Living in the Moment: Keeping my eye on the prize in the sky

By Mitchell Alan Paddock

The first thing I was taught in my creative writing class was to write what you know. Well, I know the struggle, addiction, alcoholism, failure, fear, hell, hope, faith, love, victory, and joy. And I know them all well! There are two people who have been most influential in my life. The first being Jesus Christ and proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” The second being Vince Lombardi and his quote, “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Wow! Now that’s a dynamic duo!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781649796813

Mitchell Alan Paddock

Mitchell Alan Paddock has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin all his life and is a seasoned physical therapist of 30 years by trade. He is Christian and what he means by that is that he is a follower of Christ and His teachings of the Word of God and “The New Testament.” He does not adhere to any particular religion because that is manmade. Christ never spoke of religion, only of kindness, understanding, forgiveness, giving, sacrifice, faith, hope, and love. He is a recovering alcoholic who follows and works “The Twelve Steps of AA” doing his best to be the best version of himself he can possibly be on a daily basis.

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About the Author

Mitchell Alan Paddock is a Wisconsin boy born, bred, corn, and cattle fed. And a diehard Green Bay Packer fan, been to hell and back a million times over and doesn’t plan on making it a million and one! Today, he is proud to say he is Christian, a follower of Christ and his teachings of kindness, understanding, forgiveness, hope, faith, and love. An American, a conservative who fights for constitutional rights. He is a seasoned physical therapist of 29 years, a humanitarian. Lastly, a writer who writes what he knows and knows well…

Dedication

To God, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To all my brothers and sisters in the fellowship, to Bill W. and Dr. Bob for the twelve-step program The Big Book, and to my mom, God bless her sweet soul!

Copyright Information ©

Mitchell Alan Paddock 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Paddock, Mitchell Alan

Living in the Moment

ISBN 9781649796806 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781649796813 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022915083

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

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Acknowledgment

God for his love, direction, faith, or simply for everything. All my brothers and sisters of the Fellowship and those who prayed for me and had faith in me. To those who encouraged and supported me, my sister Christie, my brother Mark, Kathy Stoecker Fiener, and especially my mom for teaching me right from wrong. More importantly, what it means to love and be loved, unconditionally.

America’s Rise or Demise

Uncertainty, chaos, hatred, anger, fear, and negativity clamoring through my brain. I am right and you are wrong is one lone song… Join us or those who don’t we will condemn. In the end, those who do to Hell God may send?

Killer stares, clenched fists, and fingers pointing blame creating enough global interference and calamity to drive a man insane.

Riots rage as the hapless candidates take the stage. Each pointing out what the other lacks and their character they must attack. Yet nothing said what policies lie ahead nor how the poor will be fed. Their actions they justify with countless lies. Fix America they will most certainly try – just another lie.

Speaking out of turn. Won’t they ever learn. Nobody ever listens only wanting to be heard today and so the political game they play and if you have a difference of opinion, you’re pushed out of the way. Christians pushed into the corners of society and on their knees they pray. Will we ever learn, or will America continue to burn?

Constant mudslinging about their opponent’s political upbringing. He is this and he is that ugly tact and most accusations not based on fact. Vote For him and you are branded a racist. Who are you to judge and on what do you base this? A white cop shoots a black man. He is guilty of racism in all your vile before he is even charged or put on trial.

Racism is the belief that one race is superior or inferior to another on the basis of abilities, qualities, and/or color that segregates one particular race from the other. By proclaiming Black Lives Matter, are we not promoting segregation and worsening the condition by placing one race above another on the basis of color which is simply racism by definition?

In the protests nothing but unrest. The media tells nothing but lies which the public unwittingly buys. People no longer think for themselves just what the media sells. Common sense is not so common anymore. The bubble-headed bleach blonde comes on at five, tells about the pandemic and that death fills the sky with a gleam in her eye.

COVID-19 a deliberate attack on America and on the world. Sickness and even death used as a political pearl. The ill and elderly were targeted to fit a political agenda of socialism or more fitting communism where the hierarchy of government officials, the rich, and those deemed special dominate the poor or the working bees who pay all the taxes and fees.

Everyone has an agenda, but no one offers an answer for reducing the hatred and anger which spreads like cancer. Don’t tell me what is wrong with your opponent to dodge the issues for a moment. Rather tell me what you will do,

For our nation to restore law and order even at our borders.

Tell us how you will tax the rich and feed the poor communities you will restore. Listen to we the people! Do not dictate from your appointed seats and tell us the deadlines you cannot meet. Do not act like you cannot hear or see in all your glee and say your hands are tied and smile when you know you lied.

Close your mind if you must and lack of trust but please open just one eye to a thing called comprise. Do you wish to be part of America’s demise lost in both sides’ lies. Or will you choose to open wide both eyes and make up your own mind to becoming part of her rise?

I did and said my part. Now I must let go and let God and stand apart in order for the healing of my heart and soul to start. I would rather stand by God and be judged by the world than stand by the world and be judged by God.

Keep the faith I’m told because God is in control.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus in his lesson warned mankind of the three Ps – Power, Prestige, and Possessions. If any of these mankind sought, blindness would