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Showing posts from June 2, 2010

Magical Moment 124, "The Wonder of Everywhere"

My car has over 106,000 miles on it, nearly each and every one of them driven with myself at the wheel. Some of what I pass is familiar, and much is brand new. There are rolling green hills in North Carolina that could pass as a view from Ireland. There is farmland in Pennsylvania that could be the inspiration for a painter’s masterpiece. And there are sunsets in Nebraska that couldn’t be more beautiful, even if they were set over the Italian waters of Venice. When I hear of people who grew up in strange and exotic places like Key West, or Hawaii, I wonder what amazing things they've seen and experienced. What unique stories they must have to tell. They must really have special lives unlike any other. During my travels, I've realized that it’s not just the pictures on postcards that are magical. I know of a place called the Russian Bottom in Lincoln, NE, where the majestic blare of a railroad train horn brings unmatched awe and wonder to little boys on a daily basis. I once h

Magical Moment 123, "Thy Will Be Done"

There are some days, like today, when I know I need God's help. I know that I can't do it alone and I must ask Him to carry me through. But like everything else in my mind, I talk myself crazy. I'm not sure what I should say. I'm afraid I'm asking too much, or asking for something other than God's will. I feel guilty, like maybe I only pray when I want something, or that He should devote His attention to those really in need, the poverty stricken, the abused, or ill. All I know is I need help and to get help, I must ask Him for it. There were times, I'm ashamed to admit, when I would simply forgo prayer all together for all the above reasons. It wasn't until recently, He reminded me what to do. Now, when I feel this way, I simply revert to back about 20 years to Sunday school and recite the Lord's Prayer. I close my eyes, take a breath, and pray every word, allowing the words to flow with fervent conviction when needed. The Lord knows what's r

Magical Moment 122, "Neurotic Crazy"

“There is no substitute for hard work.” –Thomas Alva Edison My heart tells me this is true, but my mind tells me, ” Maybe you’re not working hard enough. Work harder. Do more. And if you don’t reach your goal, it’s simply because you didn’t work hard enough .” We’ll see soon enough. Tomorrow, in fact. If I don’t reach this goal, I hope I can handle it. I hope that my reward for recently recognizing my neurotic crazy and trying to correct it, will be to reach this goal. If not, I may slip back into neurotic crazy. But I hope not. But if I do reach this goal, how will I ever learn to cope when I don’t reach one in the future. Maybe I’ll never learn. But I’m trying to learn. I’m doing it again, aren’t I? C'est la vie. What will be will be. I can say it, now if I could only believe it. Nope, still not there yet. But I’m trying. God, can I have points for trying? I guess we’ll see after today, because points is what I need.

Magical Moment 121, "Airborne Subway"

I had the weirdest case of déjà vu today in the city. I took the subway up town to spend some time at Central Park on this beautiful warm afternoon and buy Goose an ice cream from one of the local vendors. After walking block after block through the packed city, I hoped and prayed for an empty seat on the stuffy, crowded subway car, but to no avail. Instead I was pushed to the middle of the aisle where the only way to balance myself as the train raced across the railway, was to grab the overhead steal bar. I reached up with my left hand and grasped the horizontal bar with my fist. Only a few steps in front of me was the side sliding doors that I would exit through. I looked down and noticed my feet were shoulder width apart, one slightly in front of the other. Then I realized that my right hand was placed over my purse, which had fallen to the front of my waist to keep the crowd from knocking it off my shoulder. That’s when I realized it. If the metal bar was a static line, my purse

Magical Moment 120, "Dive In"

Today, we made our first trip to the Jersey Shore since our move to this area. It was complete with unnaturally toned muscles, orange-tanned bodies, and a long, wooden boardwalk lined with funnel cake vendors and carnival rides. I’ve heard that the freezing ocean up here is not fit for swimming until at least mid-July, but the beach was packed with sunbathers nonetheless who worked up the nerve to go mid-calf into the chilly water. Seagulls flew overhead, shrieking as they swooped near open bags of potato chips. Sea shells covered the fine, golden sand. Umbrellas sprang up from the ground to form an insignificant, but appreciated dot of shade among the barren dunes that stretched on either side of us as far as we could see. Eddie, Goose , and I laid on the beach relaxing and getting some much needed color on our pasty legs, when the sweat began to trickle down our faces. We decided to sacrifice our toes and ankles to the cold water in exchange for momentary relief from the heat. As th

Magical Moment 119, "The First Step"

They say the first step to overcoming a problem is to identify it. I am the queen of psyching myself out. I can talk myself into circles and make the most microscopic problem into a catastrophic ordeal. There. I identified it. Actually, I’ve known for quite some time. It’s been my life long struggle. Since I was a child, I remember correlating two unrelated issues and tying them together to make them absolutely causal. If I didn’t memorize this one verse (out of like a thousand), I would never win the Timothy Award in Awanas. If I never won the Timothy Award, I would let down my parents, Mrs. Brooks, and myself. Therefore, if I didn’t memorize that one verse, everyone I cared about and looked up to would be disappointed in me, I would never earn their respect, and I would live my life sorry and alone. My first year in ROTC, if I didn’t max my physical fitness test (obtain the highest score possible), I would be a horrible officer when I was commissioned three years later. Being in th

Magical Moment 118, "Maria"

A true story.... (to hear recording, scroll down) "Maria" by Elizabeth Grimes, Copyright 2009 Vs 1: "Mi esposa bonita, te amo," he told her. And she cried with joy for she believed it was true. To prove his love for her, he endured the pain. On his right arm he showed her the fresh green tattoo. Te amo, Maria. Te amo, Maria. One day she found his lies. And he chose another. And she cried with grief as she watched them both leave. Oh, but his young, new chiquita won't let him go with out his pancho for when he takes it off she just can't bear to read, Te amo, Maria. Te amo, Maria. And now he must live wearing that sweet angel's name. Te amo, Maria. (Now he's missing Maria.) Te amo, Maria (He dreams of kissing Maria.) Te amo, Maria. (Now he's missing Maria.) Te amo, Maria (He dreams of kissing Maria.)