I think you may recognize that portion of lyrics from the song, My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music.  And, unless you’ve recently awakened from a comatose state, you may have heard humanity is in the midst of one of the most challenging and uncertain times in recent history. 

What do the two have in common?  Much. 

If I were to viciously and unrepentantly take away food from my dog’s mouth as he was eating, I would naturally expect him to bite me.  If I were to take branch from a tree and poke at a bee’s nest, it would be safe to assume, I’d be stung a few times.  Right now, the dog is biting and the bee is stinging.  Metaphorically speaking, "food" is being taken out of our “mouths” and the "sting" hurts – very badly.  Not the disease itself that is hurting so much, but people - relenting to selfish and gluttonous measures to hoard items and even attempting to make a profit from a horrific situation - are biting and stinging and hurting each other.    

This virus has killed many people and for that there is no recourse unfortunately, only remorse and reconciliation.  I am thinking of us that are here and face the threat, challenge, and fear of uncertainty daily.  These microbes have disrupted, modified, distressed, and brought once daily routines to a screeching halt. For now, life as we have known it has changed.  We do however, have choices until things return to normal.  Choices that will make an impact or cause a failure.  We can stick together, help each other, and work as one collective unit, or we can go off and “fend for ourselves.”  We can bite and sting each other, or we help and heal the broken and needy.  We can distress and live in a constant state of paranoia, or we can take a deep breath and count our blessings for the things we do have.  When I go home to my family, these are my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad. 

How about you?  What are some of your favorite things?  Why not take a minute to reflect on them and the one who gave them to you?  Maybe then, things won’t feel so bad when the dog growls and the bee needs to be swatted away.   

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Disclaimer:
Please feel completely and totally obligated to blame me when this song gets lodged into your thoughts today!
JJZ

I thought for this time around, I would share a short poem I had written.  Poetry is usually not my forte, however, I attempted to take a "stab" at something a bit different as I work on a few simultaneous projects.  For me it was a nice little diversion in exploring Proverbs 10:6  "The words of the wicked hide a violent nature."  I' would love to hear your thoughts or comments!

JZ


Mr. Bitterstone
By John J. Zelenski
 
 
Upon a thorny hill does Mr. Bitterstone design, a trek of devious devices
A tinge of crimson wind is blowing strong, a single trail of red entices
 
The sullen door awaits its guest of horror, no climatic entrance theme required
A vile stench above reproach is buoyant, adrift a sea of petulant desires
 
A single thread of daylight confounds an otherwise but ominous temptation
Her dying wish on threadbare wings, invites the darkness she now embraces
 
At last he stands before her, pain doused in venom ignite the coals of evil swallowed
The godforsaken shell of unrepentant anger, paves the road to tread the valley hollow
 
A final act of cowardice, with vengeance, a gruesome blow in vain he now bestows
For she wields the unsuspecting dagger, and befalls the troubled Mr. Bitterstone

​Recently, I experienced a brief electrical power outage due to a transformer that had malfunctioned.  The blackout was only a few hours, and eventually the initial hum of electricity flowing back into the building made it seem like nothing really ever had happened.  The lights came on and everything went back to normal.
Now of course, something did happen.  There was a period of darkness where not a whole lot of things could be done until the electricity was restored.  The darkness was eerie at times, especially when making my way around dark corners of the hallways, until I could see the emergency lighting ahead.  It was those few hours without power made me think, the times in our life when we suffer, when money is low, and our health fails us, the lights are out – but just temporarily.  Power will be restored in time, as long as you are in good standing with the supplier of the power.  When times are the darkest, I think we often forget that this is only temporary, whether that means a few days, weeks, or even years.  But things will be restored and the lights will come back on.  Just hang in there. 
“…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  Psalm 30:5
So the next time the lights go out, have your flashlight ready, (faith) look for the emergency lighting, (prayer) and rest in the comfort of knowing that the lights will be back on soon. 
Now where did I leave my keys……?
 
JZ

Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with the original use of this phrase.  Perhaps he was having a good year?  Speaking for myself, I’d like to eliminate the “Good” from that phrase and simply say “Good riddance to 2018.”
Now I’m not saying that 2018 was a bad year in every possible way, however there are major portions I would love to forget.  The unexpected gallbladder surgery, actually make that two surgeries in two days, was an episode I’d like to put into the mental shredder.  This unforeseen hospital stay not only was draining on the wallet, but also on the emotional scale.  I was forced to miss an author award event that required the author to be present in order to secure a win.  Maybe next year?  We’ll see.
Rain.  And lots of it. It seems to me like it rained for days at a time this summer and when it wasn’t raining, the air was so drenched with humidity and heat, there wasn’t that many nice days to enjoy outdoors.  Oh, and nearly a foot of snow in mid-November, let’s not forget that one, with dozens of cars being stuck on the side of road during rush hour, much resembling a snowy, winter apocalypse.   
On a more personal note, I lost a person I really cared about and knew since I was a child.  So many things left unsaid, and so many questions left unanswered. 
 Does it seem like I am just complaining?  Maybe a bit.  I think it is okay every now and then to look back and analyze the past, whether good or bad.  To be honest, personal reflections actually causes one to realize all of the good things that are taken for granted by the individual.  Dwelling on the negative is something I don’t want to do, as there are many, many good things in store for 2019.  One will be the re-release of my book, The Journal of Ezekiel Walker through Peasantry Press. And maybe, just maybe, there will be the fulfillment of a dream of mine (with God’s help) to have one of my books turned into a feature film.  More on that in the upcoming months.
God has a plan, and not all of it will be to my liking, I’m sure.  Whatever 2019 brings, I know I won’t be going through it alone.  And that’s something I can always be thankful for!
Goodbye 2018, it’s been real!
JZ

For most of us, the Spring means rainy days and much anticipation towards the warmer (and hopefully) drier days.  We've had our fair share of wet and snowy times recently and with it much cooler air as well.  Seems like Winter does not want to let go, but that's OK, isn't it?  It just means that when the warm air does arrive, we can appreciate it that much more....hopefully without complaint.  

And what about Friday?  The day we all wait for only to let it evaporate into the weekend which then melts quickly into Monday.  If I sound melancholy, I really am not...maybe just more reflective?  Perhaps thinking about how little we take notice of and how much we take for granted.  The last half hour of your life that passed by has come and gone and you' will never be able to get it back to redo.   Was it productive?  Was it meaningful?  Only you and I can answer individually, but collectively we can look toward the next half hour we have been given.  Take it and hold onto it.  Make it your time, whatever that means to you.  Treasure what you have been given and work toward the things you want. Your time is at hand! 

By the way, it is Friday and don't forget to take your umbrella...

JZ

I love that old song by The Scorpions from 1990.  I can almost hear the whistling now, can you?  It reflected a very real set of changes I was facing at that time. Leaving high school, deciding on college or the workforce, career path, finding a girlfriend (my wife can attest to that one) and the list can go on.  
 
Change.

It it inevitable, it is often for the best, and it can be difficult to deal with at the beginning, yet it doesn't have to be scary. Change really, is just moving from one place to another - emotionally, spiritually, or physically.  It's the moving part that is the hardest to cope with from my perspective.  Fear of the unknown is one of humanity's greatest obstacles to overcome.  What exactly is waiting around the comer?  Will I lose what I have?  Will my new situation afford me the same luxury I've grown accustomed to?  

Ah... I think I've hit a nerve!  The comfort factor.  Yes, we are creatures of comfort and really do not like to be disturbed. I can understand that, especially when it's cold outside, and that thick, warm comforter is telling you to stay put.  But what if we never moved from our current location and just decided to stay in bed?  Besides obviously making an eventual mess of your bed and yourself, there would be no warm shower, no smiles from the outside world to greet you, ......no leaving high school, no finding your career, and no finding your soulmate.  

Change is not always comfortable at first, but you will adapt - until the next set of changes comes along.

Can you hear the winds of change calling your name?  

JZ

​What a warm summer it has been. 
Lots of heat and sun with buckets of swampy, thick humidity.  Gallons of iced tea and sitting by the pool was the plan of action for many.  But change is coming.  Change as in the shorter days, which have already started, along with cooler nights the first sighting of light, fall jackets.  The air will soon have a crisp, but gentle bite that lets us know we are still among the living, evidenced by frosty breath and chilly fingers. 
In one way, it will be nice to break out the heavier clothes and feel the warmth of a soft, flannel shirt, on a cold and dark morning.  But yet, I doubt many of are looking forward to scraping car windows when we are already late for work or getting the kids off to school.  Not much fun at all.  So what to do?
Nothing.
There isn’t much we can do to change the seasons by our own accord or make the summer last forever.  So it is with life I suppose.  There are seasons of warm sun and there are seemingly endless days of cold winter.  But remember, those days won’t last forever.   Perhaps we should just soak in what makes each season so special and be thankful for the place we are presently at?  Who knows, it make to heat more bearable and the cold more tolerable? 
Just a random thought from a guy fanning himself as he writes this piece.  Please excuse me while a grab a glass of iced tea.
JJZ

Uncle Rico Kip, I reckon... you know a lot about... cyberspace? You ever come across anything... like time travel?
Kip Easy, I've already looked into it for myself.
Uncle Rico Right on... right on.
You may recognize that familiar dialogue from the hit movie Napoleon Dynamite.   I still never tire of watching that movie for some reason?  Maybe I can relate to Uncle Rico looking to go back in time - looking to re-write history , or so he believes.
For many of us if given the opportunity, I think we'd take that chance to redo things, to fix mistakes, or to mend broken relationships.  The good news is that we don't really need a time machine to do those things.  If you are reading this, then the opportunity is yours for the taking.  Go fix a mistake.  Re-create an opportunity you may have missed out on.  Fix that relationship with an old friend before its really too late.  The good news is that you and I still have time to work with.  Make the most of it!
Now if I can only find my nunchucks and bow staff. 
JZ

As I reflected on the death of Jesus this Easter season, my focus was drawn to the two criminals who hung next to Christ while he was on the cross.  Two different people, yet ultimately the same; thieves, convicted criminals, condemned to death – sinners. 

What separates one from the other is a matter of the heart.  The one criminal hurled insults and mocked Jesus asking him to get them down from the cross.  A jailbreak if you will.  And what if that man were to be freed from his cross?  Would he repent, change his ways, and give up his life of crime?  Most likely he would continue down the same path, only to be eventually brought to the same bloody cross in the future.  His heart was riddled with arrogance, deceit, and treachery.  An unrepentant heart.

The other man, also a thief, also sentenced to death, had a different perspective on his pitiful circumstances.  Realizing he did indeed deserve what was happening to him, and that Jesus was innocent of his crimes, scolded the other man for speaking to Jesus in such an insulting way.  Realizing he had nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain, he simply asks Jesus to remember him when he enters his kingdom.  This man’s heart was broken, sincere, and most of all humbled.  A repentant heart.  Jesus of course, tells this man that he would be with him forever more. 

The book of Jeremiah in chapter seventeen, verse nine says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?”  It seems only one can truly understand matters of the heart – none other than the one who created the everlasting human soul - the mender of broken hearts – Jesus.  The cure itself for the deceitful heart is love, humility, and forgiveness – everything Jesus truly represented and still represents today. 

If you were asked to choose one of the criminals that hung beside Jesus on that horrific and beautiful afternoon, and offer that man a chance to go back in time to redo any part of his life, who might you select?  The answer might just be a matter of the heart.
JZ