paravanes:meditations

Beware of those who only reach out or contact you when they think --  or they have heard -- something is wrong. It may seem obvious, but if they're really concerned about you, they will be in touch consistently or until you tell them not to. No one is ever too busy to do what's important to them. A question may appear in one or more of these ways: "I heard something happened. Are you OK?" "I saw a news report saying your company is laying off. Will you be alright?" "COVID is spiking in your (town, state, etc.). Have you been tested? Is everyone OK?" You may hear a statement that sounds like this: "I'm glad I don't live there." "I'm so glad I'm blessed to be able to work from home." "It's not good to take too many risks at a time like this. Maybe you shouldn't have moved for that job." Remember: people who really care don't need a reason or an invitation to reach out.  They won't mention ...

Note: this is an encore of a post from 2012. Based on Psalm 23, the main idea of the post is to explain why faith often waits, listens, and is demonstrated by patience and by asking "what's next?" or "where do I go from here?"  It is often arrogance or presumption that leads us to believe faith means we say what we want and then we get what we said. Remember: Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. Sheep don't declare or decree.  Sheep are not self-directed and are lost without a shepherd. Sheep follow because they are happy to have a shepherd who knows more than they know and who is also good to them and always leading them to what is best. The sheep of the Great Shepherd are protected, fed, loved, and treasured. Not a bad way to live, is it? ****************************** Psalm 23 (King James Version*) 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 ...

Note: This is an encore of a post written in 2008, while I was growing my second set of locs. My first set was freeform and the second set was started with two strand twists and cultivated. I cut them in 2015, after seven years, and am now enjoying my TWA (teeny-weeny afro). It was time for something new.  I've found the lessons about locs apply to lessons about life and spiritual development. Enjoy, and blessings to everyone on their loc journies. I may rejoin you one day. ********************************************* The Spiritual Lessons of Locs, Or Dreads, Or Dreadlocks   Here's a view of a couple of strands of hair. I am now growing my second set of locs. There are some deep spiritual applications in the process. I am not Rasta, so I am not growing true organic dreadlocks. I twist my hair, style it, condition it, etc. I understand there is a large debate in the locked community about how this hairstyle is labeled. Some insist this twisty style be called dreadlo...