Uplifting Gravity

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I was watching my Sunday night show Defying Gravity and I heard a line that was memorable. The show is set in the year 2052 (with flashbacks to five years earlier in the story's continuity), the series follows eight astronauts—four women and four men—from five countries on a six-year space mission through the Solar System, where everything they do is monitored. In this episode (105), the doctor of the ship had saved over 3500 patients' lives while serving in a war. He was asked who he remembered. To the shocked listener, he replied no one. He explained that he only remembered the lives he didn't save. Why? He only remembered the situations he learned from -- which were his mistakes, i.e. the patients who died.

Somehow that made sense. I prefer to think of my mistakes as my scars — the undeniable badges of some hopeful wisdom gained by some hopefully educational mistakes. It would seem that our humanity is a never-ending struggle against our very DNA for darkness. In the end, our scars determine the altitude possible.

The Seasons of the Trees

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After reading a great blog entitled Falling in Love With Color, it is impossible not to be inspired in many directions. Living out in the country, it is impossible not to notice the beauty of the Autumn colors; even if you are just driving down the interstate, you might also notice the same. For the last couple of weekends, we have set out trees with the anticipation of their enhancement of the view. It goes without saying that during their lives and seasons, the trees will not only grow but mutate depending the climate. One might even question if these changes are the result of the environment or just programmed into the DNA of trees or the earth. Young trees' roots are strengthened and trees are stabalized from the wind currents that blow them around. The roots run/crawl through the earth in response to balancing the tree above while also searching for nutrients that will also add to their strength and growth. We have a huge old "buzzard tree" directly outside the bonus room window. It was really one of the reasons we finalized buying the home. The old weathered bark twisted up into the sky posing like some old Scooby Doo ghost with its rotting trunk and heavy broken limbs scratching into the sky. Its obviously been there a while, survived a few storms.

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I couldnt help but also think of "people." Yeah, some of them you've seen in National Geographic in some third world country with time etched into their faces and a glimmer of defiance in their eyes saying "I'm still here..." It is the change of seasons that grow us as people. Spring is full of life and vitality and energy. We think we can change the world; we dont know any better. By summer, we enjoy what we perceive are the works of our own hands and minds, our self-imposed might. In the Fall, our bones grow weary of the long battle, our bodies worn and scarred from many battles. By Winter, its obvious the structure formed underneath that has supported some many attempts and goals; the glamour, like leaves blown in the wind, our bones struggling against our flesh reaching for the earth from which they sprang. It is in Winter that those around us recount the blowing winds of life that formed our roots, our character to support the tree and fruits of our lives. It marks the path of our destiny and legacies.


We are the trees, planted in the earth to grow, protect and enhance it....at least for a season...how could we not fall in love with the color of the trees through the seasons?

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Immortal Moments: Remembering 911

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It is the anniversary date of America's most recent wake-up call 9/11: September 11 , the day we got sucka punched on our own front porch. Its odd that events can so stamp their presence and images into your mind that you remember the air temperature, what you were doing and who was around you when you felt what you felt. I was at the office that morning sitting in front of my computer at my glass desk sipping on green tea when the Director of Marketing burst into the room declaring we were under attack! I remember being briefly confused trying to decide which ex-employee was out in the parking lot. Then we were all assembled together to watch TV. I remember watching the first tower falling thinking we were watching that Will Smith movie, Independence Day or something from Terminator; either way, it MUST be a movie. I remember my lungs gasping for air when the second tower was hit as I recognized the New York skyline. The room temperature dropped drasticly as the room filled with low sobs and whimpers. We were told to go home and make preparations. I immediately went home to join my mother-in-law and wife glued to the television screen. It had only been by accident that we had switched her flight a day sooner from LAX. It was impossible not to watch in spite of being played over and over and over by the media. But wait, what are those bug-like things flying around the building? We gasped at the horror when the cameras zoomed in to show that it was actually people leaping to their deaths as the building fires had become so intense, swift death was a better option. It was like the absense of sound at this discovery except the TV and your own heartbeat so loud in my ears that I hesitated to even look outside. It was a day I will never forget, packed with a full range of emotions I had never experienced simutaneously. Who could be so audacious, so cowardly, so evil, so bold to do something so horrific? In the end, the monsters were just people like you and me, with a lot more hatred and a lot less feeling. It was the beginning of a new world view.


We cant let our children walk down the streets alone anymore. Would we dare go to sleep without locking our doors? Do we catch ourselves watching people who may not look like us with a lot more suspicion? The truth is, the enemy doesnt walk around with a tatoo on his forhead that says ENEMY. In fact, it could be anyone you have known for years, grew up with or even be one of your siblings. Our country has been very good at profiling in spite of the afore mentioned fact. The days of the cowboys in black or white hats are gone. We will need much more wisdom in determining who is friend or foe. It is true as well that September 11 showed the world ability of our extraordinary ordinary heroes disguised in everyday smile and caring. America is deeply scarred by today's date; but we need our scars; they empower us to rise up like the phoenix and unite to become a far greater force than the one struck down. The dog on the porch is awake; no longer basking in the warmth of the sun unaware of the snakes beneath the doorstep.


May we never forget our heroes or rest on their sacrifices. America may not be perfect but its a lot fewer steps from here. The red white and blue is made up of many colors; all standing together not only for the strong but the weak and even sometimes for the offender. I dont know how much of God's mercy we have left in the bank or what the interest is paying; but I know we dont need to run out. In the end, what we love and hate may become the same thing and today and tomorrow may become indistinguishable. So long as we have hope and the strength to lift our heads towards the hills, toward the dawn of a new future; we will never stop getting up from the mud.

Fixin' to Ring in the Weekend Friday!

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Alas....the week has sauntered into a frigid and grey Friday bursting with radiant jubilation of the weekend. But even better than that for some is the symbolic ectasy of this weekend...this SuperBowl Weekend...when playing is hard work and the game has no reset. I have already blogged about perfection, scars and dreams; this weekend will reveal which is still standing at the end of the game.

I suppose it begs the question: If someone were filing our lives, would they see us as benchwarmers, second string or the starters? As cavalier as that question may fall onto this page; its pretty daunting. Even worse if you actually had to wait til the end to know. That reminds me of some old and famous artists....they had to die before getting world fame and recognition in history as one of the greatest. Honestly; so what at that point. What use is a porche in a small town with school zone speed limits? (...thats another whole blog all on its own; and u know what I mean) Ultimately our lives can be stranger than fiction.




After the Patriots wipe the field with "giant" intentions, I will be reminded of the strength in icons and their place in our history as a civilization and a nation. Too many directions to go with that one, so I will let it seep into the ground already rich with the blood of those not on the sidelines or benches. So grab something cuddly and ignite the fireplace and sail through another historical weekend. Yeah, I know, everyone will really only be talking about the commercials. You gotta love "the creatives." I am always amazed by the power of nerds....don't they inspire everyone else so well! In 30-60 seconds your mind is permanently branded by someone you probably didnt even notice in all year long in junior high sitting in class right beside you. The universe has an ironic sense of "poetic justice," doesn't it? But I digress....on to the Fabulous Friday Fixin's! Cry havock, bless the food and get out of the way!!!





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RECIPE: SHREDDED BEEF SANDWICHES

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INGREDIENTS:
1 (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 lbs.) lean chuck roast
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 or 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can of tomato soup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot ground pepper mix
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Trim fat from beef and cut into 4 or 5 large chunks to fit
in crockpot. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over beef.
Cook in a crock pot for 8 to 10 (4 to 5 on high) hours on low.
Pour juice into a small saucepan and simmer on the stovetop
for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce and thicken. In the meantime
shred beef with 2 forks or potato masher. Return thickened
sauce to the beef in the crockpot. Keep warm and serve with
buns and coleslaw.

WARNING: Preparation may be required. Dish is not reccommended for crowds prone to food fights.

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