We are all students in the great stories of life.

And.

By God’s grace.

In the good ole land of Uncle Sam’s land and spaces, hopefully people freely walk out of their front doors of wherever they are and relish their freedom. Even if and when they do not appreciate it.

In some ways, someone thought earlier was better, and maybe so, but at the end of this day, there will be a voice of collective decision. In spite of or despite all the short video viewings, blabbering, lies the truth.

No, I mean the truth lies there.

Ugh.

Between the lines and the lies.

Ugh.

Life and communication has its challenges.

Reputations are attempted to and subjected to the hot varnish of winning or subject to the fate of no return.

The fight is ugly.

The decision rests with the one who can decipher the crap from the good. Kinda like the one who is less of a Hypocrite. A person who’s behavior contradicts their stated beliefs, or moral standards, or someone who pretends to have virtues they do not actually posses.

An actor on a stage.

Who behind the scenes enjoys the riches while telling the peasants, their life is good and in their capable hands.

Nope.

Strength comes within and stands the test of time. Even if and when the happy meal does not arrive cooked to perfection.

Some know. Some learn the hard way. Some do not care. Many see through the screen the bull on their hand-phone…Or maybe not.

Just because we can does not mean we should—revel in the hate and confusion situated strategically out on the ball field of passes, and outs and kicks and goals.

Today. In one part of the world, there is a big deal happening— with perhaps far reaching consequences for a lot of people.

A lot. Of people.

Under the surface there are displaced and used-people being piggy-backed for another’s benefit.

This is a big deal of a ‘who’s-who’ and ‘who is’ or was or who may go home to,

lick their wounds.

Ouch and it does not taste as good as they had hoped.

Victory and defeat are only as good as the intent they hold at the core.

The thing about competition is the victory is so much sweeter when the game is played the correct and truthful way.

Otherwise, we have the this that is this.

Confusion. Hatred. Meanness….

This was not His plan. Not here. Not now.

Order is in order and we all play a part in the end game.

A special part. An individual part. A collective part. A God-given part.

Squander it.

We lose.

Put pride aside.

WE win.

You see, this year, the year of so, so, so, so much discontent and hate,

there is a quiet light shining. Except. Through all the noise no one is listening. Worse off no one is hearing each other or anyone for that matter.

‘People believe what they want to believe.’ (BO)

Fair and accurate.

But.

The age-old question of what sells is still a point of contention.

Salesmanship has taken on the air waves and by-waves of everyone and anyone.

While, there is still a quiet light shining in the form of an Ethiopian man driving a white person to her home.

He sees the American dream in her sad, sad eyes and wonders about,

’this place.’ Why is she sad…..

After all. This land of the free and the home of the brave.

It is.

The land of the free and the home of the brave.

And.

It takes tough competitors to keep it this way.

If you are not part of the future, then get outta the way. (JM)

Okay.

How we got here is the same reason we got here.

And differing philosophies of what is right and truth and good and fair.

So. Early or by today’s end.

Freedom allows us to cast a choice.

It is the one freedom still held near and dear, even if it has been extended beyond some legal, moral and ethical limits, and time constraints of what is.

Good news.

The hanging chads and watch dogs are fierce.

If you cast, your voice will be heard.

This is called freedom, albeit under an attack of some grandiose proportion thinkers in the days of yesterday. Good news is that order is coming to the table and it is,

Good. True. Fair.

Inclusive.

There are no shortcuts.

State case.

One cast. One vote.

One lifetime can be changed in a ‘poke.’

Fast forward. NO

Rewind. NO

It’s what you do, it’s not what you say, if you are not part of the future, then,

get outta of the way. (jm)

Yes.

Yep.

And.

The eager-for-change-persons may use hysteria or they may use common sense. Or in the saddest of cases-violence-soft and hard. The ones who want to know the truth of the situation are left at the disadvantage of the ones who think they know better.

The cycle continues, lifes are changed forever.

The ‘need to know’ and some ‘reasoning to know’ may develope lazy eyes of the fastest way to get from here to there. Choosing to sit back on the chaise and say, Ah.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh—at the thought of a light indicating— ‘we have arrived.’

But freedom does not work this way.

Talk is cheap.

We are reminded.

We are all and always students of this crazy thing called life.

Someone’s life may look better than our own. And envy takes over our better senses.

We jump into the pickleball circles of whack and harumph. Or we pass the ball fast, whipping past our own teammates face in order to make ourselves look good, better.

Good looks. Looks good.

Same difference.

So. What do we students in this 24/7 life of talk and information do?

Stop.

Look.

Listen.

We are all in this together whether we like it or not.

Best attack the day with His knowingness and courage.

Otherwise,

We got nothing.

There are kids, younger and older, watching and listening to the frenzied adults trying to get from A to Z on someone else’s dime.

Which really just means,

We all lose.

Hard work and working hard are two sides of the same coin.

Talk can be cheap or it can be the wonderful song of a beautiful world.

One that works together to take on the challenge of alleviating one another’s suffering without tricks or schemes or digging in the dirt of another’s life. One that listens to the expense of another’s doubts and uses prayers of hope to help.

A win, win,

No matter who wins.

Amen!