The Riddle – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday we had a birthday party for my younger Son, Bezel.  I love him more than I can put into words.  He is a kind and compassionate man.  He has many friends who think highly of him.

As I close my thoughts on this song it is my Son that is foremost in my heart.  He is still looking for the answer to this riddle.  I think that he does not see how much his mother and I both love him.  I think he does not understand his potential for greatness or the many gifts God has infused into who he is.

The riddle for me is to how to show others that the riddle is so very simple.

Here's a riddle for you

Find the Answer

There's a reason for the world: You and I...

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."

The Riddle – We’re all We Got

Greetings Dear Reader,

I guess we're big and I guess we're small

If you think about it man you know we got it all

Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball

And I love you free

I love you freely

I find it so interesting that so much of the why or our existence comes back to taking care of each other; loving each other.  I have written much about this but this song gives me a new thought on it.  If you believe in God then you realize that he insists that the basis on which we interact is love.  If you do not believe in God then all we have is each other.

Either way the impact of unconditional love is undeniable.  I have seen over and over the effect of people showing unconditional love.  I have experienced the healing and encouraging power of it.  I have been privileged to share it with others.

This one thing is a clue to the great mystery.  Even now thinking about it pushes me to hone my practice of unconditional love for others. 

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."

The Riddle – The Batter Swings

Greetings Dear Reader,

This part of a line from the song touches something so deep inside of me.  It resonates against that place where the basic binary choices are made in my soul.  Some years ago I wrote about this.  Those words covey how this relates this to my life better than anything I have put down since.

Excerpt from The Mound – Sheet Rock on the Road – Aramis Thorn

The pitcher looks in and takes his first signal from the catcher.  Their secret language of numbers and motions tells the pitcher what to throw and the catcher what to expect.  Sequestered in the pitcher’s glove is the ball.  He carefully rotates to get the grip essential to the proper pitch.  Carefully adjusting his footing, he looks in one more time to get his bearings.  The stretch and delivery can be ponderous or lightning fast.  Either way the sphere is launched and the batter must choose.  Like all of life, he as little time to decide but he must decide to swing or not. From that single binary choice flow a multitude of linear binary choices.  If he does not swing is it a ball or a strike?  If he swings is it a hit or a miss?  If it is a hit is it fair or foul?  Is it a grounder or in the air?  Is it a fly ball or line drive?  Is it fieldable or out of reach?  Is it a home run?

The time from pitch to home run is a matter of seconds, and every pitch has that potential.  Each ball thrown could end up sailing over the fence into the glove or head of a waiting fan.  It does not matter which team hits the home run everyone loves to see it.  In every game, every pitch from every pitcher has the same potential.  Weather curve-ball  breaking ball, or fastball the binary choices unfold with the same potential conclusion.  Every batter has the chance to reach that potential, even pitchers

This is why baseball is sacred.  From it I learned about potential and fair play.   My Grandfather knew there were life lessons in the box seats at Atlanta Stadium and he diligently passed them along to me with a fair supply of hot-dogs and soft drinks.  You never boo the opposition.  You always cheer a great play even if it is the other team.  You do not leave your empty cups in the stands.  You are nice to the vendors.  The most important lesson though is on the mound.  Poised there is the pitcher and the next pitch is imminent.  The linear binary will unfold even if no one but the pitcher acts.  It will pass too quickly to see.  This is the definition of life. Like every pitch, every moment has new potential but only if we choose to swing. 

No batter is every successful by just standing there.  He must be a part of things.  He must choose when to swing.  My Grandson witnessed his first home-run a few weeks ago.  He knew the import of the moment even at age 2.  We all know when we are faced with chances to make a difference.  We will not if we do not swing.

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."

The Riddle – To the Mystery

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am astounded at all the things I used to think I knew.  I am just as astounded at the things of which I am still certain.  I am certain that God is there and that he is active.  I am certain that the designated hitter is a bad idea.  I am certain that the more we learn about the universe the less we actually know.

Science in the world has found so many things and yet those answers still lead to more questions.  The universe keeps unfolding as we probe outwardly.  What we learn informs so many areas of our knowledge.  Still, however, we have so many more questions.  I think that we have not even begun to grasp the depth of what we do not know. 

One of the things that keeps me engaged in all of this is that I do not think our depth of knowledge ever will explain nor will it dismiss God.  I still find mystery in so many things.  Even when I can explain the physics, chemistry, or process I find that it is the unknown that tantalizes me.  

The mystery that drives me the most is love.  We can assign chemical reactions and survival of the species to love all we wish.  That someone will sacrifice everything, including life for the love of another is a mystery.  This to me is a clue to all other things.

In pondering the mysteries of existence and its purpose I must inform that thinking through God’s insistence that his relationship to us and ours to each other be based on love.  I wonder how the Bible would read were we to translate it based on this premise?  I am not saying that current translations are not good.  There are some excellent ones.  I do think there are things that could be translated better.

I do wonder why we do not begin with this great mystery when we approach the great questions of the universe.  I think that the power of unconditional love is the most penetrating and invasive thing there is.  I think that on some levels it is irresistible. 

Love is the mystery that runs through all other things.  When we try to remove it we lose something.  When we are without it we feel the loss and we are not complete.  I think it is a clue to the great mysteries and a substantive part of the answer. 

There are secrets that we still have left to find

There have been mysteries from the beginning of time

There are answers we're not wise enough to see

He said... You’re looking for a clue; I Love You free...

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."

The Riddle – Don’t Miss Out?

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of my greatest regrets in life are lost moments with my Sons.  Because of choices I made I missed time with them that I would have rather had.  I cannot blame anyone else and I am sure this will haunt and shame me to my grave.

How is this related to The Riddle?  I think that all parents walk through a place of regret.  They make choices that at the moment they refuse to see will have life-long impact.  We need to be so careful how we treat each other.  We need to be sure that we do not live attitudes or have actions that teach our children things that will harm them.

Our children will live out the things we do whether we or they realize it.  They will modify our failings to fit their lives or they will create new failures of their own in reaction to avoiding ours.  I do not mean that my children are failures.  I am very proud of them.  What I do mean is that I can see in their choices some of the damage done by my wrong ones.

Having just had a wonderful evening with my children over the weekend I know that they love me and value me.  There is in my heart still the constant din of the ways in which I have failed them.  Part of the riddle for me is how to heal that damage.  It may be beyond me to do it.  It may be that the natural consequence of my choices is to live with that failure.  There is, however, always hope for healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

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."

The Riddle – What is the Riddle?

Greetings Dear Reader,

First I must ask if you have listened to the song.  If you have not it would be worth it to go to yesterday’s link and listen.  It will give one context.  Second I need to address what the riddle is.

It is the question we all ponder and I will attempt to answer it.  It is a timeless question.  What is the reason for the world and our existence?  I know that there are those who disagree with me and that is an option.  I believe that design demands a designer.  I believe that the world was intelligently designed with a purpose.

What this song does is ask that question from the perspective of the beautiful things in the world.  One of the paths to discover of my purpose was to see what is beautiful about our world.  While I find great beauty in the natural world I find more infinite beauty in the human spirit.

When we band together we are amazing in our ability to do good.  When an individual is kind he or she transcends something intangible.  In this song Michael Ondrasik captures some of those moments so well.  The moment between a father and a son when the father challenges him to seek the reason for the world is so important.

He uses art (a Dylan song), the natural world (eclipse of the moon), and love (swoon) to show the many ways in which we can see that we have a purpose.  I know that these kinds of things all speak to me.  I know that they inform my belief and more importantly my questions.

The beautiful things of the world should push me to seek and to see the purpose of the world.  We can create, observe, and experience beautiful things.  Why?  What is intended of this?  How does it benefit us if we are not designed by something greater than us?  The world tells us that beauty matters.  It drives me to seek the source of that beauty.

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."

Second Thoughts - Orion’s Smile

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

Yesterday Maxim, Bezel, Christmas, Orion, and I attended a baseball game.  We arrived early and feasted on Brats, Hot dogs, and Hamburgers.  Throughout the game we kept reminding Orion that there would be fireworks at the end.  He did really well and when it was time he locked his attention on the late evening sky.

 

He sat with his Father silently smiled as the rockets rose and burst in so many colours.  His comment at the end was “we need some more of that.”  I agree.  Anything that brings out his beautiful precious smile needs to be in the category of MORE.

I found great joy and beauty in the time with my Children and my Grandson.  I found great joy as I shared moments with each of them.  It makes the journey so great that God has blessed me with such beautiful loved ones.

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."

The Riddle – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I believe that the question that moves through us all at one point is the question as to why we are here.  I heard one of my favorite songs on this subject again over the holiday and decided to ponder it more deeply.  I have great respect for John Ondrasik and his music.  He has been kind to me when I have needed to use his music on special occasions.  I want to be clear that I am not attempting to exegete his lyrics but rather discuss how they have impacted me. 

This song, The Riddle is one that I have loved from the first moment I heard it.  Before I launch into my thoughts on it, I wanted to give you the opportunity to listen to the song.  Listen for the subtleties in the lyrics.  Listen for the inflection in the singing.  Most of all enjoy the song.  The link below will take you to the song and I have provided the lyrics.  We will get started on my thoughts on this tomorrow.

The Riddle – Fiver for Fighting - John Ondrasik

There was a man back in '95

Whose heart ran out of summers

But before he died, I asked him

Wait, what's the sense in life

Come over me, Come over me

He said, Son why you got to sing that tune

Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon

Let an angel swinging and make you swoon

Then you will see... You will see

Then he said,

Here's a riddle for you

Find the Answer

There's a reason for the world: You and I...

Picked up my kid from school today

Did you learn anything cause in the world today

You can't live in a castle far away

Now talk to me, come talk to me

He said,

Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small

In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all

Still every mother's child sings a lonely song

So play with me, come play with me

And Hey Dad

Here's a riddle for you

Find the Answer

There's a reason for the world, You, and I...

I said,

Son for all I've told you

When you get right down to the

Reason for the world...Who am I?

There are secrets that we still have left to find

There have been mysteries from the beginning of time

There are answers we're not wise enough to see

He said... You’re looking for a clue; I Love You free...

The batter swings and the summer flies

As I look into my angel's eyes

A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me

Something comes over me

I guess we're big and I guess we're small

If you think about it man you know we got it all

Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball

And I love you free

I love you freely

Here's a riddle for you

Find the Answer

There's a reason for the world: You and I...

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."

Second Thoughts - A Reader’s Comment

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

Recently I posted about the difficulty I have writing sometimes.  One of you, Dear Reader, posted the following:

Anonymous said...

Please don't stop writing...ever!

You have no idea how much that simple request meant to me.  I do not know who you are; neither do I need to know.  What I have now is that someone wishes me to write.  I have to anyway or I would probably go mad.  I do, however, think that others do not realize how much it means to a writer when one takes the time to interact with him in a forum like a blog.

It is easy to like the posted writing on my Facebook page or even on a friends re-post. I am always grateful for this.  It is more energizing when one makes the effort to go to my Blog page and actually comment.  I read, evaluate, and save every one of these.  I go back to them when writing responses or furthering a conversation.

So for each of you that takes the time to visit my page and offer an interaction, I thank you.  I look forward to more conversation. 

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."

That Freaky Cardinal

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have written before about the cardinal that lives outside my living room window.  He takes great joy in pecking at the window and the mirrors on my car incessantly.   He is attacking his reflection. My Grandson has named him the Freaky Cardinal and asks about him often.  It seems that this insane beautiful bird has something to teach me.

My house is not air conditioned and I slept downstairs last night with the windows open and the fans running.  At two in the morning this same freaky Cardinal decided to pay me a visit.  It was not the usual pecking at the window.  Rather he chose to perch on the edge of the raised window and sing. 

The song woke me from a deep sleep. It inserted itself into my dream before calling me to consciousness.  It was beautiful and enchanting.  Here is a good sample of Cardinal Song.  I was a bit annoyed about the time but the beauty of him just sitting there and singing overrode the annoyance. 

As I write this it is daylight and he again attacking the window.   On balance I must say that all the annoying tapping is compensated for by his early morning singing.  Perhaps if I focus more on the beauty of this bird’s song his tapping will be a meager price to pay.  Perhaps I can learn to look for the beauty in all the things that annoy me and become less easily annoyed.

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."