All Souls Day

Greetings Dear Reader,

I was reminded last evening by a dear friend that the uniqueness of every soul is precious to God.  My friend was telling me what was beautiful about her day.  She mentioned the morning mist that visited our state yesterday.   It was that same mist that caught my eye.  I even took a picture of it.

When I took that picture, I had no idea that twelve hours later I would get to connect with a soul that I cherish over it.   That is the point of it all.  We are meant to connect as souls.  We are meant to see the value of every soul.

It is the soul that continues.  It is the that which carries the spark that defines us.  Every soul is unique.  Every soul is created to be something of value to the entire song.  Every soul sings its own note. 

The key is to understand that every note matters.  The whole is incomplete without each major or minor sounds.  My place is to hear and value each note that I encounter.  My obligation is to encourage every note to sound clear and strong so that we reach that universal harmony.

Every soul matters.  I must assure that every soul matters to me.

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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In Christ Alone – Song

Greetings Dear Reader,

The adjustment makes a song difficult.  Dirges float through me more than the bright stuff I like.   Sleep eludes me.  When I do sleep the cinema of my mind torments me.  I love music and am trying to put Christ in my mind as deeply as possible.

There are songs that help and I am listening to them even though my heart yearns to dwell on minor keys and tragic tones.  If I am not real in this Dear Reader I will not be real in anything else.  This solitude forces me to make Christ my song.

Whether I sing through laughter of tears I do better if I sing.  I must be careful that I push away the songs that diminish my faith and hope.  I must cling to the music that pushes me step by step down the path.  Even when the steps are leaden and hard if Christ is my song I will find my way. 

My story is at painful chapter, but then all good stories are.  My journey seems to be in the dark paths or Mirkwood with little sign of getting through any time soon.  Then again, I carry the light of Christ with me in my heart.  I am carried by the strength of Christ when I am weary.  I will walk on with the song of Christ on my lips.

I do not want to today.  I want to despair.  I want to quit.  I want to abandon my quest.  An untested faith is not worth having so I will not despair, quit, or stop following.  I will keep the company of those who held on to their faith even when every step was marked with tears.  The way out is through.  If this is where he leads me this is where I am to follow.  It truly is that simple. 

My Story – Big Daddy Weave

If I told you my story

You would hear hope that wouldn't let go

If I told you my story

You would hear love that never gave up

If I told you my story

You would hear life but it wasn't mine

If I should speak then let it be

Of the grace that is greater than all my sin

Of when justice was served and where mercy wins

Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in

To tell you my story is to tell of Him

If I told you my story

You would hear victory over the enemy

If told you my story

You would hear freedom that was won for me

If I told you my story

You would hear life overcome the grave

If I should speak then let it be

This is my story this is my song praising my Savior all the day long

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Why I love Christmas – Friends and Family

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

Today is a big day.  In just a few hours friends and family will begin arriving for our annual Christmas open house.  For eleven years save one we have hosted this event so that we get to see our friends during the Christmas season. 

I always take time the morning of this event to think about friends lost and distant.  I have lost friends along the journey that I remember and miss.  Some have reached the clearing at the end of the path ahead of me.  They are probably warning Jesus that I am coming and suggesting he reconsider the whole idea of letting me in.

Some I have lost due to anger, enmity, or un-forgiveness.  These losses haunt me and pray for the friends involved.  Some of the losses are my fault and that hurts me the most.  Eventually, however, all strife will be gone and I will have peace with these lost friends.  Until then I must become a better man so that I remain worthy of their friendship.

I will spend the morning prepping food.  I will rest for a shore bit and dress.  Then I will spend the day greeting and chatting people I know and love.  Every year I meet a few new people who are invited by one of my children or are a plus one to someone invited.  I have met some very good friends this way.

The house is decorated.  Some things already simmer on the stove.  For the moment I am focused on how blessed I am to have the friends that I have.  I am sure that most of them do not know how much I love and value them.  This is one of the ways I get to tell them.  Christmas allows me to show them a few hours of love and this is precious to me.

The family that will be here is precious as well.  I love them more than I can express and Christmas is a chance to show them that I see what they need and will try to give it to them.  This party is where that giving begins. 

Later this evening I will sit in my comfy chair like pigs in clover and ponder the day.  I will be tired and drowsy.  I will think about the people I saw and the people I did not.  I will ponder the friends who are too far away to be here but whom I miss dearly.  I will whisper a prayer of thanks for them all. Then I will follow that with a prayer for the day to arrive quickly when we can all be together to celebrate Christ and our friendship in him.   That is the day I try to catch a glimpse of each year with this celebration.   I long for it with all that I am.

Last Man at the Party – Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

Sister Bridget by the stair; a glass of wine and she's almost there.

Cousin Jimmy at the door; another beer and he's on the floor.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

Stinky Joe from down the street fell right over his own three feet.

He's doubled up in the outside loo, to taste again the devil's brew.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year.

The house is jumping, suppers up. Curried goat in a paper cup.

Forks of plastic, knives of tin... who cares what state the goat is in.

Someone with the gift of song

has brought his pal to sing along.

Now they're turning up old Frank Sinatra on the stereo.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year?

Sister Bridget by the stair; a glass of wine and she's almost there.

Cousin Jimmy at the door; another beer and he's on the floor.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year?

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." 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)