Fireflies and Starlight

For Brandon

Waiting again for it to be over,
I knew it wouldn't last.
They never did.

I could hear it down the hall,
In my room, in my head.
I learned well how to pick up the pieces.

Like fireflies at twilight,
Burning bright, hot and true.
Then fading as quickly as they came.

I learned to leave before they went out,
It was safer that way.
I wouldn't have to see them die.

But fireflies are distracting,
To little girls captivated by their surroundings.
They don't learn to look up, to the stars above.

You came saying you wouldn't leave,
But I wanted to run.
I didn't want to have to pick up your pieces too.

With playful bouts of love,
You brought joy to a little girl,
Who thought it was only for fairy tales.

And now she is learning to look up,
To tell the difference between them and you,
Between fireflies and starlight.

Purposeful Devotion

Tell me it hurts you to hurt me,
Why do I have to threaten to leave,
Before you'll make me stay?

I want to know everyday how you cherish me,
So that a lifetime can accumulate,
And every ounce of it is filled with love.

It isn't easy to value someone,
It is easier to put it off when stressed,
But devotion isn't a matter of convenience.

Pondering meaning and purpose can be interesting,
But it doesn't get down to the realities of living.
Let's do that together, you and me, intent on one another.

Only Money can deter Conscious Indifference

As far as I can remember, I've be an ardent opponent of tort reform. I think it hurts society in ways that doctors and big business will never let you know.

That said, it is hard to help people really understand why astronomially high jury verdicts are actually good for law and justice. I can understand that...it certainly isn't intuitive.

The State Bar of Texas, in its 2006 Short Story Competition, awarded John Walton Brookman first place for his submission, "Final Judgment." Some snippets are blow to give you a feel for the story. I highly recommend reading it in its entirety...it is only 6 pages.

Plaintiff's Counsel:
...I’d already finished recounting the testimony the jury’d heard during the
previous two weeks of trial about Lupita Chavolla’s last trip to the swimming pool. Lupita was five getting ready to turn six when she sat down in the wading pool at the Cross Arbors Swimming Association. The jury had listened to the testimony of the witnesses who had heard her shrieks as the drain on the pool trapped Lupita in place and her mother unsuccessfully attempted to lift her out of the water. They’d heard the engineers testify how the suction had increased exponentially and the doctors testify how this amount of force had disemboweled
Lupita, leaving her, her intestines and her mother thrashing around in a hellish miasma of chlorine, blood and tears....

Defense Counsel's Rebuttal:
“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we all feel sorry for what happened here. Nobody has more sympathy for little Lupita than the fine people at Tranquil Pools. But we all assume risk when we enter the water. And certainly when we take our children to a swimming pool we have a duty to adequately supervise them.”

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that’s what it boils down to: Money. M-O-N-E-Y. They want you to award millions of dollars. Well, let me tell you something, no amount of money is going to bring Lupita Chavolla back. A stack of money as tall as this building won’t bring her back.”

Plaintiff's Powerful Rebuttal:
"...The Chavollas don’t want your sympathy. And they darn sure don’t want the sympathy of those fine people at Tranquil Pools, Incorporated.

“Let’s talk about those fine people of Tranquil Pools, Incorporated. Let’s
talk about this corporation that is informed of tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy just like this one. This fine corporation that puts profits over the safety and wellbeing of the Lupita Chavollas of this world.”

“As far as the reason we are here today, well I think you know why. We are here to right a wrong. We are here to achieve justice so what happened to Lupita won’t happen to some other child. To ensure corporations won’t shred incriminating documents. We are here to punish a corporation that disregards the safety and well-being of the most defenseless members of our society: Our children.”

“But only money will deter this corporation’s conscious indifference to the welfare of our families in the future. Money is the only language this fine corporation comprehends. Based on their net worth, it’s obvious that it will take a pile of money as tall as this building to get their attention. Because, you see, partial justice is no justice at all. If you are as horrified at these facts as I know you must be, then let your voice be heard through your deliberate and reasoned verdict.

Praise You in this Storm

What follows are the lyrics to Casting Crown's "Praise You in this Storm", a great song for people going through tough times. I did not put the lyrics in order...because this way it conveys the message better.

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus:
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

A Favor

For the next several weeks, my professor will be out of town. I'm writing and compiling entries for his blog. If anyone who stops by here would go by a give my entries a hit, I'd be much obliged!

Romance

Relationships are quirky things, especially romantic relationships. Probably the biggest problem in my relatively limited life experience is that romantic relationships die without, you guessed it, romance. That is to say, courtship must involve romance and that romance must continue into marriage. This has nothing to do with love. Love is based on more than feelings. But if you have two couples, each married 50 years, the happier couple will be the one that has kept romance alive. Both couples can love one another, but it is just different with romance.

I came across an article on askmen.com about romancing women. Some of the suggestions were rather tacky I though since the end result was sex. While I understand that can be a very strong driving force, men, let me tell you this: if you want to make love to your wife, make the end result of your gesture her happiness, and the rest will follow...I promise.

The best suggestions I saw were:
1. Scavenger hunt
2. Tell her she is beautiful unexpectedly (via email, a phone call, a written note)
3. Actually write her a note, leaving it in her purse, on her car, or some other place she will find it. (How sweet!)
4. Cook her favorite meal
5. Take her on an "offical" date (for couples together after a long time)
6. Buy her a random, token present...something small just to show you were thinking about her.
7. Dance with her (fantastic idea!)
8. Randomly buy her flowers

Synthetically Yours,

Life is funny sometimes...often...almost always. We spend our lives being sold, at least here in the states and rapidly so in India and China. We are told how we need all these things that are foreign to our nature and our bodies. Plastic surgery is the most obvious example I can think of. Others would include steroids and diet pills and crazy anti-aging techniques (as if it isn't perfectly natural to age!)

Recently, I decided to start taking birth control. It is supposed to help with things like cramps, which I have struggled with forever, figuratively speaking. Well, to be quite blunt, these little synthetic hormones have wreaked absolute havoc on my body and soul. Heart flutters, anxiety attacks, nausea, mood swings, etc, have been the norm for me the past month and a half. And for what? What is the price I paid for being sold? We are always called to count the cost.

This brought to mind questions of reality. I discovered there is nothing in the world more real than a caring, merciful heart. I found that in my mother, who has spent hours talking me through my problems and finally convincing me that the birth control wasn't worth the price I was paying. That is real. Of course, parental love knows no limits. Even so, her gracious and loving spirit was a gift from Heaven when I most needed it; she has been there for me when no one else would or could be. I used to say, when I was young, that I sat in Heaven and picked her out to be my mom. There is absolute truth in that childhood statement.

Poetry in lyrics

I love how metaphorical this part of Julie Roberts' "Break Down Here" is:

I'd sure hate to break down here
Nothin up ahead or in the rearview mirror

Out in the middle of nowhere knowin
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin

So God help me keep me movin somehow
Dont let me start wishin I was with him now

I made it this far without cryin a single tear
And I'd sure hate to break down
Its too late to turn around
I'd sure hate to break down here

Mountain of God

Mountain of God - Third Day

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me

I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

Welcome Home

I love Brian Littrell (yes, of Backstreet Boys fame...lol). From everything I've seen, he is a committed father and husband and is serving the Lord through his music. His first single was "In Christ Alone". His latest song is fantastic, and I'm reproducing the lyrics below.


Welcome Home - May 2006.

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"
But I laid it all down, gave everything
In my head rang the words that my father said

You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

When I look at you holding my heart
I will give to you all that I have
Son I know there'll be times
You will feel all alone
I will share with you the words my father said

You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
You can bet I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face

Said I've been waiting for that day
Just to feel your warm embrace
Your love has shown
I will never be alone
You will welcome me home

I'll forever be
You will say to me
Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"

Thoughts worth more thoughts

For You

It’s hard to read a life in a moment,
Yet so many people try.
But judgment without revelation,
Is a blind substitute for truth.

So many people rant against conformity
And then live by it.
I’ve formed a strengthened character outside their box
Can’t you see it, or do you crave their world?

Death breeds perfection and idols,
Other losses, much the same.
I never claimed to tread the skies with the angels,
But I’ll give you the world inside my heart.

It’s hard to do the right thing,
When the thing that saved you before was wrong.
It is the fear of all that could be that makes us run,
Because we know exactly what we could loose.

So now I’ll face that pain I knew before,
But this time I’ll stay.
Not because I’m stronger or better in anyway,
But for you.

My goodness

A quick blog from work....

You gotta love it when you open a file to investigate and you run into "Pleadings: Volume 1 of 5".

End the pain now...!!