Coffee With A View: The Real Heroes

By Carol Harper
(Not AI-generated)

Whew, what a weekend! I've had quite a rollercoaster ride on just one brief post on my Facebook page:

I don't see why everyone seems to be so surprised that we are at war.

If you voted for leaders that feed on conflict and greed instead of focused on pathways towards genuine peace, really...what did you expect?

When the blind lead the blind...(Matt. 15:14)

Seems we never learn our history lessons.

What I didn't expect was for this to explode into a post with 130 comments and 54 reactions, or that so-called "friends" would unfriend me because of it.

In my journey of Light, Life, Love, and Truth, it was put upon my heart to explore the latter: The Truth. Peeling back the layers to get to it is a daunting task. By man-made, systematic design, it's tumultuous and confusing. It can be exciting, but also dangerous. And it can also be a very lonely place to be.

But I also have to give myself some credit for attempting to peel back the layers and try see the elephants in the room from all sides (I just don't know why I seem to end up getting the musical chair in front of the ass. LOL)

I don't need people to interpret scripture or Jesus' words for me. I don't need people to be condescending and ridiculing me for believing words in what they think is a "fictional book". I don't need to accept being torn down for someone to lift themselves up. I don't need to be yelled at or gaslighted.

As someone who was literally blind for almost an entire year, it has taken some time for me to learn how to see again (and walk). I had learned how to see in the dark; learned how to feel around for things, like light switches, the water faucets, the remote controls, the toilet paper (ok, that's a little TMI, LOL). As I walk around my house and the station, I still fall into old habits and touch walls and corners. But I remember how God led me through everything to teach me to walk a life of Faith.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 (bold and underline added)

Make no mistake, the true heroes across the world are the People. Their resilience, their courage, their bravery, their compassion, and yes, their sorrows. The hero is YOU, as you struggle with the battles you face in your own life. I've been sober for over three years now, and went through the accident, my hip/knee injuries, and blindness just one week after I decided to quit drinking. I struggled with thoughts of suicide. There is purpose in everything, and often you cannot see the bumpy roads ahead. But God sees them (Ecclesiastes 3), and you can take either comfort or fear in knowing that God is always in control.

I don't see you as a Republican or Democrat, right or left, or anything in between. I don't see you as Jewish, Muslim, Christian, agnostic or atheist. I don't see you as LGBTQ+. I see us all as human beings living in a broken world with broken and failing systems. I am learning to listen better, understand better, be teachable instead of prideful or come off as a know-it-all, because I sincerely don't! I'm simply feeling around, touching the walls and corners...sharing what I've learned, but not tolerating the darkness and standing up with my own voice.

Below (after this writing) is one of the replies I made to a Facebook friend, who didn't understand what I was about and stood for. He couldn't "see" me, because everything he sees about my life on Facebook is about my love for cooking, my grand-puppies, gardening, and the movies or shows I watch. My social media life. He didn't know my political or religious views, and I'm sad that these days, that's all people seem to be interested in or what matters. We like to put people in their little labeled boxes and judge those boxes from afar. I'm glad my post was able to open a few boxes.

Lastly...my experience in Washington D.C. was amazing. As I 'lobbied' for saving ambulance services, I wasn't there to "make them see", but hoped they could obtain some understanding of the issues plaguing our 911 services. That our first responders need to be invested in. That our law enforcement agencies need to be helped, not heckled and villainized. How ill-prepared we are for mass casualty/mass mortality events on both American and tribal soil. How we need to bridge the gaps between counties and tribes, and build foundations of transparency and trust where they have now been torn apart and all but nearly destroyed. How what is decided at the top all trickles down to the very bottom in our communities...the jobless, the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the broken. The only way we can be great again is for heroes like you and me to admit our failings, find it in our hearts to forgive (never forget), and move forward with solutions that will build and not destroy, to bring together and not divide.

Has nothing to do with money or potential assets in other countries. Has nothing to do with deploying ICE to play games of whack-a-mole. Has nothing to do with maiming economies in order for the rich to get richer and the poor poorer. Has nothing to do with hiding facts and evidence and massive amounts of turd-polishing.

Has everything to do with how we act and are driven by Love and Truth...and how we deal with the darkness and evils of this world. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

-----------

So, for example (if you are interested). I am pro-life, pro-adoption. I am pro-first responders, including law enforcement, and cannot stand it when people villainize the police. I don't think one should be here illegally, but if they are, I think that there needs to be some way they can be fast-tracked instead of deported, so that they can continue to work for the businesses and companies (minus drugs and trafficking, of course!) and support their local economies, or go to school. Punish and deport the criminals; don't do a broad sweep and mass deportation and separating children and families without doing due diligence. I am accepting of people of all races, colors, religions, genders, ethnic backgrounds, etc. But I do not accept people who have committed crimes and then pull the race card, and I don't agree with people mutilating their bodies to become the opposite sex or an animal. But I will love them just the same, and they will still be my friend, no matter what. I am not accepting of religions and cults that program and indoctrinate, and then shun and turn their backs on people who leave. I believe that one's spirituality is a journey, and is between them and their Creator. I am a patriot in that "taxation without representation" has been twisted and distorted, and there needs to be another massive tea party as soon as possible, or we're no better than the tyrannic rule that spurred the American Revolution. As a mom of two US Marines, I support our military, but also know the utter bullshit and crimes that go on in that department as well, and are just swept under the rug. I believe in honesty and integrity. I'm about the truth and not the polished narratives that leaders expect us to swallow. As a former reporter, I believe in a free press, but a balanced press is extremely hard to find because they need advertising dollars to keep afloat, so they often sell out. I believe that music, art, cuisines, traditions, and culture are powerful ways to express the human spirit, mind and condition, and should be enjoyed and preserved, and never be banned or confiscated. I despise the actions of colonization of Native Americans, I often refer to events in history that have actually happened and are documented, so the truth can't be distorted and twisted. And I think we need to build a wall around Wyoming. LOL

History Lessons: Do It Better!

I was a judge for the Riverton Invitational Speech & Debate Tournament this last weekend, and what an experience it was. Thankfully, the ambulance station is right across the street from the high school, so I was able to go straight from work and serve in the afternoons/evenings.

Even though my sessions were pre-assigned, when I walked through the doors and made my way to the judge's table, I learned quickly that things can change. I was originally assigned the Drama competition, but upon my arrival, I was re-assigned to the first round of Congressional, a category I wasn't even remotely prepared for. I was given a packet of bills and resolutions...items that I had zero time to peruse as I hurriedly set up my station with a laptop, notebook, and pen.

As protocols were met, and timers were set and reset, I watched the entire round take on a life of its own. As I listened to each competitor give their speeches--for or against, pros and cons--I was caught in a whirlwind of issues ranging from gun rights, driver's license renewal extensions, and bail reform. As a judge, I was restrained from the influences of my own views, opinions, and biases...solely concentrating on the content and performance of each speaker. By the end of the round, my brain was literally spent. I was told that it was a good thing to be thrown into Congress first, because then the rest of my sessions for the remainder of the tournament would be a piece of cake! And they were (to some extent).

Competition: How do you pick just one?

From the age of three years old on up through high school, I was immersed in the world and dimensions of music. My teachers, professors, and my own mother drilled me every single day. My brother, Mike, would drive me (scary thought, huh? LOL) from the high school to CWC for my piano lessons. My dad worked very hard to pay for all my lessons and tuition. I would not be the musician I am had it not been for the incredible support system I was very blessed with from my youth.

I was born with perfect pitch, and when I was about eight years old, I had learned the first movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 25 Opus 79, completely by ear. I entered my first piano competition when I was in middle school (the Baldwin Competition), and all throughout my high school years, I was in so many music festivals and piano/vocal competitions that my head was swimming back then, too! I was practicing constantly. I was focused and driven. I was so young when I was thrown into the world of competition and barely had time for much else.

The thing I loved most about competitions? Yes, a part of it was about doing my best and making myself, my parents, and my professors proud. But to me, it wasn't about winning. It was about meeting the other pianists, traveling to different places, meeting new people outside of my small town of Riverton, Wyoming. It was about the common language of music and the love of it that brought us together for a moment in time, connecting and expressing what was within us through our performances. When I won, I took the time to talk to and congratulate the other contestants, because the thing I could never comprehend was that, out of so many who delivered fantastic performances, the judges could only pick one winner. Everyone did such an amazing job. Sometimes I had "winners guilt": "You did your Bach Partita so much better than I did"..."Your Debussy piece made me cry." ... "I wish I had your long fingers, then maybe I could've done my Liszt like you!"  

That is what I saw at the speech and debate tournament this weekend. When I walked through the doors of my high school alma mater, I saw the camaraderie of hundreds of students, heard the buzz and laughter from groups of competitors sitting on the floor outside of classrooms, saw individuals practicing outside in the cold, even in the restroom! I saw competitors hugging each other, congratulating each other.

Most of all, I realized how very difficult it was to be a judge. So many incredible speeches...how do you pick a winner, or even just rate the top performers from 1 to 10? If I had my way, I'd pick all of you! 

Facing the fears

The real impact of the event didn't come until afterwards, when I came home and fell on the couch. I ended up judging Congress, Impromptu, Poetry, and Informative. There was one compelling speech that stood out in my mind, which was on the subject of fearmongering...how it was used in history, in the media, how it has impacted society and culture, past and present.

It made me ponder the subject of fear. I don't care who you are; if you're a performer, you have a certain degree of stage fright. I remember one competition where I couldn't control my left leg from shaking, which affected how I used the soft and sostenuto pedals. In the Baldwin competition, I had suddenly come down with a fever the day before. That was a particularly difficult challenge, but I got through it.

There are fears that people can and can't see, and it takes incredible strength to face whatever the fear, large or small, then make the decision to move forward in confidence, against all odds. Every performer I judged appeared before me with poise and confidence...something I could both appreciate and admire.

There IS hope for the future

Whether on or off stage, in or out of character, all of the speech and debate competitors I had the pleasure of judging made an impact on me...not just with their content and delivery, but with each of their dynamic personalities, their demeanors, and how respectfully they conducted themselves. We should all be so very proud! After the Congressional session, I wanted to tell each and every one in that room to "Please! Run for office!"

I left the tournament with a renewed hope for the future. They ARE our future! In a world where there is so much chaos and imbalance, I had a sense of relief, knowing that our youth are being equipped to change their communities and the world, wherever their paths may lead.

Our children and youth are always watching us. They're smart: they know how they feel. They see the unrest and injustices in the world, and know the issues very, very well. They know hypocrisy when they see it; they can see through the "do what I say and not as I do." They know the mistakes and failures in history and have gained mature perspectives that many, many adults don't even have!

What have we learned from our history lessons? What have we learned from the World Wars? What have we learned from the Salem Witch trials? What have we learned from the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Age of Discovery, the Industrial Age, the Age of Technology? What have we learned from generations upon generations of homicides, suicides, and genocides? What kind of world are we leaving our youth, children, and grandchildren?

Our youth know. There are enough fears in this world that can lead us down roads of discouragement and isolation. Fearmongering can influence the masses, create deep divides and roadblocks that inhibit progress. It can paralyze a tribe, a town, a city...induce a myriad of dramas and traumas, distracting us from what is important in building a better, healthier world.

"Every generation needs to do it better than the one before. Do it better."

My mother - who would roll up an old torn-up olive green office chair next to the pink upright antique piano - spent countless hours drilling me to practice, practice, practice. I was so very young, and I would often cry and say, "I can't, I can't!" But she would invariably and determinedly say, "Yes, you CAN!" (She also told me that she never wanted to hear the words "I can't!" coming out of my mouth ever again, so there's that. LOL) I practiced until I believed I could...that I knew I could.

A message to our youth: Do it better. Do it better than your parents, your teachers, the government, and past/present administrations. Be better doctors, lawyers, senators, legislators, entrepreneurs, CEOs, business owners. Learn from our mistakes, and be better human beings. Believe that you can. Know that you can. Speak with confidence.

And say it loud...say it clear.

Coffee With A View: What is it good for?

By Carol Harper

Not generated by AI!

As we brought in the New Year, it seems there was a lot of focus on President Trump's recent action in Venezuela. Happening at the same time is the Buddhist monks' Walk for Peace, which started back in October. As I occasionally (and hesitantly) glance at the 'news' these days, the words of the police officer I met in the park in Washington D.C. echo through my mind: "Same shit, different day."

The War on Drugs?

As those on the right and left tussle and argue their points about past administrations taking actions without Congressional approval, I have my own views on the subject. Yes...in history, past administrations have had to make decisions without such approvals, especially in situations where a president receives intel and the window of opportunity doesn't allow a lot of time to act.

The War on Drugs was (officially) declared on June 17th, 1971, by President Nixon. The DEA was formed in 1973. President Reagan added the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act. President Clinton passed the 1994 Crime Bill. (He also sends $1.3 billion in US aid to 'Plan Columbia'.) With these and other presidential and legislative actions, where are we presently when it comes to the actual war on drugs? Are we any more ahead now than we were then? There's been plenty of time to act.

It's been 50 years...how effective can this action towards Venezuela actually be? To me, sending troops into other countries and removing/assuming power is a very expensive and temporary 'fix', and lame justification for spending taxpayer money. It's like cutting one single snake head off a Medusa's head, where it will only grow another in its place.

And as I do concur with Trump's recent designation of fentanyl as a 'weapon of mass destruction', it is just one of many drugs that are in the arsenals of the enemy, whether in Big Pharma labs or on the streets. When I was in Washington, D.C., I could not believe the number of pharmaceutical drug commercials that were constantly being aired (I don't watch network TV, so I wasn't used to all those annoying commercials). Sheez, many of the side effect disclaimers include death! But how many laws protect Big Pharma, right here in the U.S.?

It seems we have the workings of a corporate government now, so I find it an idiocracy when so much money is being wasted on illogical whack-a-mole strategies, yet funding is cut from programs that could help addicts (including our veterans!) get clean and sober. Cuts to Medicare have resulted in millions of people losing their health insurance coverage...how many have and will become casualties of those decisions? American workers are struggling paycheck to paycheck just to survive; how is that a healthy mental or economic state? Then you have ICE that deports workers (documented or not) who paid into the sales and income tax systems...so now billions in tax revenue, gone. Families torn up. People who sought refuge in the U.S. are forced to return to the cartel-ridden countries they fled in fear from in the first place! Don't get me started on Social Security.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

We the People of the United States are a sick, addicted, and dying people...not in Venezuela, not in Mexico; here. You want to make America great again? End what is bringing out the worst in America! The real front lines of the war on drugs and crime are anywhere our local first responders are; therefore, doesn't it make sense to support and fund our first responders and target the actual enemies that plague our communities? Law enforcement, fire, EMS...these are the real troops on the front lines.

All of them know and have seen the first and second-hand effects of addiction and overdose, vehicle accidents caused by DUIs, drug and alcohol related abuse/assault scenes. Unhealthy, impoverished habitats with malnourished children and elderly; very little or no food in the cupboards, no water/sewer/electricity...but plenty of empty beer cans, liquor bottles, and paraphernalia. Sugar is a very dangerous drug for diabetics! Many doctors just prescribe instead of actual healing. There are sex/human traffickers who use drugs as bait...recruiting from detox and rehab centers. Families are torn apart by alcohol and drugs; bickering, bullying, fighting, and killing (including accidentally). Leaders hide their vices and addictions at the cost of sober, rational decision-making. And the media and entertainment industry romanticizes it all!

This has all been going on for a very, very long time and has never brought out the best in people! So how does anyone expect America to ever be great "again" if it never was? The root problems never go away simply because a leader is overthrown or is no longer in power. It's just another delay of the "same shit, different day". So why use strategic denial or villainization to mask the actual intent of gaining control in other countries? Just call it for what it really is; don't make it into a red herring.

This administration needs to do a reality check and get oriented as to where the actual front lines of the war on drugs are, then invest in and equip those who know those battlefields the best. Stop the whack-a-mole war strategies; they aren't working. They're just costly, and what are they good for?

Now that's how you do it!

Following the Walk for Peace has been quite interesting. A 2,300-mile journey of Buddhist Monks that will end in Washington D.C.

Facebook.com/walkforpeaceusa

It's not a march, it's not a protest...not a divided, angry mob. It's a walk for peace, forgiveness, love, kindness, and compassion. When I read about how these monks are inspiring and affecting the communities they walk through, I think: "There you go, that's what I'm talkin' about! Show us all how to do it!" I think of how Jesus, with the story of the Good Samaritan, said, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37). Help the hurting. Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty. Heal the sick; don't harm or damage. Make peace, not war. Are tax dollars being used for the things that bring peace and healing to the nation...that reduce stress instead of causing it? I don't know; it sure doesn't feel that way. However, I do think that, through good (legit) charitable organizations and good people with goodness in their hearts...maybe we could finally do what Presidents and administrations, leaders and governments can't seem to accomplish.

"Our ancestors, all those people who sacrificed their lives for freedom and peace, died so all of us here could live free of hatred and free of all kinds of suffering, to have a peaceful life. They have done their part, and we are still struggling with our lives. We carry that hatred and anger from generation to generation...Even though there are many people who hate us, shout at us, and curse at us, we respond with 'May you be well, happy, and peaceful.'"  - Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākār

Be good, be nice, be strong!

Carol

Coffee With A View: The Truth is Out There

By Carol Harper

Not AI-generated!

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

And we have seen his glory,

Glory as of the only Son from the Father

Full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

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 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 anything can be taken away at a moment's notice. So I never take these things for granted.

History and the Truth

'The only clue to what man can do is what man has done."

- R.G. Collingwood

Reflecting on just one year of my life, my thoughts drift to the timeline of human history marked by numerous significant and 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, the Rwandan Genocide, the Salem Witch Trials, the Trail of Tears, and the genocide of Native Americans, 9/11. Massacres and shootings in public places such as schools, department stores, hotels, theaters, and social clubs. (Okay, I'm not trying to be a downer, but I do try to keep the feet on both my good and bad legs grounded in reality.)

Some truths are only revealed over the passage of time, and many times it can be too late to do anything about them. Truths about what is happening to our atmosphere, our earth and landscapes, our oceans, our communities. The effects of war and greed. The effects of the ages of industry and technology...the garbage, the toxins and poisons we ingest. The effects of what is and has been taught and passed down to our children...the lack of a moral compass or polarized beliefs. I often wonder when and if all these things can ever be corrected for a more hopeful future.

One can attempt to twist truths and rewrite history, and many have tried. But no one can deny what has already occurred and has been revealed 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 content 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 wrote for the Ledger Dispatch, the editor drilled into my head: "Quotes and photos." I had some leeway when I was the copy editor/writer for the Gold Country Times, because it was easy to focus 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 to be amplified beyond certain fences and demographics, you have to pay for it. Facts can be manipulated and twisted to fit any agenda, personal or political. 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 even more 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)

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion

without the discomfort of thought."

John F. Kennedy.

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 might be about hitting rock bottom. For others, there can be a period of defensive reactions, denial, and grief. And sometimes, the Truth isn't revealed until the deathbed, when one finally realizes the great 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 folks naively believing lies on so many levels, when I see the sufferings and injustices that happen as a result of lies, 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.

The foolish like to drink and promote their own brands of Kool-Aid, but the wise sniff it out. For me nowadays, the sooner I can see the truth, the sooner I can deal with the effects and damage that the lies have made, and somehow attempt to stop the ripple effects. 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, religious, or political divisions that lead to homicide and suicide. They see the results of accidents, suffering, and neglect. I think that is what our 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.

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,

and may enter through it.

But small is the gate

and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13

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 mock him and 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 those I had put my trust in and were 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 one of the most amazing books that made it through so many 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 (hypocrisy). And ultimately, 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. You don't even have to take my word for it...read it for yourself!

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

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

Carol

---

Worth the read:

Matthew, chapters 5, 6 & 7

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

Revelation 2

---

Random Points to Ponder...

• "When writing the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen."
• "Stop using gossip as a form of bonding. Y'all not friends...y'all messy adults!"
• "If you didn't see it with your own eyes, or hear it with your own ears, don't invent it with your small mind and share it with your big mouth."
• "I know you are lying, but please...continue."
• "I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that I can't believe you anymore."
• "A liar gets defensive and angry when you question the lies they are telling you."
• "One thing I hate more than a liar is a liar who thinks I'm stupid."
• "Be careful who you pretend to be. You might forget who you are."
• "For every good reason there is to lie, there's a better reason to tell the truth."
• Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter." (Isaiah 5:20 )

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.