Some advised cops and pastors as well as many others.  It just so happens connections gravitated to those jobs.

In college, I confided with the head of the Sociology department about my association with cops.  I almost became one.  Also, I was a student minister.

He suggested I explore becoming not just a chaplain but a therapist for the police department.

This became part of my training.

I unofficially did counsel several cops.  It was of course confidential and since I wasn't hired, it was off the record.

There is a terrible stress involved.  On the streets one sees the downside of people.  It wears and affects all of life.

I was fortunate to help several folks.

The same can be said as a student minister.  I was indeed on the streets and ministered in the twilight world.  There was obvious evidence of the war between good and evil and thank God I shared Light.

Also, since my student status allowed me to counsel some of the pastors also confided in me and I was able to bring Light and healing to those entrusted to do so as leaders.

I served several churches and helped parishioners as well.

These are unsung efforts and except for this, my experiences counseling remain only in my memory.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Friends Redux

 I was thinking of friends I've had in my life.  

We all have different kinds.

Sometimes childhood friends diverge.  Maybe some maintain.

High school sweethearts end with graduation.  A few carry on and even marry.  Then again others split eventually.

Some longtime friends turn their backs.  Maybe there are embarrassing incidents and some don't want to see a reminder of indiscretion one way or other.

Others are suborned because a friend might interfere with crimes.

Then there are friends separated by death aka transition/crossing over.  Those actually mean noone can actually separate friends again.

Friends serve a need at certain times.

True friends are just that.  They do serve and that is one another.  

Give and take.  Honesty.  

It's a rollercoaster ride.

That honesty is sometimes painful.  It is healing, keeping in mind some wounds take time to heal

Don't fear.

Worth the risk.

Energy

 I ask the Angels and spirits of Light for the energy to

Focus and concentrate

Build my strength and stamina

Retain and sharpen my memory

Attract and accept the things of the Light that I need

To be truthful in my convincing

Guilt...

Guilt weighs us down like a big rock on the back. 

We can let it go.

We don't go lah dee dah like a sociopath.  We are acutely aware of our shortcomings.  

Forgiveness from above and within keeps us from the darkside.  

We persevere.  

We go on in spite of our faults, a cliche nonetheless true.

Now, there is guilt by association.  Jesus encountered that.  He spent a lot of time with tax collectors and prostitutes etal.  He witnessed indeed.

So might we.  As said previously, I accept people as they are.  No, I don't imitate their behavior.  I just am able to communicate.  There is no false pride nor condescending.  

And these days, but I think it has been always, guilt by projection.  Call it a smear campaign if you will.  Then the proof is in the pudding.  Let 'em cook til it boils over and they fail.  Let them simmer as we are seen in truth as we really are.  And as they truly are.

Freedom is not license so to speak.

It's dangerous with all the bumps and wounds.

Yet we are never alone.

Our opponents cling to misery loving company.

We adhere to courage, hard fought and to the long haul.

Honesty vs lies.

Faces Masks USW

 Ever since I can remember, I've accepted people as they are.

Whatever, on any level, people are people. 

There is no horror, shock, no real surprise, nor ooh aah like some weird fetish for appearances only.

People just are.

And that scares some.  

I do not accept evil.  There is no nod of acceptance there.  Figure out what that means (such as liberty/tyranny even into the spiritual).

I talk of beyond the obvious, of content of character.  Who you are.

Sideways moment:  I often reflect on Babylon 5's Vorlons and Shadows.  Vorlons ask 'who are you'.  Shadows ask 'what do you want (not need)'.  

Never forget looks can be deceiving.  

When health is involved, then take note.  Bodies are an example.

But accepting people as they are, well you have to start somewhere.

And masks hide for weal or woe.  Physical or figurative.

There are many people come to mind.

Think of yours.