Thanksgiving is coming
to remind us to give thanks.
Christmas is coming
to remind us of Christ’s love.
New Year’s Day is coming
to remind us of fresh starts.
Continue readingHow do you like your eggs?
Do you remember the 1999 movie Runaway Bride? It was the second collaboration of Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, and director Garry Marshall. Here is a short synopsis for those who might have slept since 1999 and have forgotten this romantic comedy. Woman dates a few different men, becomes engaged at different times to each of the men, and ends up leaving all of the men at the alter. Woman meets a writer who intends to use her story for his own self-interest. One thing he notices about her is she likes her eggs cooked the same way her fiancée at the time does. Spoiler alert! Woman and writer fall in love and decided to marry in a ridiculously short amount of time. Surprise! She leaves him at the alter, also. But in the end, they do get together and even marry. My younger self from 20+ years ago did not like that surprise. My wiser self (20+ years older) now recognizes that as the best part of the movie. She leaves him at the alter to discover who she is and how she likes her eggs cooked independent of any other influence. In other words, she comes to know herself before getting into a relationship. This has become something I strongly advocate.
The Important Thing
When the song comes back to me again
I’m not sure how it happened. But somehow, somewhere I became reacquainted with an old Garth Brooks’ song. Sometimes when I connect with a song I play it. A lot. I wouldn’t say in an obsessive way. Just a lot, a lot. That’s what happened with this song. It spoke to me and so I had to listen over and over. I think everyone should know about this song so I’m going to share my thoughts here. Because that’s how I roll. It’s a good song though so I’m sure you won’t mind reading my take on “When You Come Back to Me Again” (Yates & Brooks, 2000).
Continue readingThe Sacrifice
In a war I read about in history books
an ancestor’s name falls between the lines.
The war is history to me
but life for him.
Continue readingFalling from the sky with style
I am not a bold person. It’s true. For most of my life I have followed the path of least resistance like water. It’s funny though, it only took one decision to step outside my comfort zone to help me choose something some people call daring or brave or stupid. I’ve heard them all. Whatever you want to call it, this is how one trip outside the country eventually led to me parachuting out of a plane four years later.
Continue readingOpen Heart
The Samson Pill: Culmination Chapter 20
XX. November
Ant leaned on his cane for support. It irritated him that he even had to use a cane but he also recognized as much as he fussed about using one he still needed it. He had been out of commission for far too long and was anxious to get back to work. The general didn’t clear him for active duty so he decided this was a perfect time to initiate his plan. He had painstakingly assembled his team for one specific mission. Now it was time to implement it.
He walked into the room where his team patiently waited for him.
Cooper stood in the corner and nodded at him. While he was in the hospital, they had worked out this presentation. The time had come to lay the cards out on the table and get everyone on the same page.
Continue readingBuried Testimony
The Samson Pill: Culmination Chapter 19
XIX. Still September
The next few minutes passed as a blur for Cooper. Al called for assistance to help with Ant. A bomb squad was dispatched to the hotel room to inspect the bomb. Another team arrived to apprehend the suspect. Through it all, Cooper stayed with Ant. He even insisted on riding in the ambulance with him. The connection he felt with the man couldn’t be explained and it even surprised him. All he knew is Ant had to be okay. He just had to be.
And so, when he overheard a couple of agents talking about how the suspect had gotten away and was no where to be found, he didn’t register his disappointment in losing the opportunity to look for the notebook. For the first time since he knew its name, the Samson Pill was far from his thoughts.
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