We signed

We signed our name we raised our hand, the spark became a flame
Our troth we gave to home and hearth, it's flag and then it's name
The oxgall ink shall never fade it's burned within our hearts
The precious words we will defend, in all their many parts

So many of our friends and kin, they did not understand
Our oath and our allegiance to the freedom of the land
We did know what we had done but we did it all the same
Our life blood was our promise then and liberty our claim

We stand the watch upon the wall that no one ever sees
We look into the dark of night, our nations sleep to ease
Our brothers and our sisters stand, to help us bear the load
Our family stands against the tide, it is our sacred code

When at last we are relieved, and another takes the stand
We gladly watch them take our place, a line drawn in the sand
They now walk the line at night so we might sleep in peace
The soldiers line and sacred oath we know will never cease

Once home we do our best to walk and yet we tend to stride
Our service is a precious thing we mention quietly with pride
We hem and haw about each branch, like siblings in a brawl
But Veterans know, that we are brothers and sisters all

We signed our name we raised our hand, the spark became a flame
Our troth we gave to home and hearth, it's flag and then it's name
The oxgall ink shall never fade it's burned within our hearts
The precious words we will defend, in all their many parts

A Mile

I have always tried to stay some what neutral in debates on social media that had a direct religious timbre.

Policy I will argue all day long. Opinion well I have one to be sure.

Religious I have tried to stay away from. However today I am breaking with that.

I was raised Christian and I have an unwavering faith in the existence of God.

Today I ran across a passage in the New Testament of the Bible that gave me pause to think . (From the King James Translation)
From Mark Chapter 5

"38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

I am reminded of Christians who refused on "principal" to bake a cake, or to take pictures of wedding ceremonies they disagreed with.

I as a person raised Christian I wonder if making the cake or taking the pictures just might be walking the second mile in our modern world.

cats and dogs

We are Predators. Hunters. weather it be wining a fight on the rapier field or harvesting a deer, or even destroying each other in Monopoly and flipping the board. We are creatures of contention and strife. This is how we survive our world.

Our species claims to be better than base animals, but it is only by besting the base emotions and urges that we have any hope of learning from the creatures around us.

Cats and Dogs reflect us. Dogs in the Idea of Pack and the survival of civilization, Cats in the action of affection but with mind of survival. Both are hunters and killers and both are our closest friends.

Sigh I guess I do still have affection for Myth of Herne and the Idea of the High Hunt. I guess I always will.

Introvert

I am an introvert. I know this comes as little surprise to most who know me, maybe a few.

I am not big on being in charge or in front of groups and when I do it is a big commitment for me. I do the job to the best of my ability and I give it everything I have.

Afterwards I might become part of the wood work for awhile. I am not leaving just recharging. I am here even if you don't notice, often I prefer to be unremarked.

I am just taking some time to breathe and then I will be back.

a reflection

A reflection.

Many years ago I was asked to preform a wedding. I still do not know why I was asked but I found a place online to do so, and obtained the credentials needed.

Since then I have been called upon a few more times to preform these rites. Each time I am awestruck that of all the possible choices a couple appeared before me as an officiant for their marriage.

Not all have worked out, but I have a special place in my memory for each who has trusted me to administer the vows.

Every time I have been called I have had tears in my eyes. It is a privilege to serve in this function. To play a small part in the dance of life and love.

Each of us will be called to serve in some form or function. Only by answering this call may we find out it's rewards.