Reflections of My Mind

By Herman Jones

When I was a small Lad, growing up in Alabama, my Grandmother used to tell me stories about different things and events she knew about. She inspired me to be a storyteller. This book is the end results of that inspiration.
My book is a composition of thoughts and ideas that reflect relationships between living creatures, both human and animal. I attempted to the show the impact of these relationships, both good and evil. I firmly believe that we all need each other, no matter how or at what level we relate to each other. Being a Christian, I tried to show these relationships from the perspective of equality and dependence of all upon the unfailing Love, Grace and Mercy of The Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728337975

Herman Jones

The Author is a United States Air Force retired Master Sergeant with twenty-one and a half years of service. He is also a retired Medical Billing Technician from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Having been an ordained Minister and Pastor of the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ for thirty-seven years and married for forty-seven years to his beautiful bride. They are both retired and still going strong.

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© 2019 Herman Jones. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/03/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3798-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3799-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3797-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019919967

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Contents

Bea

Business Transaction

Crystal Meth

Faith in Words

Feelings

Going to the Party

Going uptown on the down train

Grasshopper Wisdom

Life

Light

Memories

Mobbed

Old Man

Open Windows

Pieces of the whole

Shadows

Shadows and Light

Shallow

The Compromise

The Deception

The Foundation

The Great Payday

It’s Going to be Alright

The Party

The Question

Trapped

Welcome Home

Why

Windows

Bea

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In the winter, Bea ate his horse.

Come Spring, he felt great remorse.

To plow his land,

He asked his wife to lend a hand,

Hitched to the plow, he had no choice.

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Business Transaction

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I knew a lady from Israel.

She sold everything, she could sale,

To buy a one-way ticket home, well.

Her neighbor, an old man asked her price for the night.

A business transaction in its truest light.

Said she, no, what I do I can tell,

What you want to buy,I don’t sell.

Go see your wife, ask her if it is well.

Ask her price and see how quick, you find yourself in hell.

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Crystal Meth

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There was a woman, named Jo Beth.

She, her son and daughter lived in Alabama’s northwest

With her husband, a man named Seth

And his brother Dan.

They worked hard,

making a living, doing their part.

Helping each other giving,

Loving from the heart.

Then came something new,

From Seth’s friend Mart,

One day, out of the blue.

Making and selling crystal meth.

All got on board,

Including Jo Beth.

Needed chemicals, they did hoard.

Demand outgrew supply,

money was made, but profit is lost,

when the product is used to stay high,

will soon show the true cost.

All lives, home too,

Lost late one night,

When Seth, high, didn’t do.

Mixed wrong, not right.

Wrong mixture, cooked to long,

Caused destruction to all,

Both the small, the weak and the strong.

Remember this all,

Crystal Meth will make anyone fall.

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Faith in Words

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Everywhere it seems there are sorrows and pains.

All over the world, there are tears.

Seems like more losses than gains.

Everywhere you turn, even among your peers.

One not look too hard.

All over and all around us.

In all humanity in every part,

Every son and daughter from Adam’s dust.

No hope or help equals a broken heart.

Man-made promises spoken.

Before the words get cold,

They are forgotten, broken.

Still men cling to them, like precious gold,

til reality, shows they are only token.

Something said to delay pain’s hold.

To place faith in and on,

anything other than,

where faith points to,

where it is found,

where it really belongs.

From whence it comes,

and from whence it goes,

back to the place,

where it was found,

before the world was,

faith was alive in Him,

Who was, is and is to come.

He spoke, creating all things,

In and by the Power of His word,

on which faith takes hold.

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Feelings

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How I feel today,

determines what I do and say.

Fuels my outlook to either close the door,

or leave it open to play.

That more often than not brings regret.

The things that one carries deep inside,

festering, unseen, not resolved yet.

I understand that my tomorrows are tentative,

based on today, the things that I pet.

Yielding favor to all that caters,

to all my fears, jealousies, angers, and regrets.

Things better left alone to die the death,

planted in my heart and allowed to live.

Tend to take over and make me less smart,

not realizing that I have so much to give.

Nor seeing that how I feel,

Seriously impacts how others live.

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S ammy went up the hill and stood on the crest of the hill looking down. Jack was still at the bottom of the hill looking at something in the grass on the side of the road. Sammy couldn’t see what Jack was looking at so intensely. He called, hey jack man, what ’se you a looking at? You ain’t moved nere a muscle a since I come to the top of this heah hill. Jack still hadn’t moved a muscle, but he answered Sammy, I think we needs to call tha sheriff department brother Jack, cause there’s something heah that ain’t supposed to be heah. I’se done seen all kinda stuff heah and ther around the world as I traveled, but this heah beats all I’se done evah seen before. Sammy ran down the hill and stumbled when he got to the bottom. He rolled to a stop and slowly got to his feet. He was scared and didn’t want to show it. He slowly walked over to where Jack stood. He looked down to see what Jack was looking. He didn’t say anything but was ready to run.

He didn’t see anything.

But Jack was standing there gazing in the grass. Sammy got his nerve up and said, what you see man, show me so I ’se can see it too. I don’t see nuthin but the grass and the rocks in it wid red ground undah it all.

Suddenly Jack jumped, then turned and ran a few feet, up the hill, then stopped.

Sammy almost dropped dead with fear, he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what Jack saw and he didn’t know where what he saw went. Sammy backed up and turned to run following Jack. He was hollering, "wait fo me man, don’t yeah leave me heah by myself.

I’se got bad feet and a bad leg so’s tha doctor in the hospital told my mudeah. I hope you ain’t plannin on runnin back to town to get the sheriff, cause I ’se got to rest befo we get tha, ya heah me boy, I can’t run to town witse ya, but I ain’t gonna sta heah by myself eitha." Jack had gone halfway up the hill and stopped.

He was laughing so hard that he fell and rolled back down to where Sammy was still trying to run up the hill. When he looked at Sammy,he laughed even harder. Sammy got maddern a wet hen in a rain storm. "I always thought you was crazy, like all of yo folks said you was, now I’se seed fo myself, that youse touched in the haid. They said, you momma dropped you down the stairs on you haid when you was a baby.

Anybody that looks at the ground and sees stuff that ain’t tha, gotta be crazy and now that I’se thought about it, you ain’t never been out the county. Talkin bout all yo travelin roun the world. I’se tellin you Jack Whitehouse to yo face, youse one crazy man."

Jack was laughing so hard now he was crying. He looked at his friend, standing there, sweat pouring down his face, huffing and puffing. He was laughing so hard, that he had doubled over, holding his stomach and crying.

After a while he got control of himself. He looked at his friend and said, Sammy youse, always good for what ails me, that’s why I’se your friend. I hopes you don’t mind my sense of humor, but I needed to laugh today and I knose you needed some exercise cause yo Sista Sandra said so. I’se had my laugh and youse got yo exercise, so’s we both come out ahead today. Now lest’s us go get some ice cream and soda at the sto, my treat, okay.

Sammy smiled and said, okay but youse still crazy and I ’se gonna believe that til I die, but youse still my friend, but I don’t know why cause I ’se got good sense, my mudeah done told me so. Let’s go I could use some ice cream and soda bout now, specially since youse buyin. They both were laughing as they headed back up the hill.

Going to the Party

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While sitting on my porch in the dark of night,

fortune smiled on me and let pass in my sight,

dressed to party, smoking n swigging a bottle of wine.

Struttin, proud on their way, feeling fine.

A skunk, a possum and a racoon crossed my yard, in the moonlight.

They were talking trash, about who would be the best that night.

I am going to move the floor, I got moves, y’all have never seen.

Going to really get down, burn the floor up, new stuff really keen.

Yeah, right, keep on hitting that bottle, and we’ll see only what,

we have already seen.

Laughing at you, when you get caught up in a drunken rut.

Passed out in the corner, talking to the wall,

mad at everybody, because someone made you fall.

The skunk got mad, hit the possum and the racoon fell.

Whatever is wrong with you John Skunk, ain’t well.

Peter Possum ain’t the one, that made you mad,

we all know, you can’t dance,try your best, you still bad.

Done drunk all the wine, so I see, so party hardy, right here,

because when we get there, be ready, but don’t drop a tear.

I can out dance you all, no matter where I be,

let me show you all some moves, look here see.

Stanley Skunk fell and twisted his knee.

Rufus Racoon said, didn’t I tell you true,

now you have done this to yourself, only you.

Help me, I can’t get up, my knee I blew,

I gonna go home, but my cane I threw.

Rufus and Stanley, you all do what you all want too.

I will catch the next party with you.

We won’t leave you alone, because we know you won’t get home,

besides without you there, won’t be nothing to laugh at alone.

Together they picked Stanley Skunk up and turned around,

to his house they were bound,

Still talking trash and laughing hard.

There in the moonlight, I saw all this in my front yard.

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Going uptown on the down train

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Life’s desire and its accomplishment, sometimes seem to be opposite,

Neither having anything in common with the other.

Then appears a short cut, out of the blue.

An open door, easy, no strings attached,

The opportunity to write your own ticket.

A piece of the cake with icing too.

Get on board this train man, cause we are headed uptown.

This is a ticket out of poverty.

Come on,you will see.

It is all good, Dude.

When the Presidents start to roll in,

It will be big, bigger than anything you will ever see.

Just stay with me Dog, we will hang tough.

All you have to do is carry some bricks,

A few pills and other stuff.

We will supply whatever you need.

Just be my mule and let it ride.

Won’t be no hassle, cause nobody knows, what’s happening.

The people that know tend to keep things under control.

So, you don’t have to worry, just be my mule.

If you want a brick, some pills or stuff, just holler Dog.

I will get you what you want, but don’t ever take from the load.

Because if you do, you will get more than high.

My upline tracks orders and deliveries.

Last year one of my mules decided to take a few pills,

out of a couple of loads, he wanted to be the man for a couple of friends.

He made his last drop and was headed home, but he never got there.

The mule was never seen or heard from again.

I got the call, that my mule had fell off the mountain.

Told me to get myself another mule, that was sure footed.

The gig is real, the price that you have to pay is your life.

The money can make you comfortable, but at a price.

If you do what you are told and keep your tongue,

Then the sky is the limit.

You can retire in a few years and never have to again toll.

Oh, by the way, smart mules are not users.

You cannot do both.

Know this that carrying pays but using costs.

Don’t talk, just walk.

When the train leaves heading uptown, be on it.

Don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

This is the way out.

You call it Dog!

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Grasshopper Wisdom

T he rooster stood still in the sparse Southwest Texas grass and watched the little grasshopper as he climbed a blade of grass. He paused and wondered why the grasshopper was struggling so hard to reach the top of a blade of grass that would not support his weight. The rooster stood there and pondered this in his mind until he could not stand it anymore. B ending down, attempting to put himself on the grasshopper’s level, he asked, why are you trying so hard to climb a blade of grass, that won’t support your weight.? Seems like to me,it is a waste of your time.

Mister rooster, that depends on what point of view you use, either possible or impossible, the grasshopper replied. The rooster laid down in the short grass to hear what the little grasshopper had to say.

He said what do you mean, either possible, impossible, please explain so that I will understand.

The grasshopper stopped and took a breath as he looked at the rooster. He chose his words carefully as he began to speak,

"Long ago, when the first grasshopper began to climb the grass,various trees and other plants in nature, grasshoppers have been climbers ever since. It is a grasshopper characteristic. All the families of grasshoppers are climbers, it doesn’t matter what type of plant we climb, or the consequences of what will happen when we reach the top, we just love to climb.

Slow, methodical, calculating and challenging, the harder the climb, the greater the satisfaction. I am well aware that this blade of grass will bend under my weight, but that is part of the challenge to keep it from bending. To us grasshoppers climbing is as vital to our existence as crowing is to you roosters.

All the world knows that roosters crow to greet the new day dawning."

He continued, a rooster that doesn’t crow is relatively useless, am I right in that observation sir?

The rooster shifted his weight and nodded as he reluctantly replied, you are right, in your observation, sir.

The rooster looked at the little grasshopper, as he thought, about his cousin, Rufus the rooster. He was too lazy to crow at dawn and how he was not allowed freedom among the other chicken. He recalled how Rufus ended up as Sunday dinner for the farmer’s family.

He responded, you have a point, there little fellow, I had never given it much thought. I understand what you are getting at though, said the rooster.

The grasshopper waited and spoke softly, saying," when I was younger, I didn’t know what my purpose in life was, as no one could tell me, not my parents, or any of my relatives.

I wondered, why am I here and what do I do since I am here. Now I know what my purpose and passion in life are. I had to search deep within myself to find out what I was good at in the arena of talents and skills that God gave me to work with. I had to learn how to best glorify my Creator in all that I do.

Just as my forefathers before me found fulfillment and joy in climbing the unclimbable, seeking to do the undoable, to excel in the impossible as well as the possible. I am saying all the while to my Creator ; I thank you for making me as you made me. I am seeking to be the best I can be and do the best I can do with what you gave me. I am seeking to multiply the gifts that you gave me for your glory in my life."

The rooster listened and nodded in agreement. Still laying in the grass, he shifted his position and slightly ruffled his feathers as he extended his wings briefly.

He was really enjoying himself, thinking in areas, that were new to him.

So, mister grasshopper what you are saying as I understand you, is that you take into consideration, the challenge before you and evaluate it based on your abilities and your desire to be the best you can be at whatever you do, believing that nothing is impossible for you to accomplish.

"Yes, this belief stems from the fact that I was created to please my Creator by what I do with my life, glorifying Him in everything I do. To do what is right in all that I encounter, whether I overcome it or fail.

This life-style, based on faith in your Creator, using your God given abilities to accomplish the possible and the impossible.

Yes Sir. The joy and sense of fulfillment comes from knowing what I am created to do, then being able to do it. Having a working knowledge of my limitations. Then not letting them defeat me. He has revealed His wisdom, understanding and knowledge to us, that we might please Him."

Sacrificing your will to accomplish the will of your Creator, which is what we are created to do. To obey, please and glorify our Creator in all we do, is what life is about. I understand now, said the rooster.

The little grasshopper looked up at the rooster from midway the blade of grass. He smiled, replying, it is good to get wisdom, the principle thing, but wisdom without understanding is just knowledge and knowledge without purpose benefits no one. To impart wisdom requires understanding and to impart knowledge requires understanding.

The rooster just looked at the little grasshopper, who was now balanced on the tip top of the blade of grass, that had not bent to the ground under his weight.

The rooster stared at the grasshopper as he said, I have never met any one as wise as you, who are you? Where did you come from? I have been on this farm all my life and I have never seen you before.

The grasshopper stood motionless atop the unbent blade of grass and looked at the rooster.

The wisdom, understanding and knowledge revealed, mister rooster are not mine, they all belong to my Creator. In myself I know nothing and can do nothing. All that I do, he gives me the ability, strength and skill to do, all I understand, he allows me to understand, it is all to His Glory and not mine. It is what I want to do, bring Glory to His name in all areas of my life. I pray that this is your desire also, mister rooster. If somehow this is not your desire. I urge you to get to know your Creator and find out what His will for your life is. Then commit it unto Him for His Glory, search deep within yourself prayerfully and truthfully until He reveals His will to you.

"Then access your abilities and talents in the light of His will, compared to your heart’s desire to please Him as He shows you,’’ responded the grasshopper.

It is not important who I am or where I came from, but that wherever I go, He is represented and glorified in all that I do, the grasshopper said ever so softly.

Good day, mister rooster, I have truly enjoyed talking to you, he said, as he spread his tiny wings, jumped off the blade of grass, and took to the air.

The rooster stood up and looked at the tiny little grasshopper as he flew away, until he was out of sight.

Good day mister grasshopper,like-wise, he said. Then he looked at the blade of grass, as he sat down there beside it, deep in thought.

Life

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Life is funny sometimes, the way it goes.

Sometimes all is fine, sometimes it seems downright divine.

But then comes trouble, worries and woes.

Then there are times in between times,

seems like it will make one lose their mind.

My heart within me pines,

looking for deliverance, any sign.

Then comes tomorrow and all is fine.

Somehow, before we know it, the tables turn.

What appears to make us happy as we dine,

now we detest and spurn.

Somehow, someway life is uncertain.

Ain’t it funny, how we never learn.

But life is worth living though, until the final curtain.

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Light

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A man named Pete, lived in the land of Sprite.

Thought he could fly like a bird ; said he was that light.

That he was light was true.

Now where he was light, was somewhat misconstrue,

He roosted in the trees, at night.

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Memories

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Sometimes, we sit and run in our minds, thru the corridors, we left behind.

Sometimes, we look, yet we don’t see,

but in the corridors of our mind,

things stand out, but not always clearly.

Our thoughts take us by the hand and lead us,

through stored memories, good and bad,

some of which, still make us fuss.

Remembering good times and things, we have had.

Things, we couldn’t understand, grasp or control,

some of which, hurt so bad.

Held onto, never let go, yet can’t be told.

Walking through the memories of our mind,

Spending time in places,

we long ago left behind.

People, events, times, places and spaces,

that we will never see again in this life, except in the corridors of our mind.

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Mobbed

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Weary from the day’s labor at the plant, Jerry sat there in the car as the garage door opened. He drove into the garage. He sat there in the car as the garage door closed, behind the car. The sound of the door opening and the pitter patter of little feet, brought a smile to his face. He opened the car door and stepped out of the car closing the door behind him. He put the keys in his pocket and sat his lunch pail on the concrete floor. The sound of little voices hollering, Daddee !! Daddee !! Daddee!! Daddee !! This had always melted his heart. He kneeled to greet the little mob that soon overpowered him. The mob came and greeted him with open arms of love. Each one of them excited and chattering at the same time. He loved this daily reunion and won’t trade it for anything in the world. This was the highlight of his day, every single day of his life. Even though he was tired from a hard day’s work at the plant, he always found the strength to play with his little kids. He always felt better after he had spent time playing and talking with them. Wrestling, piggy-back rides, chases, dancing with them, even make-believe cooking breakfast, lunch and dinners, bedtime storytelling. Teaching them, before they even realized that they were learning. The father realized that his precious little ones would grow up overnight, that they would be grown and gone before he and their Mother knew it. Before he and their Mother were ready to accept it, let alone deal with it. The joy of little children is their Father. A set of three-year-old identical twin boys and two little girls, one four and the other two years old completed his world. He lived for his children and his children lived to be with their Daddy.

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Old Man

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There was an old man that lived in Perdue.

He lived in a house painted sky blue.

With paint from the government, he stole.

While serving in a true patriot’s role,

some thirty years, ago during world war II.

He had felt no remorse, it was his due.

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Open Windows

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Sometimes as I look thru the windows of my mind,

I see things, that I have forgotten and left behind.

There just where I left them,

sometimes purposed, goal oriented, defined,

sometimes cluttered, confused, the results of a whim.

Looking back over the years,

myriads of windows, I see,

some temporary, important to others,

but not to me, though they be.

Waiting there, still expecting, awaiting liberty.

Assigned to a window,

somewhere along the halls of my memory.

Old, older and oldest,

dreams, desires, ambitions, intentions, failures, successes,

wants, needs, motives, understandings, good, bad, ugly,

hurts, pains, past, present, loves and hates,

all I see.

In the windows of my memory,

still there, calling out to me,

in my sleep, or awake.

Whatever I am doing,

wherever I be.

All these windows, present continually,

hold the total of me,

hidden, deep inside, secret, bound,

yet free, to cause me to do and say,

what may seem strange as it may be,

for their influence in my life,

is the sum of the me,you see?

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Pieces of the whole

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Some are round, others are square,

copper, bronze, red, black and white.

While in between, many be.

Short, tall, skinny and wide.

Ugly, pretty and profound.

Some gracious, others not to kind.

Greedy, conceited and sometimes hard to define.

Only God knows what intents lurks,

somewhere in the hidden corners of the mind.

Something waiting to be manifested,

awakened from its slumber, sublime.

Good or bad, requested or unrequested,

too make one happy or sad,

feel good or bad.

Full spectrum, pieces of the whole.

Nobody knows because,

the whole story will never be told.

Sometimes a life is put on pause,

never fulfilled, dreams forsaken.

Life goes on, though sometimes just existing,

joy gone,an empty shell, hope taken.

People broke and breaking.

Still standing, their core shaken.

Pieces of the whole, life goes on,

whether living real or faking.

Though person, place and time varies.

The story is written, all parts taken.

All pieces of the whole, no time to tarry.

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Shadows

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Notice how in the light,

things are clear, crisp and bright,

but in the shadows, they become,

unclear, obscure and indistinct,

with small details hidden by the darkness.

Somehow shadows change perceptions,

making what is bad, seem not so bad,

while taking away from the good.

Seeing clearly with understanding,

equals seeing in the light.

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Shadows and Light

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Standing in the shadows and looking into the light.

Beholding things pretty, but not quite right.

At a glance, all appears fine.

Comprehension will come in time.

But without a desire to see,

one becomes willfully blind.

What we desire to see, we will find.

The obvious is easy to define,

for some, when it is on one’s mind.

However sometimes, the obvious is sublime.

What one desires to see,

searches for and hopes to find.

Never materializes in reality.

To some, this seems, woefully unkind.

But he, who knows the heart has decreed,

that all things are not for all to call mine.

For to each He gives, as He sees need.

So, what is in the light, though desired,

sought after and carefully planned for,

is still sometimes, never acquired.

Wisdom is knowing when to cease to stir.

Understanding that God gives me my daily bread,

my labor, my clothes, my money, health and strength,

all things, even the roof over my head.

Knowing that if I delight myself in Him,

He will give me the desires of my heart.

Following Him, one walks in the light.

His wisdom makes even the not bright, smart.

While the shadows are kindred to the night.

Choose wisely, for your choice has eternity hidden in every part.

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Shallow

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Since I understand, who I am and what I be,

an encyclopedia of knowledge,

all the way from A to Z.

Everything in life’s college,

expert in what applies to me.

Hear what I’m saying,

I know I got it going on, you see.

I can explain me, I ain’t playing.

I got it together,

See I know how to cope man.

How to deal with it, whatever or whether.

Rule the roost and still stand.

Don’t mess with me,

I got it all, in my hand.

Ain’t trifling, I just be.

I am the man.

Bolder than bold.

Stronger than strong.

Bigger than big.

There ain’t nothing I can’t do.

Move a train with my hand.

Scare loins by just saying boo.

You can’t relate, even if you think you can.

Don’t you dare call my bluff

You wouldn’t understand.

Make everybody envy my stuff.

I walk through fire and don’t burn.

I am God’s gift, I know.

My Momma told me so, it’s my turn.

Full speed ahead, never slow.

Got a lot to teach, if you want to learn.

Laugh if you want, but I be the one,

they be talking about come day’s end,

come the setting of the sun.

It be me, cause I ain’t got no twin.

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The Compromise

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"Come into my parlor, make yourself at home, said the Spider to the Fly.

"I have dinner on the way, it won’t be long.

We will wine, dine and have fun, you,

me, myself and I. You’ve flown miles since dawn, I know you must be tired.

Come eat and drink a little wine, sit down, put your feet up, relax, stay awhile.

We can play games and talk things out.

Helping us to understand each other, what we are about.

Tell each other our thoughts, and let other things come up as we give them spout.

Dreams, ambitions, desires, views and insight.

Come my friend, you and I, we will do it right.

We’ll share things far into the night.

Food and drink, our hearts we’ll unite.

You a Fly and me a Spider, who says we can’t be friends together for ever.

A common bond based on friendship, mutual respect, substance and nutrient.

I knew your brothers and sisters, they used to visit with me in days gone by.

We would commune day and night.

The things we discussed were sometimes silly outright,

Sometimes serious and on occasion from the heart.

Good company, good food, nourishes the body and soul.

What say you, my friend John Fly?"

The Fly, looking through his multi -faceted eyes,

responded with a smile as he replied,

"the offer sounds good as I believe it should.

Remember Harry Spider, I am a Fly and fly is what I do.

You are right, I have flown many miles since dawn and have many more

miles to cover before sundown.

What you propose, I am sure would be a delight.

However, something deep down feels not quite right.

I remember my brothers, Fred, June and Bennie,

They were not too bright.

My sisters, Flora, Sally Faye and Nell talked about a place the boys went,

and they were never seen again in daylight.

My Pop told us before about places we should never go.

They didn’t listen and were heard from, nevermore.

You say you a Spider and me a Fly, can be friends together forever with a common bond,

based on friendship, mutual respect, substance and nutrient.

Sounds good, I can’t deny, but what sounds good and what is good, can sometimes be a lie.

What part do you play in relation to me? I don’t believe that your attempt to be hospitable

Is not sincere, but I do have some reservations about your motives."

Why Mister Fly, what makes you doubt my motives?

"Quite truthfully, Mister Spider,

I see you’ve made your web wider.

When I passed by the other day, you were entertaining a Moth.

I saw you, but you didn’t see me. The moth was a good friend of mine.

I said, hey Charlie, what’s happening?"

He looked, as he replied," John I’m sorry for all the things I said, tell Mabel, that by the time she

hears this, I’ll be dead.

I’m trapped in this web, because I thought I would be fed.

I didn’t know that I was the food, that I’d be bled."

"I saw you Harry Spider, feeding yourself on Charlie’s substance, his nutrient,

until he was dead. I flew to a tree branch to watch him as he bled.

And watched you as you fed.

I saw how you cut the silken threads that held his body, after he was dead.

Watched it fall to the ground.

Observed as you repaired your web and made it bigger all around.

Heard you sing your song.

Listened as you complimented yourself on how clever you are.

Saw you pat yourself on the back as you said, I act so good, I should be a movie star."

"Why you chose to exaggerate a lie, is beyond me, John Fly, I haven’t had company for five days.

I hear you telling me, what you saw, but it didn’t happen. This doesn’t surprise me though.’’

I have no reason to lie or expound a lie.

What you said, slanders my reputation as an upstanding member of this community.

Hogwash.

"Your reputation was slandered the first time you ate, and as for you being an upstanding member

of the community.

You have no standing. You do nothing for the community, but feed off it and

reproduce your own detestable kind, a blight that drains the life of the community."

"I know that you hate me and my kind, but ethically we have as much right to be here as you and your

kind. We do what we do to exist and procreate our species, the same as you and your kind.

Personally, I detest you and your kind, but as a food source, I savor you all.

I have watched your species deposit eggs in all kinds and types of dead bodies and offal to continue your

species. It amazes me that, you have the unmitigated gall to berate me and my species."

"Look at yourself, before you judge me, John Fly. I am no worse than you. We both have our faults.

It is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black."

"That we will never agree is obvious, so let us agree to disagree. You hate me, and I hate you.

No love is lost between us."

"Okay John Fly, you are right in what you said. I agree to disagree. However, I don’t expect anything to

change between us, now or ever. Yet this is progress, we agree on something. Neither one of us has

changed our opinion, but now we know for sure what each one thinks. I can live with that."

I can live with it, too.

Good day, Harry Spider, see you in hell.

Good day, John Fly, I’ll be looking for you there.

With that John Fly flew away as Harry Spider prepared for his next meal.

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A s Jack set at the restaurant table with his friends, Robert, and James, an atheist. He felt uneasy as he always did, when the conversation turned to whether God existed. James asked, if God exists, why is there so much, sickness, killing, murdering, robbing, and wrong-doing in the world? Why doesn’t He stop it, if He exists? People say He does, but I have seen no proof of His existence. There is no God, man. The earth is the results of chemical reactions and evolution, he declared boldly. Christians that keep talking about Christ returning, ought to stop it. He will not be back, in fact, He did not exist or die. He rambled on and on. Robert and Jack looked at each other. Without saying a word, looked at James and said at the same time," Man, why don’t you let it rest.

Because you do not believe in God, doesn’t give you the right to condemn God and those who believe in Him. Jack said, why do you always try to convince us, that you are right and everyone else is wrong about God. I read the Bible, but I do not go to church Regularly. I do not know why God allows the things that happen to happen. I believe that He exists and that He is in control of His creation. The Bible says so. Okay, Mister Bible reader, where does it say that? snarled James.’’ Uh, Uh, I don’t remember, "replied Jack.’’ Just typical of the so-called Christians, they say they believe the Bible, but cannot tell you where hardly anything is in the Bible or they will argue about it. Telling you