Tag Archives: spirituality

General Posts

Tuesday Afternoon Ramblings

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“Karma has a way of working. She may be slow and silent, but eventually she comes calling. And when she does, she pays back in spades. You can lie to yourself, your friends, your neighbors, and your family, but you can’t lie to Karma. And she’s a wicked bitch.”

I posted those words on my Facebook page last night and stand by them.  Personally, I’ve never once claimed to be a perfect human being.  I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and committed my fair share of wrongdoings, but one thing I know for certain is that my conscience is clear in terms of purposefully hurting others.

In my past, I’ve made mistakes, and through the years, I’ve tried to rectify those mistakes by becoming a better person.  In my career, I’ve stumbled a few times, but I’ve always gotten back to my feet and continued fighting forward.  I don’t depend on anyone for anything.

I’ve said before, my spirit has been reforged in the fires of hell, and I’ve seen myself stripped bare, naked and stark in the bright light of loneliness, and from that moment of truth, I don’t fear my Karma.  I have lived and will continue to live my life in a manner that allows me to look myself in the mirror every morning and feel good about the person I am.  I’m not perfect.  But I am a decent, hard-working person who strives to live a good life.

General Posts

Friday Afternoon Ramblings

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I don’t expect most people to understand this, but Christmas just isn’t the same for me anymore.  In part, that’s because of what my ex-wife did to me on Christmas morning, but there’s more to it than that.  Of course, I miss my children more this time of year than any other, and maybe if they were with me, I’d feel differently, but I just feel like the spirit of the season has become distorted and perverted into something profane.  While I don’t consider myself a Christian, I always loved the idea of peace on earth and goodwill to all.

But that’s not the reality of Christmas in this country today.  Now, it’s about celebrating how much money you can spend and how many good deals you can find.  Peace on earth has been replaced by competitive shopping, and goodwill has been replaced by tension over long lines and parking spaces.  The whole charade played out in the name of holiness sickens me.  The yearly garbage from Fox News about the war on Christmas would be laughable if it weren’t so misplaced.

The real war on Christmas is waged when families compete over how much lighting they can install, which by the way is a holdover of a pagan tradition to ward away evil spirits during the winter solstice.  The real war on Christmas is waged when TV commercials mock Santa Claus to demonstrate how good their deals are.  Those are the things that undermine the spirit of giving and distort it into a materialistic competition that has no connection to the story of Christ, whose message was to give to the needy, shepherd the lost, heal the sick, and turn the other cheek.  The real war on Christmas is waged every time someone values the material object over the spirit of charity.

If you want to know where we’ve lost our way in this nation, look no further than that.  The message of Christ, one of love and compassion, has been distorted into hate and competition for political and economic advantage.  I know I’m not the first to point out this perversion, and I know I won’t be the last, but if I can send one message to my country this Christmas it would be to look closely at the teachings of Jesus Christ, not as told by the modern church, but as told by His disciples.  The road to happiness is through love and charity, not through 50% sales, cascade lighting, and an empty ceremonial exchanging of nonessential gifts.  Peace will come with tranquility and splendor.

General Posts

Birthday Ramblings

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Today, I turn 39, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride.  For me, getting older doesn’t bother me because I recognize that it beats the alternative.  When I was 16, I nearly died, and while it took a few years to learn the lesson and embrace the gift I’d been granted, today I recognize that every moment of the last 22 years has been “bonus” time that I shouldn’t have had.  I won’t lie and say my life has been easy or I’ve reached the level of success I expect for myself, but I am proud of the things I have accomplished.

Nothing in this life is promised.  Nothing is guaranteed.  On this day, I’m merely grateful for another day to speak to my children,  another day to write on this blog, another day to enjoy the sun.  I don’t mind the gray in my beard or the weakening of my muscles or the little aches from old wounds.  To me, those are merely reminders of that day in 1989 when I nearly lost it all.  I’m grateful for all I’ve experienced in the last 22 years, the good and bad, because each moment has given me fuel for my creative fire.

I hope to live at least another 39 years.  I hope to write more books and more blog entries.  I hope to grow old and watch my sons become men.  I hope to grow as a person, gain more wisdom, learn to forgive, and let go of the past.  I hope to retain my kindness and compassion, because no matter what the selfish and greedy may believe, being kind and compassionate to those in need are the paths to happiness and self-contentment.  I’m still a work in progress and don’t claim to be perfect.  There are many lessons left for me to learn.  If I’m lucky, I’ll learn to be more patient with people, learn to show my love more fully, learn to be kinder to myself, and learn to forgive others.

My only selfish wish for my birthday is to sell a few books today.  So if you want to do something for my birthday, the greatest gift you could give me is to spread the word about my series and the newest release.  That’s all for now.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.