No turning back!

If and until we are blessed with tomorrow,
We only have today, and that's all there is.
Most people are what they are and what they were.
They live in a personal ego bubble that they carry around, 
Like a hermit crab carries a sea shell on its back,
And only comes out of its shell to change it for a bigger one
As their lives become more threatened and complicated.
People say that life isn't fair, and that we all can't be lucky,
That we must do what we can and not what we want.
Well, if you don't like to eat bullshit, don't blame the bull,
Blame the guy who feeds it to you, or better yet, turn away.  
By changing today you can change tomorrow but without a decision
Today's problems are guaranteed to be tomorrow's also.
But by making firm committments to change today,
You can free yourself from yesterday's habits forever.
Think things over really hard, make a plan, and then just do it. 
No turning back, no turning back!

.

A Ripple on the Sea of Eternity

 

Change is constant. We can’t step into the same river twice.

When the fickle winds of change begin to blow,

Some people build walls, and others build windmills.

Looking in your rear view mirror takes your eyes off the road ahead,

And If you walk looking backward you might end up dead.

You can look to the past but it is the future you are facing.

The present is just a ripple on the sea of eternity. 

The past is like another country where they do things differently. 

It is a frozen river that never flows, but  gets longer and longer. 

Time is a human invention. It is nothing but distance divided by speed. 

From the perspective of eternity our whole life is happening now,

Life is one long day interspersed with periods of light and shadow.

Every person leaves a path through space like a unique fingerprint. 

“Now” is all we really have. Yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a mystery.

Sadness is a sense of loss of what once was, or what might have been.

Nostalgia is a memory of good times with all the sadness omitted.

It is a parade of many ghosts and events from the past, 

Trying to find their place again in your mind's eye.

It is up to every individual to find their own salvation. 

Test all things. If something is good, then try to make it better. 

The important thing is the degree of our intent to do the right thing.

As for attempting to leave this world in better shape,  

The proof of one’s true humanity (and divinity) is to die trying.

Thank God for one more day of trying, again, again, and yet again,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

Every spark of life on earth contains our Lord's divine light. 

Look within yourself to find it. He isn't as far from you as you are from Him.

If you have love for yourself then embrace everyone else as family.

This is the basic form of love because we are all brothers and sisters.

Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest, and in our hearts take up thy rest,

Come with your grace and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts which you have made,

To fill the hearts which you have made…Amen!  

(Bob Mrotek 2023)

.

Swimming in the Lake of Good Dreams

When you reach your retirement dream,

What do you dream of next?

Most of my companions of youth

Are now just ghosts who visit my dreams.

We go swimming in the lake of good times.

Do not worry about anything.

What will be will be.

Mortal life is a temporary dream.

Let your heart be light with joy.

Heal the wounds of the young and innocent.

Make their dreams your dreams too,

For we can still rejoice in the young,

But only if we are young at heart.

It's time to get your act together.

Don't let the bad times get you down..

As I lay down each night to rest,

I thank the Lord that I am blessed,

And ask for help to do my best

To walk in the light of Providence,

And  to prepare myself for tomorrow,

Come what may…!

.

When is enough, enough?

Year upon year, the more things change, the more they stay the same..

As I grow older, the same things happen but in a very strange way.

They happen like before, but somehow, everything is different.

I think it must be a struggle between two capricious illusions,

A combination of blissful nostalgic memories of a happy past,

And the dark déjà vu brought on by memories of "duck and cover."

It is better to live in the "now," between the two eternities,

Than to dwell on the past or to build dream castles in the air.

I thank God that I have something that millions of people may never have.

I have been blessed with just enough, not too much, and not too little,

Have I had adversity? Yes, but it has helped me, as "steel sharpens steel."

There is no real justice in this material world, only the pursuit of justice.

Real justice will be meted out by and by in the world to come,

When our words and deeds are weighed against the feather of truth.

Thousands of souls are dying every day, from poverty, hunger, and gloom.

Oh Children of God what will we say, upon that awful judgement day.

When they accuse us of their doom and cry, "There was never enough!"

.

Facing the setting sun...

I am getting closer to my ultimate sunset.
Last night I dreamt about St. Elsewhere, 
A carefree place in the land of Sockitoomee,
Where all the lost socks are waiting to be found, 
And where old soldiers go when they fade away.
It's a place where childhood innocence is regained, 
And all good dogs and cats await to be reclaimed.
I bless you, life! I loved and am loved!
The sun and wind caress my upturned face.
The birds, the bees, the flowers and trees,
The grass, the squirrels, and the weeds,
And even the rain and snow are friends.
Life, you owe me nothing...we are at peace!   
I sing out loud and strong of faith and freedom,
Of brotherly love and happy camaraderie.
The poor unfortunate soul who never sings,
But dies with all their music still held within,
Is the human tragedy of a life unsung.

.

The Spirit of the Crossroads

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the crossroads.  

The Holy Spirit is the giver of life everywhere; 

Where the mountains meet the forests, 

Where the forrests meet the plains, 

Where the plains meet the rivers, 

Where the rivers meet the seas, 

Where the horizon meets the sky, 

Where language and culture meet, 

Where ethnicity meets diversity,

Where the city meets the countryside, 

Where the past meets the present, 

Where the present meets the future, 

And where male and female come together 

To form generation after generation.

Come, Holy Spirit, Spark of Life,

O Causa Vitae et Spiritus Amoris,

Reside in our hearts and grant us peace.   

(Bob Mrotek 2023)

,

Memento Mori

 Cindy Williams, the actress, is dead at 75. She was born at the same time I was. This is my "Memento Mori."

The Bible tells us that “We live for 70 years, or 80 years if we're healthy, yet even in the prime years there are troubles and sorrow. They pass by quickly and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10) 

Princess Alice, who was the mother of Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, once said, “When you reach seventy you are no longer a participant but only an observer. Your only responsibility is to wait patiently and stay out of the way."

In "Paradise Lost," an epic poem by the 17th-century English poet John Milton, the Archangel Michael spoke to Adam as he and Eve were ushered out of Paradise and gave them some advice. He said, “If you watch what you eat and drink and don’t overdo it you can live a long life. Then, when you get old you will die a more peaceful death. However, your eyesight and your hearing will get weak and you won’t have much fun anymore. You will lose your youthful enthusiasm for life and become melancholy. Don’t hate your life or love it too much. Just live the best way that you can, come what may. Learn to be patient and happy. That is the best way to live. Don’t worry, God will still love you no matter what if you keep your faith in Him. His Holy Spirit is present in everything living thing and He is just a heartbeat away, listening for your prayers which He will answer bye and bye. Even a short repentant sigh or a good deed done in His name will go a long way, for He is always listening and watching." I would only add, "In the meantime, muddle through and carry on, stick it out, stay alive, and keep breathing."

Where were you...?

 We can't know what we don't know if we never even thought about it. 

God asks us, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the Earth?”

We answer, “We were there, Lord, potential and implicit, at the Big Bang,

By the grace of God, an inevitable and unstoppable force majeure,

Like a hurricane wind in that overwhelmingly deep womb of creation. 

We, who answer you, your anointed and  ever evolving children,

Who strive toward enlightenment for your honor and glory, 

While opening our eyes to a reality whose wonders never cease.

Hear us, O Lord, and guide us on our journey to your Paradise.

.

Forgive us Lord, please.

Perdónanos El Señor, por favor.
Hablamos casi cada día
Con el chisme y de la chusma,
O de la pobreza y de los proles,
Y del costo de los frijoles.
O “¿Va a llover, o no?”
Y “¡Que caliente el sol!”
También de mal gobierno.
Por y para, todo y nada,
Platicamos día tras día,
Y no pasa nada todavía.
Ayúdanos Papa Dios,
Evitar las tonterías.
Señor, Señor, Señor,
M​á​ndanos pena y dolor,
Pero discutir con los locos,
No nos manda Señor...¡Por favor!
¡Amen! 

Forgive us Lord, please.
We talk almost every day
With the gossip about the riff-raff,
Or of poverty and common folk,
And the cost of the beans.
Or, “Is it going to rain or not?”
And “How hot the sun is!”
Also about bad government.
By and by, everything and nothing,
We talk day after day
And still nothing happens.
Help us Heavenly Father,
To avoid foolishness.
Lord, Lord, Lord,
Send us sorrow and pain,
But to argue with the crazy ones,
Don't send us Lord... Please!
Amen! 

.

Hell to pay?

I didn't ask to be born into this world.
The terms are very tough indeed.
If it be thy will Lord, turn me into dust again,
For it is not for me to make endless misery for myself.
Thy will be done and not mine but please have mercy dear God 
The choice between eternal life or eternal damnation 
Makes no sense to me at all. Of course I choose eternal life, 
I am not stupid nor am I complaining, I'm just puzzled.
I'm trying to enjoy all of the good things that you have given me 
But I am fearful of the hell to pay if I make the wrong choice.
I know you chose to give me life and the free will to choose you,
And reward me when I do, but at times I worry about it.
When sinful behavior appears more tempting than good 
And I am weak, I fear eternal damnation. 
What if I am trapped in my grave or some cold dark abyss 
And and physically be dead but still alive spiritually to contemplate 
Forever the poor choices that I had made in life.
Heavenly Father, please save me from myself. 
Take away my useless worrying, anxieties and fears.
Forgive my sins and grant me peace in my heart.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On Earth as it is in Heaven. Amen!

.