Capturing All There Is – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are so many things that require discipline and commitment.   They require attention and work to maintain.  Whether it is thoughts, words, or actions thing must be done with deliberation.  

If I am to capture all there is then I must master my thoughts.  I must bring them into captivity so that I do not engage in faithless ponderings.   I need to see that as my Grandfather used to say, “What’s down in the well is what comes up in the bucket.”

I choose what I allow in the well.  Others will attempt to poison its waters.  Others will try to say that there is nothing there to begin with.  The Father has filled the well with things he wishes to be there.  I must assure that I add only good pure things to it. 

Thoughts become words and actions.  We are told to capture every thought so that we do not say and do things that are unwise.  The proactive approach seems to be to master the thoughts that are good and holy.  It seems that if I continue to train my mind to think well then I will be able to speak and do well. 

This does not mean that there will not be negative thoughts and feelings.  It means I must deal with them honestly.  It means that I must assure that I do not let how I feel control my thoughts, words, or actions.   I must accept what my heart says remembering that it is sometime desperately wicked and deceitful.   By deliberating before speaking or acting I can assure that the poison does not spread. 

If I am to capture all there is then I must obediently follow; so much the better if I can do so in the company of others.

Nexus – Dan Fogelberg

Across the vein of night there cuts a path of searing light

Burning like a beacon on the edges of our sight

At the point of total darkness and the lights divine, divide

A soul can let its shadow stretch and land on either side, either side

And balanced on the precipice, the moment must reveal

Naked in the face of time our race within the wheel

As we hang beneath the heavens and we hover over hell

Our hearts become the instruments we learn to play so well

So wealthy the spirit that knows its own flight

Stealthy the hunter who slays his own fright

Blessed the traveler who journeys the length of the light

Outside the pull of gravity beyond the spectral veil

Within our careful reasoning we search to no avail

For the constant in the chaos for the fulcrum in the void

Following a destiny our steps cannot avoid

Across the vein of night there cuts a path of searing light

Burning like a beacon on the edges of our sight

At the point of total darkness and the lights divine, divide

A soul can let its shadow stretch and land on either side

Wealthy the spirit that knows its own flight

Stealthy the hunter who slays his own fright

Blessed the traveler who journeys the length of the light

In a spiral never-ending are we drawn towards the source

Spinning at the mercy of an unrelenting force

So we stare into the emptiness and fall beneath the weight

Circling the Nexus in a fevered dance with fate

Wealthy the spirit that knows its own flight

Stealthy the hunter who slays his own fright

Blessed the traveler who journeys the length of the light

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Capturing All There Is - Spiritual

Greetings Dear Reader,

One would think that the spiritual aspect of following Christ with all that I am would be the easiest part.  Although faith comes easy for me there are still challenges.  Those challenges require regular attention if I am to capture all there is.

The true challenge is in the minor things.  The real challenge is in the mundane and common.  I must keep in the front of my mind that there are no secular issues.  There are no areas that are no a spiritual issue.

This does not mean that I need to speak in spiritual language about everything.  In fact that is pretty ineffective and does not always communicate well.  I need to communicate with my life and actions. 

This means that I regard everything as an act relative to my faith.  I do not have leave to compartmentalize anything.  I must assure that in the smallest things are treated as holy.  I must always have in mind that everything I do is done with life and energy from God.

All that I do belongs to the Father anyway.  Every action is an interaction with him.  How I think becomes actions so it must be my thoughts that are holy.  Every action matters so my actions must be holy.  It is all a matter of choose to capture everything for the purpose of walking more closely with Christ.  It is not my life to give away to the belief that my actions to not matter at every level.  Even the life is a gift that I must use wisely.  There are no secular issues.

It Ain’t Yours to Throw Away – Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio

That same road that brought you here

Will sure as hell take you home

The life you left behind will have you back

You're tired of paying dues in worn out shoes

And Broadway blues

And any fool will tell you

The damn ol' deck is stacked

What if you're just a vessel?

And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away

Every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

No...

And all of the players, the movers, and shakers

The story maker suits have gone home

You drew the last slot

You thought it was your shot

But now it's just one more chance blown

What if you're just a vessel?

And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away

Every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

No...

And our town is cold as January

Life comes true, and dreams get buried

Every day...

Destiny won't be denied

It ain't yours to throw away

No, it ain't yours to throw away

'Cause every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away ...

Throw away

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Capturing All There Is - The Little Things

Greetings Dear Reader,

This particular thing casts a much wider net.  It is also a generality that is important.  It goes to the idea that I am accountable for all my time.  It hitches t to the thought that everything I find to do I am to do with a whole heart to God. 

Idle time is very difficult for me.  It is when the dark things raise their voices to infuse doubt and discouragement.  Hope and conviction are confronted by doubt and despair.  If I am to master this I must capture every thought.  I must live deliberately in these moments.

It matters if I leave the dishes until morning.  I have always felt this way but only recently begun to understand why.  The tiny daily disciplines keep some of the bad habits at bay.  If I render things to a bit more outer order I can avoid some of the internal chaos. 

If I am to capture all there is then the trifles perfect that.  Just as a thousand tiny disappointments can break a heart, the myriad of undone things break concentration and comfort.

I do not think that I will ever think of this place as home.  It is where I abide for now and I must use it with respect for God’s provision.  I must also use it for making things better.  I must use the time and the opportunity to further the things I am called to do and be.  I must capture all of the time.

It is always about using the time.   It is about redeeming it for the Light and staving off the encroaching darkness.  Even when I feel in tatters I can use the tiny disciplines to set the ability to do well.  It is easier to follow if there is less in the way.

Broken – Lifehouse

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight

Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time

I am here still waiting though i still have my doubts

I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing

With a broken heart that's still beating

In the pain, there is healing

In your name I find meaning

So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on

I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head

I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead

I still see your reflection inside of my eyes

That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing

with a broken heart that's still beating

In the pain (in the pain), is there healing

In your name (in your name) I find meaning

So I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin') I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hangin' on another day

Just to see what you throw my way

And I'm hanging on to the words you say

You said that I will be OK

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone

I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing

with a broken heart that's still beating

In the pain(In the pain) there is healing

In your name I find meaning

So I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm holdin' on (I'm still holdin'), I'm barely holdin' on to you.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Capturing All There Is - Social

Greetings Dear Reader,

This one is always a challenge for me.  I am a very social being but also a home body.  I like social dining and some social events.  I do, however, resist things outside of my comfort zone. 

If I am to capture all there is socially then I must be more fluid in what I do.  I must also assure that I engage in things that do not limit my ability to reflect Christ.  The core of creativity is to think new thoughts and try new things.  

I must take the risks I fear and seek the things that interest me.  I must follow Christ wherever he leads.  This includes being available to ventures that make me uncomfortable.

As the opportunities present themselves I must evaluate them not by my comfort but by that voice that lets me know that I should or should not do a thing.  I must be open for the Spirit to drive me where it will.  This is both hard to discern and to brave.  I must, however, do it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Capturing All There Is - Artistic

Greetings Dear Reader,

I inch toward a goal.  My dream is to make my living only through writing.  With a new book on the shelves I will turn toward some marketing while trying to set a pace of one new book per year.  To do all of this will require time that I give to other things that are less productive.   

This will take planning and dedication.   I will spend some time planning out the writing but that is at times subject to the boys in the basement and random think worms.  What I can control is my own discipline in the work.  What I can contribute is priority and effort.

Paul tells us that whatever we set out to do we must do with our whole heart to God.  When I schedule time for writing I must give my all.  I must see it as an act of worship using a gift I was given by God.  I must render every word as if I am crafting a gift for the King.

I must also revisit other artistic abilities and find their place in my life.  Things that I can do to create for the Creator deserve my time.  Things that I can render to make the world a more beautiful place or things that further the message of Jesus are worth my time and effort.

Creativity is the dance in the journey.  I get to contribute verses to the one song with my creativity.  I get to render a little order from chaos that may help others.  That is a good thing.  We are all part of the dance.  I must assure that I give my best in the steps that I take. 

The Dance – Kemper Crabb

All creation moves in a cosmic Dance

Before the Lord her King

And the rhythms, the reason, the rhyme

Of the dance pulses within everything

And the universe wheels and whirls like

A dervish in perfect seven-step time.

The Lord made the Dance,

He taught her the steps, and He

Causes the songs to shine.

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

We must yield all of our steps unto the King

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

Let His praises ring throughout the earth.

Adam and Eve danced in Eden's environs

early`in earth's morning air

They named all the animals musical names

Glorious potentiality shared.

But Lucifer sang out a serpentine song

And he offered death's dance as a token.

In pausing to listen, Adam missed his step

Earth's harmony in the dance broken.

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

We must yield all of our steps unto the King

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

Let His praises ring throughout the earth.

Jesus danced into the world.

Singing his heavenly song.

He taught the dance to those who would

Listen and learn as He moved along.

But the steps of His dance led to a cross

Where He died as the haters mocked on.

But he danced through death's arms

And over hell's gate and in three days

Danced forth from his tomb.

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

We must yield all of our steps unto the King

We must dance, dance, dance

Dance in God's honor.

Let His praises ring throughout the earth.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Capturing All There Is – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

My dear friend Lori posted a note about things to do in coming year that would make the year better.  That started a think worm for me that has led to pondering on how I will practically work out the things I desire to accomplish.

Since my desire for Route 366 is to maximize my ability to follow Christ in all that I do, I must assure that I consider every area.   I must plan the word and work the plan.  I must also assure that I plan with an eye to God completely laughing at those plans. 

As the think worm was working away at my subconscious I was discussing Pokémon with my elder Grandson, Orion.   He was explaining that you had to capture all of them to win the game he was playing.  This was a made up game using small figures he had received as a gift.  The rules were fluid and always in his favor.

The think worm connected Lori’s post and the Pokémon theme of “You got to catch them all” into a way to categorize my thinking about finding practical ways to live out my overreaching desire.  In the next few days as I return to my “normal” activities I want to walk through practical ways to capture all there is in the various areas of my existence.

I know where I want to be and am unsure how to get there.  I have been slowed by the difficulties of the last year.  Some of the energy required to stay focused on my efforts was channeled at maintaining through the challenges.   I realize I will be where I am for longer than I wish.  I will stay until I learn what I must.

As I work my way through capturing all that I can on this route feel free to make suggestions and observations.   Your company Dear Reader will be something I treasure in every aspect of my journey.  Your assistance as friend and good counsel is ever valuable to me.  I know where I am headed and perhaps I can work out how to get there with less pain and more alacrity. 

The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles

The long and winding road

That leads to your door

Will never disappear

I've seen that road before

It always leads me here

Lead me to your door

The wild and windy night

That the rain washed away

Has left a pool of tears

Crying for the day

Why leave me standing here

Let me know the way

Many times I've been alone

And many times I've cried

Any way you'll never know

The many ways I've tried

But still they lead me back

To the long winding road

You left me standing here

A long long time ago

Don't leave me waiting here

Lead me to your door

But still they lead me back

To the long winding road

You left me standing here

A long long time ago

Don't keep me waiting here

Lead me to your door

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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