Passing through the garden gate, the world of dull grays and monotonous noise fades away in an instant as I’m transported to an entirely new reality. The air is thick with humidity, soft and soupy, enveloping me in the comforting pressure of a loved one’s hug. Yet despite the humidity, the air is that refreshing cool of a July evening, only heightened by the gentle breeze that continuously caresses my skin with its sweet perfume of honeysuckle and jasmine, the scent of summer’s abundance and possibility. Wispy white clouds drift lazily across the sky, ablaze with sunset’s pink hues, softness and ferocity juxtaposed in perfect balance. Taking in my surroundings, I notice the twinkling of fireflies playing at the edges of my vision as they dance their whimsical dance, transporting me back to the innocence and freedom of childhood summer evenings — all dried sweat and dirty hands, hot asphalt under bare feet, shouts of joyous laughter and jars of captured light. The world around me, just a moment ago so  lifeless and mundane, is now wrapped in the warm glow of twilight, its diffused sunlight softening all edges, erasing harshness and sharp angles, including my own.

I first heard these words in a rock & roll song by the Byrds back in the sixties, yes I am telling on myself here. The words that I am speaking of are:

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-

A time to give birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace. (Ecc. 3:1-8) NASV

When I first heard these words I sang them and had no idea that they came from the Bible. When you hear the truth you know it, and when you sing the truth it stays with you. These words are still with me to this day as I go through yet another season of my life.

I am realizing that before I can start a new season I must put the old season in the rear view mirror so to speak. That is a driver's interpretation anyway and that is what I have recently had to do. Has anyone else had to do this? I would love to hear how this happened in your life. As we look at the words above they fit to every season I have gone through in life. I think all of us can relate to these words in some way.

The point is that these words are true and there is no way of escaping that fact no matter what you do, because the truth is the truth! But today we are led to believe that everything is relative to us even the truth. If we hold onto to the truth we will see the untruth or lie in that statement. Just like in the words above once I was a kid and now I am a grown up, even more than that I am a grandpa and even a great grandpa now. When we live by the words of truth we begin to gain God's wisdom and not just the world's wisdom. We must then apply the truth we find in our lives or it is of no use to us to just have knowledge we must walk it out in this life we are given and we only live once.

In life there are the season's above and we must learn to put the old or the past in the rear view mirror and continue on our journey in this life into the plan or purpose that God has made for just us and no one else. I wish you well my friends and neighbors and keep up with the pursuit of truth.

I'm betrothed to secrecy...

The type that keeps a dagger stuck in my throat till my gasp becomes as mute as my self-harm thoughts.

For pain is inscribed on the edges of my lips,

Waiting to give you a sip in exchange for comfort.

The pixels of my hurts aren't visible on my face- which only expresses Picassoed Deceit of a farce called happiness.