Soul Intention

Sermons We See

signed .............bkm — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:50:30 +0000

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day,

I’d rather one should walk with me than merely show the way.

The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you’ll let me see it done.

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true;

But I’d rather get my leson by observing what to do.

For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

Edgar A. Guest

I found this in an Ideals Magazine from 1970.

bkmackenzie

Garrison Kiellor

signed .............bkm — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:09:18 +0000

You know we all have our hero’s

and Garrison Keillor happens to be

one of mine —

I have often contempleted why, since

I have never met the man or even been

to one of his shows, yet I feel I know him

a little – or maybe he knows me -

being a native of Lake Wobegon originally,

being a member of that society of good people –

rubarb pie people -

Yes, those are my people,

who in winter identified themselves with

hand jestures because it is to cold to talk -

Strong people that work together, drink together

and pray together

then go home and talk about each other,

but all in good taste, you know -

“Did you see Margaret Hansen? She was making

eyes at Ollie Walters, I wonder if Mrs. Walters

took notice?”

Yes, those are my people – so when

Garrsion starts talking I feel right at home so

much so I pour a cup of coffee and pull

a frozen chocalate chip cookie out

of the freezer and quietly listen – that is

my ticket home, that is a time of reflection-

I have thought alot about this

and I don’t think it is the red shoes

or the suit that do it for me,

no, I think not. But, I do believe it is the manner

of speaking and the tone of his voice, yes I do believe

that is it, the thing that calls me back to listen

again and again. It calms me that voice.

It calms me like the vision of those

church steeples when approaching

Lake Wobegon

knowing I will find,

good, strong people

waiting there. bkm 2009

I left Minnesota in 1971 – but like most things in our childhood the good remains – and the memories of my Lake Wobegon life will be forever with me.

Autumn Rose

signed .............bkm — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:30:00 +0000

What color is the rose in autumn, my love?

Yellow was the rose in spring,

when the rain gently fell

caressing the moments,

and our love was everything -

Please tell me again, the color

of the autumn rose, love -

Red being its summertime hue

when in full blossom,

in the sun of the season,

love was all we knew -

Oh, tell me my love,

the shade of the autumn rose

that you will bring to my door!

Is it the color of your

mellow brown eyes, reflecting

the colors from seasons before?

bkmackenzie – copyrighted 2008

A repost but with Autumn at our doorstep – thought it would be good to revisit it again - bkm

Surrendering to the Moment

signed .............bkm — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:32:25 +0000

If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Within each moment lies a simple secret – that secret is eternity. To wait on eternity is to wait on and miss the joy of the present. As Christ said, ” the kingdom of heaven is within you” today, this moment, this breath of your life – wait on nothing for heaven and eternity are present in the next breath, and the next and forever ……

Lord, it is easy for me to spout out that words Christ taught, it is easy for me to find quotes on Surrender and repeat them, teach me to place them in my heart and learn to breathe them in and out like the eternal presence of your love. bkm

Note: Artwork an original by Hollie Leffel titled “The Fire Within.”

Zen Tweets –

signed .............bkm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:20:00 +0000

galloping through the collective is like practicing Zen Buddhism on twitter scaling from forum to forum, manipulated by the conglomerate of social media into belief — just believe

U-tube can be a part of the pieces blasted, broad-casted

on a global network -

you need to chant – find that too – download it free on I-tunes,

download it free —

you shall be free, we shall overcome!!!

understand for a minimal fee charged to your designer credit card –

you will have purpose – and

win perhaps. maybe a 3 day vacation to Cancun – if you sign up for

mobile anytime minutes; get with it – along with

GPS to find your way to any place of worship —-

guaranteed a Starbucks no more than two blocks away;

turn right at the next light —

lunch you say -bible verses on the bottom of your cup –

I will take a number 2 with a diet — too tweet,

tweet, tweet -I will meet you at the end of the street –

bring your tin cup -sign

will work for “soul food” –

Larry at 6 Eastern – interviewing the Dali Lama live

or replayed at 9 if you don’t have time –

later –I have to check my blog –

no stats – rats -need a new subject –

sin sells – what the hell —

how tweet it is —

bkmackenzie

copyrighted 2009

Lying Sam

signed .............bkm — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:47:59 +0000

There was little truth in Lying Sam

yet, the whole town

thought he was

a hell’va man

He could whistle a tune

that would you cry

and had a smile so big, it

lite up the sky

And it never failed

when Sam came around

that all of the fine ladies

would flock into town

They would all beg Sam

to tell them a tale

of how only they alone were

special enough to be his sweet gal

They didn’t seem to mind

that he had ten wives,

twenty-four children

and a lifetime of lies

For as a sweet talker

Sam was the best, and

the women would turn up their noses

to all of the rest

Nope, there wasn’t much truth

in Lying Sam, but even

the men said he was

a hell’va man

He could rope a steer

while dancing the jig

and break a wild horse

while feeding the pigs

He could shoot like

no other man to be found

and slept with one eye open

the other facing the ground

When it came to whiskey

for Sam it had to be the finest

straight from the isle

that was home to the Irish

The wild lies he told

folks just loved to hear

causing his fame to grow thoughout

counties both far and near

And when the rumor was spread

that Ol’ Sam died

know one believed it

for they knew he had lied

Yes, there wasn’t much truth

in Lying Sam, but

the whole town agreed

he sure was

a Hell’va Man —

bkmackenzie

copyrighted 2009

Why a Lightening Rod?

signed .............bkm — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:16:52 +0000

The excitement of life is what makes us get up in the morning and go back to work, school, a hobby or relationship for that matter. It is the electricity that swarms around us and makes us feel, really feel alive and that life is worth living. The question is how do we keep that excitement going, alive and focused without our need and want of it becoming destructive like that excitement of drugs, alcohol and obsessive behavior? Or if you are anything like me you find yourself asking is that question is that all there is or why does a certain thing or relationship not give me that spark of excitement that it used to? For some however the sparks are there daily but in the guise of self created drama or gossip about someone else’s life because we do not know how to focus or renew that excitement in our own life. And all this is rambling on leading me up to a single word; the word purpose and its function of becoming a Lightening Rod in our life; a lightening rod that serves as a grounding for all our energy’s into a central point. And finding that once we have a defined and constructive purpose we are on a path to a fulfilling and productive life with a lightening rod focus that takes this energy and transforms what had the potential of be destructive and converting it into both a powerful and constructive force.

So I am asking what is your lightening rod, your purpose that stabilizes all the crazy thoughts both creative and counter creative into a single point that leads you on a progressive journey? For many it is their faith, others their family and others a personal goal to be the best at a given task. For myself it is both faith and family especially my children, but to say I am free from all the destructive forces and thoughts would be a lie and the need of constant reminder and the need to look up at that Lightening Rod of Purpose is a daily task that helps keep me on the road to a positive life. For life is not easy for anyone of us and many times when we hear of someone dying at a young age or someone findin g out that they are full of cancer when they worked so hard to be their best makes it all seem so senseless, but that is when we need to look to that lightening rod the most and take any negative thoughts and energy and hand them over to be transformed into the purpose we were was born to fulfill. signed bkm

something less than purple

signed .............bkm — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:06:14 +0000

something less purple

more like a violet with not so much red

darker than just a hint of blue; but a shade sharper

than rose with a smidgen of aqua

you know that color the one that makes you wish

for the rainbow’s end -

but not purple, but something like it

without the “my favorite color is Purple”

yes, purple with a palatable name

tell me, what is that color?

bkm 2009

Listening to Love

signed .............bkm — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:26:21 +0000

“The first duty of love is to listen.” – Paul Tillich

A duty of Love – yes, there are duties in loving as Tillich points out with listening being the greatest. Taking the time to actually be silent and hear not only the words but the body language of another human or animal for that matter is not easy in a self centerd world. All to often we want to jump in and add a line on what we know, what we think, what we are doing and the other person talking gets lost in the noise of our voice and never gets to say what they wanted to convey.

I am finding myself doing this all too many times, throwing out answers and words on what I read, what I am doing, what I think is important. Changing is work but that is part of this journey called life; to listen to others is a major aspect of learning about others and about ourselves.

So today I pray to that I learn to take time to listen to the hearts and minds of all those around me that I may understand and grow in loving others.

signed ……………………….. bkm

Filtered Water

signed .............bkm — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:11:21 +0000

With delectable scrutiny she observes each

Drop of water as it passes through the filter in her Britta

She knows there is a common heritage

That exists in blood and water and gathers

All her senses to guard the gift

As it beads and falls into

The abyss below -

With an undefined hope she craves

Purity from this liquid

Witnessing only contaminated

Droplets reflecting what is

Untouchable

Once more she pours the water

Through the filter

She does not wish to die, not from

Filth hidden in what has promised purity -

Realization that life is all she

Ever possessed any game of

Chance with it has taken the fools lot—

“I want to live, not die,

I want to drink from the cup,” she cries out.

Warning denial is evident

Purity unattainable

Thirst unquenchable

Life unsustainable

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2009

Like any addiction the addiction to being prefect sets chaos into motion – one of the best works I have read on this matter is Addiction to Prefection (The Still Unravished Bride) by Marion Woodman. I have read and reread it and is one of the works I keep close for reference.