Coffee With A View: The Truth is Out There

By Carol Harper

Not AI-generated!

Happy New Year, everyone! You know what is really cool? Last year, around this time, I prayed and believed that 2025, despite all the challenges I was facing, was going to be a good year, a better year. And you know what? It was!

Looking back on that little chunk of time in the grand scheme of things, I've tried to focus most on the continued blessings and gifts in my life that have spurred me onward. I have hot coffee in my mug, delicious food to taste, and music to listen to. I have shelter and warmth. I have a job. I have a car to drive, and I can drive because I can see! I can walk! I have fingers to type this blog. I have friends who love and encourage me. I am so very blessed.

I don't list these things pridefully, but very humbly, as I have learned that any of these things can be taken away at a moment's notice. So I never take these things for granted.

History and the Truth

In looking back at just one year, my thoughts drift to the timeline of human history, which is marked by numerous undeniable events. So many wars, battles, and conflicts. Events that brought out the worst in the human race...the Mongol Invasions, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, Holodomor, Rwandan Genocide, the Salem Witch Trials, the Trail of Tears and the colonization of America, 9/11. Massacres and shootings in public places such as schools, department stores, hotels, theaters, and social clubs. (Not trying to be a downer, but I do try to keep the feet on my good and bad legs grounded in reality.)

Some truths can only be revealed over the passage of time; many times, it can be too late to do anything about. Truths about what is happening to our earth, our landscapes, our oceans, our communities. The effects of the ages of industry and technology...the garbage, the toxins and poisons we ingest. The effects of what has been taught and is passed down to our children, such as insults, rudeness, bullying, assault, and abuse. I often wonder when and if all these things can ever be corrected for a more hopeful future.

Input, output. One can attempt to twist truths and rewrite history, and many have tried. But no one can deny the events derived over the passage of Time.

"I was educated once. It took me years to get over it."

Mark Twain

'The Soup': Discovering the Truth

Attempting to find the truth can be very difficult because you first have to swim through what isn't true to find out what is. It's a daunting pool of muck because there are mounds of cover-ups, narratives, and cleverly crafted media posts and releases that can be very, very persuasive.

Back in the day, the only institutions we had were schools and libraries (Remember the Dewey Decimal System?) Then came the rise of the internet and social media (Google, Facebook). Now it is AI (OpenAI, ChatGBP, Grok).

I believe that any tool can be used for good or evil. When I was a stringer for County 10, we would hold frequent huddles about the stories we were covering. The thing I admire about County 10 is that they are careful about being factual. When I worked for the Ledger Dispatch, my editor drilled into my head: "Quotes and photos." I had some leeway when I was the copy editor/writer for the Gold Country Times, which focused on the good, wholesome things that happened in the communities of California's gold country.

However, the problem with most media is that they need to fiscally survive; thus enters the world of marketing and advertising. If you want the content amplified beyond certain fences and demographics, you have to pay for it. Facts can be manipulated and twisted to fit any agenda. So whether the ad content is true or not...if you've got the money, you've got your bullhorn. But who really pays attention to the man behind the curtain?

Now, Facebook and thousands of social media apps are "free". What does that mean in the journey towards finding the truth? Unfortunately, it sets us back at a great rate, adding layers upon layers of misinformation, gray areas, lies of omission, and "plausible deniability" that appeals to and polarizes us towards agendas, products, and services that we may think make sense or feel good. But if one is being programmed to believe lies, what good is the truth? (Matthew 7)

In a world of fallible and infallible data, yes...even AI can compromise the search for truth. Even AI has a "man behind the curtain". But as I said before, Time has a way of revealing infallible truths. I suppose that's why so many read law enforcement arrest pages and obituary pages. Unfortunately, suffering and death are facts for us all.

But fortunately, so are Light, Life, and Love!

Approaching the Truth

The Truth can put you into shock and shatter your whole world. For some, it's hitting rock bottom. For others, there can be a period of defensive reactions and denial. And sometimes,  Truth isn't revealed until the deathbed, when one finally realizes the costs of living a lie, and the ripple effects and division it caused in the lives of their family, friends, loved ones, their community, and the world they are leaving.

There were many times in my life when I feared the truths about what I was doing to my mind, body, and soul. About what I was inadvertently teaching my children about unhealthy relationships and depression. Coming to grips with the truth wasn't easy, especially when my consistent response was pretense: "I'm fine, everything's fine."  How many times did I say that when things weren't fine? 

There were some Nouns that I've ultimately had to "let go and let God". When I see the sufferings and injustices, it is very, very difficult for me to just sit back and watch them continue. Even though I myself have also been a target of gossip and lies, it gives me a strange comfort knowing there are both seen and unseen powers at play which are way beyond anyone's limited vision and ability to control...but not beyond the power of Who is in control of the Timeline.

However, for me nowadays...the sooner I can know the truth, the sooner I can deal with the effects and damage that lies have made, and somehow attempt to stop the ripple effects caused by them. That is why I always say: "If you want to know the truth about your community, ask a first responder." They know the causes and effects of crime, violence, alcohol, drugs and substances, depression, abuse, and assault. They see the social and political division that leads to homicide and suicide. They see the results of accidents, suffering, and neglect. I think that is what our local, state, and federal leaders struggle with the most. Because of the threads of Truth in history's timeline, there are just some absolutes that you simply cannot avoid, cover up, or plausibly deny.

"Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life,

And few there be that find it."

Matthew 7:14

The Truth Is Out There

I've been binge-watching "The X Files" lately. It's been a loooong time since I've watched that series, and it was one of my favorites (besides all the Star Treks, lol). There are episodes that I don't remember, so it's been fun to watch over again. I've always loved the boldness of the character Agent Fox Mulder; many think he's crazy, but I love that he doesn't care. Despite those who try to silence him, he forges onward in his search for truth.

I jokingly tell folks that I'm probably the most extroverted introvert they'll ever know! This year I'll be 60 years old (in September), and I've gained a bit of knowledge, experience, and wisdom throughout my blip-of-a-timeline thus far. I think of the people I put my trust in and have been burned in the end. I think about the wolves in sheep's clothing whose message I bought hook, line, and sinker. The foods and substances that altered my mind from thinking clearly. The cleverly marketed items and unproductive activities I wasted my time and money on.

But were they wasted? No. Not if I learned the lessons. I could live in an entire world of regret, but the truth is...I don't live in that world anymore.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in Truth."

(John 4:23-24)

Back to history's timeline...the Bible is the one book that has made it through all of the atrocities of this world, and the Word lives on to breathe the Truth right in our faces. The effects of conflict and war,  disobedience, political division...examples of lies, and lies disguised as truth. The Bible gives us prophetic warnings against appearances of truth, which is hypocrisy. On top of all that, there are so many who have twisted the Word to fit their own views, justify their own actions and agendas, for their own followers and gain.

Whew! How can something called "The Good Book" be so chock-full of trauma and drama? Because the Truth is the truth, whether you believe it or not, whether you like it or not. And the Truth can hurt! It cuts to the heart and soul (Matthew 10:34). There's no escaping it; you can run, but you cannot hide.

Call me crazy, but believing in a Higher Power that loved the world so much to produce an infallible Word in an extra fallible world through extra fallible men is what I call an extraordinary and extra-terrestrial miracle like none other. I recommend that you not skip episodes, because you'll get it all...love, hate, war, peace, rise and fall of empires, politics, gossip rings, slavery, famine, abundance, life, death, miracles, angels, demons, etc.

And get this...it's all FREE! No subscription required.

Light, Life, Love, and Truth to all this brand New Year!

Carol

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Worth the read:

Matthew, chapters 5, 6 & 7

Ephesians 6. (Actually, whatever...read the whole book, lol)

Revelation 2

Christmas Coffee With A View: Peace on Earth..."as it is in Heaven..."

The Gifts That Keep on Giving

It's hard to believe that it was over two years ago that I slipped on the ice and fell, shattering my wrist and messing up my hip and knee. A few weeks later, as I was healing from wrist surgery, my home office flooded due to a leaking water heater. I had just moved into my new place and still had things in boxes, including important papers and documents that got wet and were destroyed. A few days later, I slipped again on the stairs outside my back door, compounding the pain in my left leg. Additionally, I was slowly going blind in both eyes due to double and complex cataracts, and couldn't work. Some of whom I thought were my friends and fellow teammates abandoned me. I often wept, drew the curtains closed, and slipped into a depression and despair.

These struggles were enough to want to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). What use is a blind, crippled woman? What use am I in this world, if I am disabled and cannot work or sustain a living, or volunteer my time to the causes I believe in?

I Will Send My Angels

It was then that God spoke, and His angels showed up.  My aunt and uncle drove me to and sat with me during my doctor's appointments. My neighbors shoveled my driveway. My Tribe came through and provided the referrals, transportation, and accommodations to have the surgeries on both of my eyes; they also provided wonderful physical therapists who set me on the road to healing my hip and knee. My daughter and many friends called, texted, or came to visit and check up on me. One of them even came several times to braid my hair, since I couldn't use my right arm. Both my Tribe and the Riverton Help Center helped me with rent money, food, and household items. Eventually, I was healed and strong enough to search for a job, and one day, my former job at Frontier Ambulance just happened to pop up on my laptop screen.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The past two years have been a lesson in pure Faith, Hope, and Love, and no one can tell me that God was not directing my paths through all of it. When I think that, through my sufferings, I could've chosen a path of unbelief instead of Faith, darkness and despair instead of Hope, or pride instead of receiving the Love and concern of so many...I would have rejected the Love of God that was revealed and gifted through those who cared!

Because of the gift of Love, Light came into my world. Faith and Hope drove me to patience in healing and strength. Encouragement and support came through the actions of those who cared and/or had the resources, no matter how little or great, to lift me up and help me get on my feet again. Talented and meticulous surgeons and physical therapists who understood that my hands, legs, and eyes were my livelihood performed nothing less than a miracle. Messages from so many that showed thoughtfulness and compassion cheered me up and onward. I am able to forgive those who abandoned or trespassed against me. I am grateful for my daily bread, for the blessings of God through the Nouns...the people, places, and things...that have appeared to me as angels on my Journey.

Light of the World

The world is filled with darkness and despair. There are so many who are lonely, abandoned, weak, sick, dying, lame, blind, hurt, frustrated, and angry...who want to "curse God and die." Many are unhoused, poor, can't find a job, have very little food, warmth, or enough money to sustain themselves. Many have lost homes, friends, or family; lost their health and wellness...lost their Faith, or all Hope.

Every Christmas Eve, I watch two movies: Scrooge (the 1970's musical), and It's A Wonderful Life (1946). Each portrays stories of characters who lived in or experienced a world of darkness and despair. (Okay, truth be told, I may also watch Hans fall out of the Nakatomi Plaza building, lol). I watch each of these movies to the very end, even though I already know the endings: Love wins, every time!

Light has come into the world. We celebrate that Light every Christmas season, and our own lights are renewed with Hope in the angelic hosts' message of "peace on earth, goodwill towards men." (Luke 2:14) The greatest gifts given to this world are gifts that money cannot buy, because God is a God of Love (1 John 4:7-12). Living a life of Faith, Hope, and Love is so worth the living because, hey...we already know the ending!

"A new command I give you:

Love one another:

As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

John 13:34

And now, these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love.

But the greatest of these is Love.

1 Corinthians 13: 13

*You can rent Scrooge and It's a Wonderful Life on YouTube.

Coffee With a View of Washington D.C.

By Carol Harper

(Not generated by AI) 😉

This weekend I made a big ol' pot of chili. It's my Mom's recipe, one that I know by heart because I've probably made it hundreds of times when she was alive and every single winter since moving back to Wyoming. Her birthday was on Friday, so it was fitting that I made a large pot in her honor.

I haven't always made perfect dishes while on my crazy cooking sprees. Oh, I've made plenty of mistakes! I once put cumin instead of cinnamon in some pumpkin spice muffins. I once put Italian parsley in my salsa instead of cilantro. I've looked up where I could use substitutes for ingredients in a recipe, and it just wasn't the same or what I expected. I don't know about you, but I've fixed entire meals where I'd be so excited to put that first bite in my mouth, then ended up spitting it out in the sink. That's how we learn, isn't it? Trial and error. Looking back, I could have saved a lot of time and money, simply by taking the time to read. Cumin, not cinnamon. Italian parsley, not cilantro. One of the big lessons? Real butter, not margarine or butter-flavored shortening!

An honor and a privilege...

My days on the Hill were fascinating. Priority Ambulance, the American Ambulance Association, and many EMS sponsors truly went out of their way to make the Stars of Life an experience to never forget. Even though the government was shut down, we were able to go on a group tour with a wonderful tour guide (a D.C. native) who took us to the monuments and memorials that were open. We were even able to venture out on our own if our schedules allowed. Mine allowed me to tour the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Military Women's Memorial.

It was difficult to get photos of everything I wanted to, because what I really wanted to do was to take it all in...the sights, the sounds, the people, the food (expensive, but fantastic), the culture. In many ways, Washington D.C. is like any other U.S. city. There are a lot of businesses and street markets bustling, there are good and bad parts of town, lights and sirens (can't escape it, lol), there's homelessness, there are protesters with bullhorns...lots of noise. And yes, there was a heightened police presence; however, I spoke with one of the cops in Lafayette Square and asked him about it all, and he calmly said what most cops (and first responders) would say: "Same shit, different day." 

Even with the shutdown, things were buzzing on the Hill. Speaking of noise, corporate media is plastered everywhere in the city; you can't escape it (CNN, MSN, Fox News, C-CSPAN, etc.) As I walked the halls of the House offices and Senate buildings with my hosts, I was surrounded by history (lots of wood, marble, and granite, lol). My first day, I had meetings with Senator Cynthia Lummis and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman; the next morning was my visit with Senator John Barrasso.

My main message to all three was a message I repeat quite often: "If you want to know the truth about your communities, ask a first responder."  If there was one takeaway I wanted them to have from my visit, that would be it. We have sick and hurting communities. Mental health issues. Substance abuse. Domestic violence. Assaults, stabbings, shootings. It takes very special people to be EMS providers and first responders, and there is a very concerning shortage of them. Imagine life without first response, without 911.

My other objective was to observe each of their reactions to my statement. Were they truly listening? Were they interested in what I had to say? I observed that each of them had their own style of business, different personalities, and it was a privilege to sit down in the same room with them and have an allotted amount of time to speak to them, as I know they all were very busy. They did take the time for me, and this was my time, too.

My takeaway from the visits? Our senators and representatives are people, like all of us. They get up in the morning (if they even slept at all, lol), and do their jobs the best they can. I felt that I could both agree and disagree with their politics and agendas, but when it really came down to it, I could see that, like anyone, all they're trying to do is the job their constituents want them to do. And I didn't realize until I witnessed it firsthand - not through the media and social media filters - just how terribly difficult their jobs are. I could see it in their eyes, in their faces, how they walked, how they moved, even how they thumbed through the papers my host gave them about the bills that were on the table.

What you see in the media isn't anything like reality on the Hill. I appreciated the pomp and decorum, but you have to understand that these are not beautiful swans gliding across the water with a tree and flower-lined pond surrounding them. No, these are tired ducks with feet going 100 miles an hour under the surface. These are folks who have to endure tons of pressure, be on constant alert about who comes through their doors, sort through piles of papers set on their desks, untangle mountains of red tape...all the while, people are screaming at them for not doing their jobs.

And they do make mistakes, just like anyone. They've probably put cumin in pumpkin muffins and Italian parsley in salsa. They might not have read the labels and just assumed that what is in the bottle is the needed ingredient for the "big beautiful recipe", and wouldn't know unless and until they've had a chance to taste it. What I could see is that the struggle is real, both from the top down and the ground up.

On one of my walks around the White House, there was a large group of Moroccans celebrating Trump's reaffirmed support of Morocco's sovereignty. Sure, there was a police presence there, and some media were there; not a whole lot, but I did take photos. Flags were being waved, the people were adorned in their country's colors, kids were running around, and I swear I could smell Moroccan food wafting through the air. Not exactly front-page news, but the celebratory atmosphere was so much nicer than the noise of an angry mob.

Afterwards, as I sat in the back of my Lyft ride back to the hotel, the experience caused me to think: "That was very interesting. I sure hope that Trump will recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Native American people, right here in the United States." I suppose that might be a story for the future. Time can only tell.

The Takeaway: Bringing it Home

My experience in D.C. brought out some new and different perspectives about the health of our communities of Wyoming, Fremont County, and our tribes. There are so many things we don't see as we go about our daily lives. Regardless of your political persuasions or beliefs, we are all people just getting up in the morning, going to work, running our businesses, going about our days. We scroll through social media or read/watch the news, but that doesn't even put a finger on the pulse of the truth and realities that happen every day, 24/7, 365. But our first responders know.

I recently attended the Northern Arapaho General Council. I actually like and respect the format of these meetings, because it's the one meeting where our tribal leaders hear and know the voices of the people. Anyone can get up and speak. All have a vote. Whether you agree or disagree with any of the agenda items or resolutions presented, the voice of the People holds (or should hold) weight and power. Then it is the responsibility of the tribal leaders to do their jobs. Respecting the process (again, whether you agree or disagree) and respecting those you voted in to do their jobs in executing the voice of the people is paramount.

That said...you can choose who and what you vote for, but you cannot choose the consequences of that vote. I cringe as I see our nation moving further away from a Constitutional government to a corporate one. I was conflicted as I saw my tribe's General Council vote for the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana. But in the end, the voice of the people had spoken.

As my instincts and gifts of discernment and empathy have developed over my 59 years of life, they have guided me to understand the implications of the results of right and wrong choices made in history. Politics and corporate interests have made a mess of our nation's moral conscience, and as a result, we're all experiencing the effects and swimming through the muck. We've let social and corporate media, and AI influence and decide what information we process. How many voters don't know the ingredients or haven't read the labels? How many leaders would actually know the recipe for a great nation of the People, by the People, and for the People...by heart? Failure of a recipe, targeting and blame aside? A government shutdown is everyone's fault!

A More Perfect Union...of Respect

We know how the Creator achieves balance and control: it's called cause and effect. Regardless of what you believe (or don't believe) about God, you don't get a vote. You might think you have a choice about what you do with your life, mind, and body, but you don't have a choice in the consequences of those choices, and our first responders see the results of those choices every single day. How much do alcohol, drugs, sugar, chemicals, and preservatives impact the human body? How much more can the brain and internal organs take before they shut down? How much food can be withheld before malnutrition or emaciation sets in? How long does it take before someone freezes to death? How many people, elders, and children suffer from assault and abuse, go missing or murdered, die by criminal intent or suicide?

If you want to know the truth about your People...ask a first responder. Same shit, different day.

We are a sick, crippled, and dying country, and there is no big beautiful bandage that can stop the bleed until our leaders have the heart to try a good recipe that will heal the People who voted them in. But it is so much more than what floats across the desks of Congress and the White House. It's more than speeches from the pulpits, protests and marches, or the constant noise and rhetoric of the media, and nighttime talk shows. It's about basic respect for each other. It's about caring about what happens in our communities, and not turning a blind eye to the realities of human life because you're a Republican or Democrat.

I've always been about effective teamwork. You have to have the right people in the right positions, doing the right things for the right reasons. You have to hold your leaders accountable for their actions (or even non-actions), and not drop the ball. Our leaders need to make themselves accessible to listen and act for their constituents. I love that I had the opportunity to speak with my Senators and Representative. I love that our mayor sets aside time on Mondays for anyone to come in and visit with him. I love that I was included in a Joint Committee of people who took the time out of their busy lives, coming together as a team, and addressing three critical issues in our county. I respect any person - whether they sit in positions of leadership or simply out of love and compassion for their community - who sets aside the time and energy (and funding!) for the things that can help build "a more perfect Union."

I know that there are so many people out there who are angry with their government(s). But I also know that The People do come together in times of trouble. I was amazed (but not surprised) by how so many just in our own county came together for food resources during the government shutdown. Huge things like affordable health care should be of paramount concern. But the government and taxes don't have to fund everything. There are programs and non-profit organizations that struggle and continually welcome donors, sponsors, and funding, and there are so many to choose from! 501c3s are another way that the government helps! Giving Tuesday is coming up soon; give a gift of support to a local charity or cause! That said, again...you need the right people in the right positions, doing the right things for the right reasons as administrators of those programs and organizations, and they also need to be held accountable for any hypocrisy, corruption, and mismanagement.

Thinking about my Mom this weekend, she instilled several things in me that may have inadvertently prepped me for my trip to D.C. She would say things like: "It takes work for something to work." ... "Actions speak louder than words." ..."Quit sitting around talking about doing something and actually do it."  Was she the perfect mom? Am I? No. I've made plenty of mistakes, and not just in cooking! But my Mom had the perfect words to echo through my mind today and guide me on my life's Journey.

My last takeaway from my trip is...if you want to be respected, be respectful and respectable! None of us is perfect, and we don't have to always agree on every issue under the sun. But we should be mindful in our approach to each other, listen and be considerate of people's time, and not be ugly, bullying, and combative. And it goes both ways; our leaders also need to be respectful to We the People. We should not say terrible things about each other or approach with ulterior motives, hidden agendas, and malintent, but come together for the peace and the common good of the People.

Because at the end of a long work week, all this small-town Wyoming girl wants to do is make a nice big pot of her Mom's chili!

Coffee With A View: Winter is Coming

Most of my friends know how much I love to cook. I’m an experimental kitchen witch! I love to create…I love the action of chopping, mincing, mixing, and blending. I loved having a little garden this year, with a harvest that yielded a plethora of tomatoes. I made a delicious chicken-vegetable-bean soup with a tomato base that I froze a couple of weeks ago—still tastes as amazing as the day I made it. I made a gingerbread spice blend for my homemade coffee creamer today.

Winter is coming, and that means breaking out the Ninja pot and creating soups, stews, and all kinds of yummy holiday dishes. Most of the time I just throw things together and taste, taste, taste. If I’m making something specific, I look up a recipe online and use it as a guide while adding my own twists with the ingredients and spices I have on hand (and I have quite a lot, lol). I study restaurant menus. I watch “Hell’s Kitchen”. Gordon Ramsey for President! (Haha.)

Some dishes turn out great; others are not so great. But hey, like I said, I’m experimental! I’m not confident enough (nor will I ever be) to be someone’s personal chef, or work/open my own coffee shop/bistro. But one can always dream!

A recipe…for disaster? 

I’ve thought a lot this week about this government shutdown. This gridlock is, well…in one word, incredible, and I don’t mean that in a good way. When the Founding Fathers constructed the U.S. Constitution, it wasn’t perfect (and I think in their hearts, minds and egos, they all knew it), but it was inspired, based upon those revolutionary events that led up to its existence. Not perfect, but meant to be followed. More than just a suggestive guide, it is the law of this land and meant to be adhered to.

Not an experiment. It’s a recipe that needs to be strictly followed by the book.

This whole present situation is why I didn’t vote for either presidential candidate in the first place; rather, I followed my gut instead of the noise, narratives, and propaganda. When Trump was elected, I accepted that the voters had spoken, and I truly wanted to give him a chance to see what he would do...wanted to really understand the reasoning behind his decisions. But I also knew that this nation was already off-balance because of extreme politics and a tanking economy, sooo...

Now we’re in a situation on the schoolgrounds, where there is a game of tug-of-war going on. The kids are all gathering around, wondering who will 'win'…the bullies or the nerds. Bullies are well, bullies. Nerds are smart, but not that popular. The student council has their jaws dropped in disbelief, the potheads are toking it up behind the bleachers, the yearbook committee is wondering how to report this for future generations, the class clowns are having a ball…and musicians are writing songs and singing about it all!

The political right very well knows that economic population control and taking away health care from millions of people is genocide. The political left knows very well that deficit spending is out of control. There are conflicts within conflicts…bottlenecks and road blocks…the steering is out, brakes have screeched, and the drivers don’t even have their licenses.

But there is no authority…no yard duty, principal or superintendent…coming out and breaking it up. Even they have been rendered useless. This is what happens when the wrong people are put into positions of power, and this is why, again, I didn’t vote for either candidate. Trump has fancied himself as the Emperor with new clothes, pokes at Biden, Obama, and past presidents…but C’MON! This is a whole new brand of crazy that just cannot be played down with gaslighting, excuses, and the blame game.

This is serious, folks. The world is laughing at America, and the Founding Fathers are rolling over in their graves.

Using my gut

I’ve been told by family members (on both sides, Native and Hispanic) that I have a gift. Back when I was told about it (20+ years ago), I didn’t really believe it, and I told them so. Didn’t really sound like me…or at least, the ‘me’ at that time.

I once wrote an article featuring a witch for a local newspaper, entitled “When There’s a Witch, There’s A Way”, and off the record, we were conversing about Wiccan and the practice of readings—what they were, and how she did it. In short, she said that she was basically a very underpaid therapist.

I laughed and said, “Well, what if you were to do a reading on me?” She replied, “You don’t need one.” I stopped laughing and asked why. She said: “Because you already know who you are.”

It wasn’t that day, but I eventually did get to a point where I finally knew who I was, and I didn’t do it on my own. I started listening to the winds of Wisdom instead of the noise of programmed propaganda. I started drinking from the waters of Knowledge instead of the tainted and poisoned streams of deception. I started walking a road of Faith, instead of being distracted by the paths of self-gratification and self-destruction.

I’ve stumbled and fallen (sometimes literally!) in trying to achieve balance in my life, but the thing I’ve learned most? You have to do the work. No one is going to do it for you.

And I think that there is the problem. People think that a government, a corporation, an economic system, a belief system, or social media will do all the thinking for them, and they can just get comfortable and watch the show. In fact, there was an LDS (Mormon) church leader, J. Reuben Clark, who once said, “When the leaders speak, the thinking has been done.” Scary, huh? Manipulation of the heart, mind, and soul aside, that is just a scary road in general to go down. It causes me to think: Who is really in control of my heart, mind, and soul? God? Or man? What about when God speaks?

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  Exodus 20:3

What use are the Ten Commandments when they’ve been constantly ignored?

Scary, huh.

I’ve been using Grok quite a bit these days, and quite often find myself saying: “Wow, you learn something new every day.” Folks have their varying opinions about AI, but I have found that any tool can be used for good or evil…and that a tool can also be formed into a weapon as well. Scary, huh.

I generally have a healthy diet…try to eat right, do my exercises. Gotta do the work, right? No one’s going to do it for me. Since I love to cook, I choose meats and veggies that I love and know I’ll eat; I choose herbs and spices that I love. I admit that, every once in a while, I’ll give in to some sweets or fried foods…but invariably I’ll feel like utter and complete crap afterwards. My mind is cloudy, my skin breaks out, my hair gets dry, my stomach yells at me, I have a hard time sleeping. Input? Output. Scary, huh!

I've mentioned in several Facebook posts and comments and in previous blogs, about worshipping the god of money. It, too, can be used for good or evil, depending on who or what allocates it for either/or. But taking money away from that which serves the good, and just handing it over to evil? Scary, huh.

As the tug-of-war continues on the White House playground, we are at that time in history (again) where brandishing torches and pitchforks, dumping tea into the harbor, killing innocent people (and each other) isn’t going to be enough for what lies ahead. The leaders aren’t caring. The systems are breaking and failing. The band-aids aren’t holding. The head-on is inevitable. Scary, huh.

No, at this point it’s going to take a miracle…and those only come from God. Winter is coming.

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
Revelation 1: 1-3

History Lessons: The Footprints of Faith

It's difficult to get back into the swing of things after taking time off. After a lovely birthday weekend, doing most of the things I love to do...catching up on my shows, harvesting the garden, cooking, road-tripping, eating cake and ice cream, visiting with friends and family, sleeping (LOL)...I returned to work renewed, rejuvenated, and ready to go. 

But once I was back in the saddle, it didn't take long to get discouraged with the mountain of work that lay before me. My approach to most things is: Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. So I once again grabbed the bull by the horns. It took me some time (doesn't everything?) and a lot of breaks, but I got back on track and moved forward to the next.

This week, I also put some thoughts forward on my Facebook wall about some current issues, mainly stemming from the effects of Charlie Kirk's death. I call it the "Second Shot Heard Around the World" because it really was a revolutionary event. With the media, social media, and his memorial service televised around the world, millions were impacted. First, the stages of shock, then the stages of grief.  My assessments and observations (and questions) eventually derived from not only how the masses have been impacted, but the directions so many have gone in order to make sense of the senseless.

Then, the chaos quickly ensued. Video clips, emotionally-invoking productions on the life of Charlie Kirk; hundreds of thousands of posts, reels, videos, etc. The reactions and political polarizations took the nation by storm. Amazing how one life taken can impact the world.

Sound familiar?

What is Faith?

Perhaps the biggest thing I've observed is the polarization of beliefs and Faith. To me (and based upon my own experiences), they are not one in the same. It was a horrible experience leaving the LDS (Mormon) church...a terrible divorce and yes, a death of my heart, mind, and soul. LDS friends shunned me, abandoned our friendships. The ward I was a member of...my social life? Gone (everyone but one). My belief in Joseph Smith and all the Mormon prophets, the Book of Mormon, LDS Scripture? Gone. Those who have read my book, Through the Eye of a Needle, have an understanding of what I went through. I was miserably lost and broken.

I've had so many Footprints in the Sand moments since then. I've had to go through so many trials and tribulations...physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual battles...to learn how to see and how to walk my life's journey with Faith, what and who to trust and not to trust. It's not an easy road, but I've learned a lot about the Nouns--the people, places, and things--that have been placed in my life with purpose.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths."

(Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Martyrdom and a Land of Opportunity Opportunists:

America has long been known as a land of opportunity. I typed in "What was the religious climate in the 1800s in America?" into AI, and, among other things, it brought up "The Second Great Awakening" in revivalism and evangelism, denominational growth, and social reform in the early 1800s. It described diversity and tensions, adaptations and challenges in the mid-to-late 1800s. Ironically, this was also the Industrial Age. The evolutions that stemmed from several religious revolutions culminated in a time of invention and opportunity. (Those who watch The Gilded Age and watched American Primeval, those are two good series set in that time period.)

As an example closer to home...Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion, was in the early to mid-phase of denominational revivalism. His vision of two personages (which, by the way, is polytheism), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, etc. (Mormon scripture) were all developed in this time period. Joseph Smith was considered a martyr for his religion, and it might have all ended there...until Brigham Young took the reins. An opportunity in the Gilded Age. He took the religion to a whole new level, with Utah and Salt Lake City as his empire. There's a statue of Joseph Smith on Temple Square. There's a monument of Brigham Young at 1st South Main in SLC.

My kids used to tease me and say, "Mom, what was it like back in the olden days, when you were a kid?" Olden days?? Little brats! Of course, I could always tell them what life was like without cell phones, computers, Saturday morning cartoons on a 19-inch TV, and no McDonald's...but I also lived a very sheltered life when it came to knowing or understanding social and political issues. For example, I would innocently belt out "Book of Mormon Stories" or "This Land Was Made For You and Me" long before I learned that this land was never "their land" to begin with. As I learned more about my Native heritage, I had a lot of questions that no one could (or would) answer. After all, I was raised to believe I was a Lamanite. I was raised to believe that the Mormon church was the only true church on the face of the earth, and all others were wrong. Why? Because that's what Joseph Smith said.

"Then He went into the temple and began to drive out

those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written,

' My house is a house of prayer,'

but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

Luke 19:45-46

All Creatures Great and Small

One of my favorite shows is All Creatures Great and Small, a BBC TV series based on the book(s) by James Herriot. For those who haven't read the books (I did in grade school), it contains the tales of a young, small-town veterinarian, the community he lives in, and the animals he cares for. Perhaps the most amusing thing I see repeated in this series is that his boss, Mr. Farnon, continually cares for animals for free, when he should be charging for his services. One might think: "How on earth does he stay in business?" But he does.

Some may think that, because I left the LDS church, I'm against the people of it. That couldn't be further from the truth. I know so many good people from all walks of life...Christian, Mormon, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan, pagan, atheist, agnostic, etc. All creatures great and small! No, the things I'm against are hypocrisy, lies, deception, ulterior motives, and acts of evil and malintent. However you believe is not my point...

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." (James 2 14-19)

And now we have another devastating shooting at an LDS church in Michigan. More innocent lives lost. I'm curious about motive (which is still in question), because I sure hope it's not because of Charlie Kirk. I sure hope it's not because of left and right extremism. I sure hope it's not because the LDS church did him wrong, shunned him, abandoned him, hurt him. The lines between good and evil are becoming clearer, and we cannot say we haven't been warned, countless times. (Exodus 34: 6-7)

Does it really matter which Jesus you believe in?

Well, yes, apparently it does. The history and evolution of Christianity have led us up to the present day. Cults and televangelists have sprung up for decades. We have corporate and political systems intermingling, influencing, and marketing to the masses. We have mega-religions and churches actively investing in the stock market and crypto. And now we have the liberal Jesus and the conservative Jesus duking it out in the fight of the century...drawing lines in the sand, instead of following (or even noticing) the Footprints.

Do you have to be on a bandwagon to be a believer? No! Do you have to go to church to be a believer? No! But if you do go to a church, remember: You will know they are Christians by their Love! Not conditional love, not how many members they have, not how much money they have, not how great their worship team is, not how much noise they make...but the love and peace of Christ (John 14).

And it's okay to say you don't know! Learn about Christ with the faith of a child...your own faith, not someone else's. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Beware of those who cry "lo here, lo there" (Luke 17). Don't lean on others' understandings or interpretations. You decide what you believe. Don't let anyone decide your spiritual path for you...it's between you and your Creator (Matthew 6). Your journey is your own, and your child-like faith will guide you. Be wise. Pray often.

The battles will not get easier. There are so many who don't know how to live a life of faith; they're living in fear. And believe me, I know that fear, all too well! I'm not going to lie to you; those first steps of faith are scary ones. It can be difficult, especially when we cling to the things we see and think we know, and reach out for the things we don't see and don't know. I can only tell you, the possibilities are endless.

Then Jesus said to His disciples,

"Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

And again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying,

"Who then can be saved?"

But Jesus looked at them and said to them,

"With men this is impossible,

But with God, all things are possible."

Matthew 19: 23-26

END NOTE:

"If at first you don't succeed...try doing what Jesus told you to do the first time."