Sometimes we're just lucky

Daniel a stray beagle mix shouldn't be with us today,but he survived his appointment with death. In Alabama, after walking out of a gas chamber unscathed he now has a second chance to do what dogs do. A non profit -Eleventh Hour Rescue  group arranged to have the dog flown to N.J. And if  they're really lucky a family will find him waiting for them. This dog "has got to have some destiny" so said a rescue volunteer.

Sometimes computer failures can be blessings in disguise. As it was for this beagle when a carbon monoxide chamber failed to euthanize him.
Can you imagine Daniel walking out of the chamber wagging his tail and picking up his leg as if to say ....?

I pray that Daniel will meet a child, hold their eyes and fall in love. Daniel will finally have a home, fill a child's heart and run and play in a yard. While taking deep breaths of God's purest air. The child can only be blessed with the love of him and form a lasting bond until he has fulfilled his calling.

Who will tell ?

" Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing, or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies ? "

Erich Fromm

When did you last say I love you ?

A recent event started me thinking about all the stressful "stuff " going on in life for just about everyone I know. Busy days and nights of great anxiety rob them of the opportunity to spend the quantity and quality of time that they would like to with their children and spouses. The struggle to stay afloat and adapt to unexpected change is all consuming. Society and it's unrest has impacted the stability of the constants that keep us grounded and validate one's value to another.

I am in favor of the established routines that used to be part of family life. Mornings, although hectic included the last rush out of the door and the all important quick goodbye kiss and the words "have a good day."

Family life is at its best when dinner together is possible. When the good and the bad is shared at the table. Even when there are unexpected small uprisings,so too are the shared prideful accomplishments of each child  and parent. Today's family meals are often absent through no fault of their own.

Parents must find other opportunities to spend time with one another. A trip for ice cream together, or even one to one time with each child.  An impromptu pizza party becomes a major event for family bonding.

Stolen moments and impulsive get aways, for an occasional long weekend is essential to reinforce couples commintments to each other. Creative ways to be together need not be expensive. For it's the time together, that is worth its weight in gold.

There is always time to hug your child, parent or spouse. It takes less then two minutes to focus on someone and make sure they know how much they are loved and how important they are to you.

Ask a child  these words " Do you know who loves you ? "  Every child  should smile and be able to tell you. And so should you. 

Don't miss the chance to say " I love you" to someone today.

One pair of hands

You have followed me to my comfort zone. I welcome you with open arms and hope that these words somehow touch your heart, and ease your troubled soul. This is a time of such great unrest for many. Families are sometimes overwhelmed by a feeling of powerlessness, magnified by trials and tribulations relationships are taut and sometimes torn. Hang on to the promises that you are not alone. You are loved by many and blessed in ways that may not have been revealed to you yet. Trust that you can meet the challenges as many have before. Put one foot in front of the other,just one day at a time.

Uncertainty and the power of good people

Today I had the opportunity to walk the walk, to practice what I preach, and to take a stand. I'm proud of myself and all the others who sent over 14,451 supportive emails in about two hours, to a prime minister who will enter "the loins den" and speak on behalf of peace between two countries. 

Regardless of where you stand politically, even a self educated man can see the bigger picture ,and will walk alone or follow the lead of the man on the white horse. The one without the sword,and sometimes the more humble of men. Certainly, now armed with the support of many in the USA, the prime minister will feel empowered and more confident in his country's future.

I have reached a time in my life when speaking up comes easier then the days when being politically correct was the way to go. Trying to please the least pleasing of people soon failed in my eyes. As well as the eyes of others who thought that keeping peace meant not making waves, and then held on for dear life, when the waves came anyway. Follow your hearts,trust in your soul and have faith in your God, no matter how others paint the paths they think you should travel.  This is the time to lay claim to what belongs to the just and the peace keepers among us. There is power in prayer and in good people,if they choose to use it.

Our country is not the only thing...

"Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and humanity.Patriotism consists not in waving the flag,but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.
James Bryce

As we are caught up in all the unrest in the world, our once small world has become larger. Humbled by our blessings, and proud of our success as a nation. We as a people must always strive to be all inclusive. The melting pot, that now seems like an impossible dream,is actually a work in progress.
Our success and our failures, must not be measured by our political landscape, one that often looks like our dirty laundry. Better yet, see for yourselves the sometimes invisible acts of our citizens.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull came for a visit today

While walking my small Yorkie today we couldn't help but be distracted by the sudden influx of seagulls,each squawking as if they were having a meeting of the minds as they lined up on the rooftops on this inland town in New Jersey.

This isn't the first time they made a visit and the feeling of the damp air and westerly winds made it likely that our shores were stormy.
However, always amused by human nature and our wildlife I started to wonder more about Jonathan Livingston Seagull.{Thank you Richard Bach} There he was along with all the rest of the flock, frustrated with meaningless materialism,ritualistic conformity,and bored with his life as a seagull. He again with some of his friends searched for new challenges.

Jonathan knew there were better things in life,higher callings waiting somewhere. Even if half the flock stayed behind and some talked of casting him out,he searched on for the freedom he wanted. Many times against the high tide that ravaged the shores.In time Jonathan, while being true to himself,flew higher and higher with seagulls he knew to be wiser then himself. Soon Jonathan knew that he must return to his flock. There was much that bonded them to each other,regardless of their differences.

While in flight Jonathan felt his spirits fly higher then they had ever flown before. It was then when he looked down on the rooftops, and he saw the scattered flock that he knew flying higher was a gift,and of equal importance was love,deserved respect and forgiveness along with the freedom from pressure to obey rules just because.
For as a seagull,and as a man,we can fly no higher.

Now, what I want to know as I look up at the rooftops,have these Sea Gulls left yet or have they just returned from their highest flight ?