Soft Control

 Like most things, whispers serve a dual purpose, for weal or woe.

Subtle power instead of earth shattering events.

Secret agents might be a little melodramatic.  

Yet, power wielded quietly might go farther  and not gathering notice might either undermine or strengthen something.

The darkside might be quiet and seem weak to escape retaliation and to acquiesce.

Gentle surrender is the goal and just roll over is the whisper.

Now, one can respond in kind.

Whisper Freedom and Light.  Gentle dawn.

Or shout.

Weal or woe.

Your move.

Stranger

 I love small towns.

There was a time Zionsville was so, before the huge yuppie/lib influx.

I spent a lot of time there with my GreatGrandmother.  It was a second town to me.  

So, noone really stared at me.

Yes, in some places people actually stare at new folks in town.

And even after some time there, townspeople still stare.  Always new!  Stranger!

The motive may vary like a pendulum, for weal or woe.

Just an observation.

I lived in a small town 2 years.  A local pastor said in answer to my observing townsfolk plainly staring at me that, even after years there, he was still stared at plus was the new guy in town still.

Now this was a town/area beset with devil worshipping drug dealers.  I kid you not.

Leave it to me to be in a 'weird is normal' situation.

More on that another time.

Actually, small town folk can be insular.  Not bad long as they are based in good will.

Maybe all of us should be a bit wary of things.

I'm a proponent of keeping your head on a swivel and observing.  Wait and see, unless something is obvious.

We both survived our stays.

One or two odd things.  Left town to visit a nearby town.  Noone knew.  Next morning someone called me where I was and asked why I left.  Hmmm.

When I moved back to Indy, I was asked why I wanted to leave.

I just said it was time, that I enjoyed my stay but I had to go.

Mind you I didn't owe anyone an explanation.  I just indulged lol.

I think these places each have sort of a personality.  

Then again my fave bar ahd a plaque that said 'You are a stranger here but once'.

Go figure.

Stronger

 Body, Mind, Psyche, Spirit.

It's how I explain spiritual makeup.

Body is the physical house we rent for a life.

Mind is the person we are in that body.

Psyche is the X factor, God's presence.

Spirit is our immortal selves.

Just a pallette for a portrait.

Every now and then, I think of the TV series Millennium.

It's a remarkable work touching on the spiritual and all the above points.

Some is procedural while some more is definitely spiritual.

Frank Black is a profiler with abilities to read a situation even get in the head of perps and solves horrible crimes.

There are allies on all levels as well as enemies.

I'll have to do an in depth analysis one of these days.

One of the chief villains is Lucy Butler, a shape changing sorceress.  She is older than she looks and it's a result of having sold her soul.  Her gifts were perverted and she now serves the darkness.

Frank tangled with her several times and with her conspirators.

The last on the series was in the form of a boy who destroyed those around him and attempted to do so to Frank's daughter.

As flames consumed him and a family/father destroyed, he yelled 'Who's stronger Frank, me or you?'  

It's that hellish challenge like Paradise Lost between the Creator/Father and the fallen.

Frank is quiet.  Not beaten in any way as Lucy plays cat and mouse.  His faith is there unspoken.

I recommend Millennium and wish there was a better resolution.  It is what it is.

Me, I'd answer 'Not me or you.  Jesus.'

Notice

 Nota Bene -s-.

I've mentioned it before.  Ever go by a place time and again, then one day notice something that you never saw clearly before?

For years I drove past old buildings in my area.  One day, I was stopped and looked up.  There was the ornate cornice to the building, a brick structure.  It housed small businesses, including an elderly tailor who was an artist for detail.

This notice added such depth and scope to something already worthwhile.

There are other instances such as a certain statue, a particular house or even colors that vary.  A picture can get painted in as a result.

Akin to this is indeed color.  Say you see a red car.  Almost suddenly, there is a profusion of red cars.  Or  certain car brands and makes that then become noticeable.

It's not magic.  It is merely awareness.

When your neck's on a swivel, you have the ability to notice a larger world.

I see said the blind man -s-.

The mind's eye is put on notice.

Tags

 Price.

Reminds me of a discount shop, where tags hang from everything.  But everywhere we go, you see the price for so much.

A game of tag?  What if the price has been paid?

The darkside imitates some things.  But it is limited to already created stuff.  And there is a price.

The Light offers things for free.  It comes to us.  We don't strive because of that Freedom.

Now, there is often a rocky/bumpy road, but the result is the same.

Don't btw let anyone prey on superstitions.

Rather, let faith shine a light on deeds.

Salvation is priceless for the price was paid.

No tags.

More Fun

 Continued shenanigans as described in No Ties.

The screening process for pastoral 'candidates' is supposed to be rigorous and fair, in order to filter out  people not suitable, supposedly for them to find other ways.  Hmm.  A calling becomes what the current powers say is so.  

I was favored while the then bishop was in office.  When he retired, that changed.

The man who succeeded him was one of the screeners.

He said I lacked humility, when asked to tell about myself and achievements, which included my own business and church work.

My take on that evaluation is simple.  He was projecting.  

I was always and am still giving God the glory.  Soli Deo Gloria.  That's humility.

Eventually, as said before, my ability to preach was taken away.  I preached the Risen Savior and His message for all.

Modern Pharisees had taken over.

As a result, it actually freed me to promote what I preached, for Freedom and Light.

We have our work cut out for us.  But we are never alone.  The angels and spirits of Light work with us.

No Ties...

 What makes us tick?

What sets us off?

Timing, events, perhaps following a misinterpretation.

I was interviewed as a 'candidate for ministry' for part of the qualification process to be a pastor.  RME.  They were thorough -s-.

Asked about my work, I told this gang of inquisitors I had my own business.  Now, mind you, I was respectful and supplied info as asked.  The above comment is a current evaluation of their antics.

I also said I could dress as I pleased.  My Dad had done so as well after years as a salesman, well dressed I might add -s-, usually in a golf shirt and slacks.  I dressed likewise.

I made the offhand comment that I was glad I didn't have to wear a tie anymore.

One of the committee exploded, ranting how HE wore a tie every day.  This tirade was complete with spittle.  Curious pick to determine pastoral suitability.

I deferred with choice.

Some people cling to their peccadillos.  Some just refuse to understand why others aren't like them.

Take your pick.  Enjoy differences.  To each is own.