trials of an eternal optimist

Where is my world coming to? I wonder if there is anyone out there who can lay claim to having sublime peace without a single thought of worry for the passing day?
I sit and marvel on the turn of events facing us as a people; The rising cost of living, widespread insecurity , stark contrast the rich and the poor, Unending vitriol from a befuddled citizenry to its equally inept government, a fraught economy, colossal job losses and much more.

You see, lately I have been a victim of my own preaching. I pride myself in being an eternal optimist; am positive thinker; a man who always sees the glass as half full. A mastermind of sorts that is kept on a strict diet of any motivational materials available. Given my way, I’d even challenge the need for darkness and night before its loving creator . Such is my fascination with the Good, The Brighter and the Happy. For instance, In The case of a headache, I was taught that I just needs to re-arrange and focus my body mechanism to align the energies that are out of sync to help bring back the system balance back on track and as such the “pain” is diminished via the power of the positive –thought aligned mind. Wow! But here’s the thing, I’m Broke, lonely and my otherwise decent world is falling apart. I’ve sank into the abysmal depths of nothingness; At least to the very best of my knowledge .All my sustained efforts to summon my valued beliefs and teachings on positive thinking and eternal optimism have recently failed. Resultantly, I find myself silently cursing the system, laying blame on all the women, watching endless trash tv and talking in my sleep. I diligently avoid my clique of new thought converts preferring the quiet alleys occasioned with the usual commoners. I tuck my cherished collection of motivational cds and books and glossy magazines are duly displayed and religiously read. In turn, I’ve become an “IF” and not a “WHEN” person. “I WISH” instead of an “I WILL” person. Deterioration at its best. So is there help for me? Has it all been a waste of my time? Is this the real me? I wonder as I silently envy those who are constantly on the diligent path of positive re-affirmation while here I am huddling at the pavement of the beaten path of obscurity.

No! No! Not really! My mind seems to refuse .Its just a phase. Like any well-intentioned person out there. I am sure someone can identify with me. All is not gloom. The wave has hit its trough but in time I’ll ride to its crest. The cast shadow just means there is light somewhere. My song has just hit its bridge and it’s about to turn an octave higher. Beep! Beep! Beep! Goes my pulse and that only mean one thing; that I am alive and that’s a good thing, right?

So I guess I’ll appreciate the moment, treasure the good and try to understand the underlying meaning of the bad. For every yin there is a yang. Try to be a little easy on myself and kind to others out there trying their level best. I suppose I’m still human. Here’s the deal, How come those so called Motivational gurus and thinkers don’t front themselves and say, Hey look. I’m really having it rough and I am on the brink of giving up .I am not asking for much but just for them to only appreaciate the moment when their guards are down with the trials of life and not wait until all is well and the situation is faithfully triumphed then we see them on tv, in seminars and their books paraded among the best seller lists .So pardon my manners, I am just making an honest admission and admitting to my inadequacies for the whole world in real time that yes, I’m having it crazy right now but all the while being reminded of a verse from the wisest man to have lived which says “There’s a time for everything.A time to weep and a time to dance..” and right now; sob, sob sob! You get my drift.

(c) jazzkuria

There is a little bit of Michael Jackson in all of us; At least in me.

The morning of June 26th will be etched in history for one particular thing; the
sudden death of Michael Joseph Jackson. The ‘King of Pop’ as he is widely known among his legion of fans and his contemporaries worldwide passed away after succumbing to a cardiac arrest.
I saw the unprecedented images of shocked, grief-stricken admirers popping up everywhere on TV and on the internet. They reacted in tears, some sung his songs in tribute and others just stood in silence. A common feature was the strastopheric coverage of the world media which was awash with the breaking news of his death. Fascinating as it seemed, I noticed the profound effect one man can have on millions, If not the billions around the world. This brought me to a new line of thought. From all the different sources one can get hold of an espy into the life of Michael Jackson, I saw he lived reclusively and totally withdrawn with an interesting fascination of the bizarre. I try to imagine if he knew how much impact his songs were to the people out there. His phenomenal dance moves awed audiences all over and simply put, he changed and revolutionalised the way modern music was played by his sheer artistic audacity while capturing hearts of every man, woman, boy and girl by just being in his element.
With the success Michael had attained over the years, I paused to wonder if happiness had accustomed him in a similar fashion. I played his songs over and over trying to put the energy, hope and joie de vivre of his music back to the man. I studied the different depictions and personalities that he had physically and psychologically evolved into with time trying to find this connection. I delved into his boyhood ambitions and his latter year addictions and all the while the chasm between his success and personal happiness seemed to widen. A friend of mine, while discussing this matter, poked that its not the years one has lived but the life one has put into those years and I wondered the same of Mike and indeed the rest of us. I reflected on the separate life of the man and the artist. I sympathised with the forlorn image of a pop king that desperately sought reconciliation to its childhood trauma. Listening to his music, observing him and reading about him helped me separate and gradually heal my prejudices of the artist against the simple soul that yearned for peace, a world without pain, genuine love from family and friends, success in one’s career and the freedom to express one’s true self.
I finally saw a bit of myself in Michael’s struggles, in his pain and in his success. A imperfect but well intentioned person .I put into perspective the reality of a public pop icon to that of a shy and an eccentric private soul. I now genuinely thank God for giving an invaluable opportunity to put life into the remaining years. To seek the higher cause for living. To illuminate His Light through my words and actions. To value and treasure the Kingdom Of God intangibles (Love, Faith, Hope..., ) more than the earthly tangibles (we know them).To seek His identity for He is The Author and Finisher of our life. For The Good Lord Jesus Christ posed a good question: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul”.
(c) jazzkuria
29th june 2009.

Safari Sevens pictureque

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The silence of wonder!

Take the sun
The imposing, bright tablet in the sky
Which,at the break of dawn, slides up n shines up on high
Think about it
In all its glorious splendour
And in silence
It stands above in purpose
Then the world is lit up with this cosmic magnificence

Take the rainbow
The tapestry of wonder that splashes across the wet sky
Flaunting its beauty and in an instant it goes back to hiding
Think about it
In all its glorious splendour
It adorns our distant horizon
And men have since been ridiculously smitten!


Take the stars
The white diamonds scattered across the velvet sky
Glittering and shimmering in the dark of the night
Think about it
This glorious splendour
And in silence
They twinkle their way into our hearts n fascinates our imagination with their charm.

Take our Father God
Who, before the beginning began had been and lived to see the end and IS after that
He, who holds the universe by His breath and the seas in the cusp of His hand
Would go into Himself to send unto us His beloved Son
Think about it
A chastisement of our sins ; A living sacrifice for our redemption
The Living Word
And now we have a hope and a future

Take me n you
An image of unspeakable and phenomenal beauty
Knitted perfectly in the mother's womb with no idea, no clue n here we are
Think about it
An absolute wonder
Dont say a word
Some things are better said in silence!


Take the following
The birds of the air, the wild animals, the wind that slaps ur face, the rivers and the mountains, the green of the fodder, the delicate white snowflake, the yin and the yang, the strange time-space continuum, the joy of poetry, the rains falling from the heavens, the angels
Think about all that...
Mystery inexplainable
Without words
The silence of wonder!

©jazzkuria
052209

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Is your boss your friend or foe? -- Signs of the Times News: "http://www.sott.net/articles/show/184702-Is-your-boss-your-friend-or-foe-"

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EXPOSED!

I just sit
Waiting and then pray
I then repeat
Telling myself its gonna be okay
I try to sing
But the melody does not make any sense
I bring myself back to myself
Summoning my innermost faith
Faith in God
I then lay down and sleep
Whilst trying very hard not to weep


Still..,Mine is a decent story
In comparison to others out there
With dreams gone awry
I see myself with victory
Maybe today; Maybe tomorrow
But I’m still drawn to sorrow

For I am wiser now
Free to live my truth
And let Love be
In Jesus will I trust
The lasting Peace for my days
I will talk
Of nothing other than Hope
In a world where gloom is in bloom
I will try to be..
An extension of His Light
A Joy to the mad world
A smile to the constant frowns
Warmth to the cold reality
Love to the resident evil
Bounty when scarce is commonplace
A Faithful Keeper
A solution than a problem
Colours of the rainbow
A part of Heaven down here
Just be me...
For The world could use something different at least!


jazzkuria
-END-

Love's The Greatest

'And now abideth faith,hope,love; but the greatest of these is LOVE'.1 corithians 13:13. Love-'Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoices nt in iniquity but in the truth.'
Love- 'bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things, endures all things'
Love recognises the reality of the pain, bt beyond the pain love sees a victory and a triumph.love is a creative force that can bring good out of evil,even redemptive power out of a cross,- love never faileth' ..charles allen.

LOVE IS ALL THERE IS- The series

Love is a very powerful emotion
It is often the most confused and controversial
Usually spoken of being blind;
Love answers and seldom questions
It is in the heart of the beholder
The DNA of His Awesome Wonder
It defines most of our actions and Inactions.
It makes us breathe; Jump; Shout; Sing; Hustle; Makes us want to lie down..Just makes us move.
It inspires; makes us perspire and never expires!
It lifts us up when we are down
It is always deep within when all else is gloom
Asking us to summon it constantly and consistently
For Love Is ALL There Is!
Love is the warmth in the Smile
Love is the crisp of the morning breeze
Love is the soothing of a comforting hug
Love is the melody of the bird perched next to your bedroom window
Love is the friendship we never want to loose
The kiss from a loved one.
Love is the contentment of a Peaceful heart
Love is the reaction of a prayer answered
Love is the serene of ocean waves;
The rays of the setting sun;
The snowballs in winter;
The Lion playing with her cubs;
The rain pouring from the heavens;
The tree that gives us the shade;
The song we dance ourselves loose;
The footprints we etch along the sandy beach;
It is the air that sweeps our face;
It is in the clothes we wear;
The red in the roses;
The Ham in the Burger;
It is The All In All!
God Is Love!
But why is Love not pronounced and announced everyday? Every time? At all moments?
Why is it so easy to see hurt? Pain? Jealousy? Anger? Envy? Ugliness? Yea, why do these come so easy for us? Why do they entangle us with such cheap effort? Exactly, Where Is The Love?
Thats the journey I wish we begin from here..
The Journey that Love Is All There Is.
The Journey Of everything Love.
Me and You.Love!
It starts with just one person
It starts with ME!
Care to Join?

-END-
Jazzkuria (c)