My Double Rainbow A Spiritually Inspired Memoir 1972-1992

By John Darby

My Double Rainbow A Spiritually Inspired Memoir 1972-1992 describes my personal life with trials and tribulations during the 1970's until 1992. It is a collection of stories of my travels in the United States, and lessons learned while encountering an eccentric array of characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Darby
• Release date: Dec 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798985749519

Book preview

My-Double-Rainbow-by-John-Darby-1200x1920.jpg

My Double Rainbow

A Spiritually Inspired Memoir

1972-1992

John Darby

Copyright © 2021 John Darby, No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of the publisher/author, except in an instance of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and specific other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN: 979-8-9857495-0-2 Print, ISBN: 979-8-9857495-1-9 E-PUB

Made in the United States of America, Blue Feather Publishing

This book is dedicated to my daughter Miranda, first and foremost, and secondly to all the lost souls out there, wherever you are. We all hope you come home soon without a heavy heart.

John Darby

Table of Contents

Preface, 1972-1992

Introduction

1 – Faith and Hope

2 – A Vow of Poverty

3 – Tree Planting

4 – After Tree Planting

5 – An Early Morning Riser

6 – The Automobile Accident and Forgiveness

7 – Footprint Bumper Sticker

8 – Waiting To Use The Pay Phone In Key Largo

9 – My Dear Friend, God Saves Me Again

10 – Sometimes Believers Die Young, God’s Watchful Eye

11 – An Exception To The Rule: An Extremely Cool Paradoxical Gig

12 – Native

13 – California Cruising and The Interjection of Fast Eddie

14 – Back on Firm Ground

15 – You’ve Got Heart; Remembering Nancy Wilson

16 – Waiting To Speak

17 – Happy Birthday

18 – Her Blessing To Me

19 – P.S. To You

20 – A Dad’s Prayer

21 – Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Preface, 1972-1992

There was a time when I became a borderline agnostic and on the fence. At least this way, I assumed I could better navigate my wandering thoughts and considerations.

It is my Hope that all spiritual persuasions will be open to exploring this journey with me, including, but not limited to, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Agnostics, Doubting Thomas’ and Atheists.

Apparently, Atheists feel denial or disbelief in the existence of God. I could argue that rejecting God implies that those humans think that they are, in and of themselves, the superior Being. Disbelief may mean I simply cannot or refuse to wrap my head around the concept of an all-powerful creator.

I have dear friends that are Atheists for various reasons. I accept them as they are. I don’t judge them, nor would I judge people of any other persuasion. I do not intend to pontificate in this narrative; you won’t find that here. Instead, I am sharing what I felt and when regarding that period, 1972-1992.

There was a time when I questioned the existence of God, thinking to myself, Can this entity really exist? Is this real? Is the light there?

All doubts were relinquished that Sunday morning at Church in Memphis.

So, I have collected these stories in the context of the 1970s -1992 when the hippie movement was waning. I hope you enjoy riding with me along this once-traveled path.

John Darby

Introduction

Oddly enough, this book is a derivative of another book containing people of great notoriety and accomplishment. However, time being a precious commodity, one must stop at a logical point and prioritize that which is most important. Having experienced homelessness three times in my life, I looked to God’s Plan to help me and our fellow men and women.

In our world, homelessness continues to be problematic. Some of the causes are alcohol abuse, misuse of prescription drugs, mental illness, escapism, false sanctuary, death of a loved one, or friend, multiple deaths occurring at the same time, or fugue.

During my travels, I formed opinions of those I met along my way. These opinions are stored in my subconscious memory bank. I hope that this manuscript will, in part, foster further thought and contemplation of the collective us even though we are all unique in our own way.

So, with these words, I say, Bless you for the kindness you have shown to strangers, including yours truly, for they are more like us than we may assume. Have you hugged our homeless today? How about a wave of acknowledgment for them and their existence? Please pray for them. Amen.

The underlying theme of my reality was that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost were with me the entire trip. Although being cognizant of this, due to personal circumstances along the journey, I recognized it in varying degrees. I paid penance for many years and continue paying accrued interest in my own mind.

This book is a collection of true stories of what one Christian experienced while living a Vow of Poverty.

In the early eighties, I unexpectedly experienced homelessness on several occasions. I grew to understand that there are no simple answers to the problems of the human condition and that through it all, one must continue to possess Faith and Hope. Allow Faith and Hope to dwell in your heart, and always count your Blessings. Even during your darkest days, there exist strangers who care about you.

God’s Loving message is Faith, Hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love. God’s intention is to intertwine these actions with the binding force of Love.

Carrying an overload of stress while performing my duties as a psychiatric technician, M.H.A. (Mental Health Associate), in an acute care facility proved to be one of the main precipitating factors in my decision to a Vow of Poverty. It was never my intention to become homeless. What a shock!

Somewhere near my soul was Jesus. I was reminded of this during a brief encounter in Portland, Oregon. I wonder what became of the father and daughter I met that Halloween afternoon just before the party?

One could view this narrative as deriving from a personal tragedy and desperation for self-preservation. In my mind’s eye, I had descended into a living hell from which escape required a lifetime of recovery.

Years later, I came to the realization that God’s plan was intended for all of us in some form or fashion. I am the guy who believes in counting your blessings for what is contained in your mind and soul first, then for creature comforts we, as humans, all need.

These needs include Spirit, food, clothing, shelter, presence of mind, and safety. You can add to this list. Start counting your Blessings, then move forward in your situations to survive through God’s Love, Kindness, Mercy, and Grace.

Sharing my journey may invoke memories of your Spirit-filled life. Differences may have surfaced in the usual manner of coping with divorce and severe depression. I allowed those feelings to affect my perceptions to the point that self-preservation demanded a complete break. These facts are the underlying theme throughout my recovery.

As time progressed, it became apparent that those supposed true feelings were slowly lessening. I felt the depression subsiding and God being in my life again. I had a long history with God. I always participated in youth fellowship, such as weekend outings on the Chapel grounds. We resided in a large, a-frame cabin and slowly, but intensely, began to grate on the forty- and fifty-year young parents’ and counselors’ nerves