Saturday, December 20, 2008

Just Juice 12/20/08

Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar - but the best improve with age.

Pope John XXIII
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It's frightening to look down the tunnel of my past and wonder why so many things are not the way they were. It seems the milk of kindness and mercy that followed me has curdled. The strong right arm has rusted and the joints are stiff. There are hollow places where the bricks of power used to be. The sure words of effectiveness and result now seem weak and lacking. Shunning guilt and failure is now the major move in every day's search. Do the messes matter? There's no going back, Some of them will never be cleaned up. They are the stuff of archeology. The light still shines in my heart. No one to love does not affect the love. The truth is here someplace, I know that. I still search for it. When I am finally broken bread and poured out wine will it still be good or will I be vinegar? Outside my temple I am just a man in the street, But inside I am still a hero to myself. I will not turn on those who have it better than I do. I will not blame the rich nor the poor. I will not blame myself for anything but too few discoveries. I will carry my song through the forest though no one is there to hear it.

Tonight I walked 4 blocks in the dark and freezing rain. When I got here I realized that I had been thinking all the way, not about the treacherous journey to get here nor the nasty weather nor how cold I was, but that everything I do, the walk in the rain, the washing of the dishes, even typing this entry, is not life. They are all the things that go on while real life is happening. I need to become more alert to that.

DB - Vagabond Journeys

6 comments:

Ken Riches said...

Be thankful for the ability to be independent and to have that walk.

I am sure that you are more like a fine and aged wine than vinegar :o)

Big Mark 243 said...

Hmmm ... wanted to let you know that I read your entry.

betty said...

I ditto what Mark left as a comment,DB, I read it; I'm just not sure what to comment on

just stay safe when walking in that freezing rain; ice is very treacherous (I think I spelled that wrong)

betty

Beth said...

I'm with Ken: fine wine, not vinegar. :)

Arlene (AJ) said...

Every day life brings us a challenge, we just have to work the best we can to handle it and keep strong. If you still feel the light shining in your heart and you're a hero to yourself, then you're one special man, never let yourself think anything different.

Oh did I ever tell you that I'm related to the late Pope John Paul II.

Breezy said...

People like you make a big difference in peoples lives in many ways. You just don't know how, because the way you touch people may have been brief, or in a manner they couldn't contact you. Plus people don't go out of their way anymore to pay compliments or encourage. It is selfish on their part. Here online we have the opportunity to let you know how we appreciate and enjoy you. I know others do too, but can't let you know.

I can think of several people that were instrumental in a few great things in my life, and I regret I never got to tell them how they changed my life. They will never know and could be alone and lonely now and feel they never accomplished anything great, but they did!!!