Intelligence? Maybe not

   I have been musing over some conversations that I have had recently.  A number of things stand out about those discussions. This isn't about anyone in particular, but more about a group of individuals from various  backgrounds, social standing and economic diversities. 

    The one thing they all have in common is that they think they know more about any given subject, issue, topic than other people. They sit in their intellectual high seat of "judgement" and declare all other ideas or experiences to have no credibility or validity. It is all about "intelligence" and intellectualism.  Or I should say Pseudo Intellectualism. 

   I may be wrong, but I thought intellect was more than stated opinions. I thought it was about being open to consider those ideas, experiences or beliefs that may be different than our own. I was thinking that in order to have an "intelligent" discussion, there would be the willingness to view a matter from all perspectives, and not just from my much more highly considered opinion. There are times when things that are "irrational", are the very things we have need of. After all, the things that make no sense to me, may be the very thing that opens up a new life for someone else.

   It is perplexing to me, when someone will speak of the danger we are in, of becoming a "totalitarian" nation, and out of the other side of their mouths, they are convinced that "their reasonings" are the ONLY correct reasonings. They are the ones who REALLY see the truth behind the issues.

   When it comes to "religion".... heaven help us all!  I was brought up in a "totalitarian" religion. I know the manipulation of mind control and fear. I know what it was like to be continually subject to "programming" and seeing things from only one perspective. After all... we had the truth, and no one else did. 

  What concerns me sometimes is, that people cannot differentiate between "religion" and faith.  
Religion is very intellectual. Faith on the other hand, makes no sense to the "natural" mind. Pseudo Intellectual people have a very difficult time with "Faith". In their opinion, it is not rational to believe that a person can actually communicate with "God". If they believe there is a "god",  he is distant, silent, and uninvolved in individual lives. If you try to explain to them the experiences you have had, or conversations (yes, I mean back and forth dialog) then you are off your meds! It seems that, just because they have never personally experienced it, then there can be no validity to it. 

   The religion I grew up in did not believe God was personally involved. He was very hard to please, distant and unreliable. You had to do all the right things, pray the right way and sacrifice all to appease an angry God.

   I however, have developed Faith. It is not about religion, it is about relationship. It was a lifelong journey of discovery. It cost me very dearly in terms of losing friends and family. Not because I turned my back on them, (in fact just the opposite) but because I had begun to think and experience for myself. God became VERY real to me. Jesus Christ became a constant companion and friend. I began  and continue to have encounters and experiences that many do not understand, nor will they accept.  Thats ok with me. I respect where they are in their journey. Many of the things I experience in an ongoing basis, I had at one time in the past, labeled as "foolishness".  Then I experienced it for myself.

   Just so there is no misunderstanding - I am a FERVENT - ON FIRE lover of Jesus Christ - the One who loves me like no other.  I am a baptised in the Holy Spirit, tongue talking , Bible believing and walking by faith woman of God. I have had encounters in the spirit realm and I have been given angelic direction because of God's everlasting GOODNESS and grace for me.

   You may think that I or people like me, are off their rockers.  Thats okay with me.  I can still accept you and walk with you, because I am intelligent enough to realize that there are things I may NEVER understand,  and thats the way it should be.  


  

Progression

                                

Spent youth, gone 
with the ebbing of the tide,
yet not lost
                                                                             
Shells created, hints 
of former lives enjoyed
the beauty remains     

Transformation begins
and what was ,
is once again

No Regrets

I have determined to live my life in such a way, that on my deathbed, I will have no regrets.

I will not regret -not getting that darling pair of shoes; because there will always be another available.
I will not regret- missing that last episode on TV; because after all, it ISN'T REAL.
I will not regret- not trying out that really expensive restaurant, because I spent time at home, cooking for those I love.
I will not regret- not working harder, longer hours, in order to get just a little bit more of that paper they call "money".
I will not regret -not letting fear of what might happen tomorrow, ruin my today.

I will not regret - being an "all in or all out" kind of person.
I will not regret - the time I invested in developing my spiritual relationship with God
I will not regret - the offers of love and friendship I extended, regardless of whether or not they were accepted.
I will not regret - the challenge and pain it took to grow into the person I have become.
I will not regret - getting to know myself and why I even exist on this tiny, little planet.

Sometimes, we are offered gifts on silver platters.
Yet, we refuse them because they were not presented on golden ones.
Who cares how they arrive or what the delivery might look like?
Gifts are from heart to heart, soul to soul.
Gifts are real.

All the rest, is just stuff.

Permission Granted

Permission Granted

Uninvited it knocks

   On the door to my heart

Betwixt good and evil

  Crisis of conscience

So lovely to look at

   So desirable and yet

The allusion of dangers

   Powerful attraction

To answer the beckoning

   To smell the fragrance of

Fruit forbidden its

   Overwhelming insistence

To taste the passion

   Unrestrained expression

Breaking chains of inhibition into

   Exquisite freedom 

Life

Life

Let me taste of sweetness
the comfort of closeness
The breath of life to be
found in recesses dark and cold

Light in eyes that shine
vital, inviting, embracing
Warmth in movement upon
empty broken places

To hear songs of love fulfilled
in whispers of the heart
the scent of strength renewed
in a weakened fragile soul

Hands

Magpie Tales 152  photo posted by Tess Kincaid


One embracing, warm with feeling
Another unresponsive, indifferent

Apathy is a cold companion

Hiding In Plain Sight

I am here
  Alive within myself
Revealing only
what I allow you to see

A cocoon hiding
  Transformation inside
Soon to be released
  Revealing metamorphosis

   Me

Shades of Gray

    Sentinels of virtue
standing through the ages
   Stoic, unmovable

 Guardians of morality,
no room for exploration
    Black or white

        Suddenly,
    without warning
        lines fade
   boundaries converge
rigidity releases it's violent hold
      from my soul

newborn eyes beholding
     shades of gray

Redemption

The year 2012 promised to be a year of change, blessing, grace and the miraculous. It lived up to it's promises in my life.

It was also one of the darkest, most difficult years in my life. With the complete support of my friends and church family,  I stepped out of a very destructive and unhealthy relationship of 37 years. The transition was a roller coaster of fear and emotional release, recovery from PTSD and learning how to live in freedom. The years of abuse took a toll on my physical and emotional well being.

God's grace, provision and faithfulness remained unchanging in my changing world. Although at times "homeless" and "penniless" I never lacked for a safe place to stay or food. It was daily living by faith.

I was able to be approved for a wonderful apt, by miraculous means. I had no income... no money... no guarantee of any way to pay and yet they not only approved, but waived fees so I could move in early. Not long after that I did receive a cash settlement and now have more than enough! God is So Faithful.

Silver is the color of the price paid for redemption...  in the darkest of nights and most turbulent of storms, there is always the silver lining holding out promises that will not fail.

Now that the dust has settled, and 2013 is here, I am taking a fresh look at the possibilities ahead for me. Wherever they take me, the favor and blessing of God will be my constant companions!