Well, I’ve got a torch, a ticket, and a tall order: To defeat the pressures of life without getting myself locked up!
No, it’s not a midlife crisis, not an anniversary, and there will be no party or pealing bells afterward, assuming I accomplish this mission. It might all be futile in the end, anyway. Even if it works, I’ll have a cascading portion of earthy (or is it earthly?) consequences to contend with, be they positive or negative. These pale in comparison to the madness I’m living through now!
If, by the Grace of God, I do accomplish this feat, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll take out some money, buy a nice dog, find a fresh place to lay my head and play my songs, or at least spruce up the place I’ve got with some new brackets and artful decorating ideas, put on my new dancing slippers because I’ve always wanted some, and leap around my living room, grateful that I’ve survived a whole new level of insanity!
Last, but certainly not least, I’ll start blogging about the whole adventure! Oh, I think I’ve already done that!
—
For this week’s #Threethingschallenge Take Seven prompt at Pensitivity101!
I’m really glad the pollen count goes down in Fall,
or does it?
We really don’t know anymore,
but you do!
I’m also glad for that!
I’m so grateful for the ability,
the opportunity,
the decision,
and the courage to talk to you!
There are some things I need to say.
I dare not discuss them with my fellow humans,
because everyone is so darn touchy nowadays!
They would think I was talking about them,
when really I’m talking about myself!
Nevertheless, Thy will be done!
Every now and then,
at least once in a blue moon,
would it be too much trouble
to have a day when I’m not sizzling inside like hot lava,
feeling angry at you-know-who (not you, the human I live with),
or worse, making him angry with me
by simply expressing an opinion
that doesn’t match his?
You know
it’s not just the current world crisis
making us this way.
It’s been like this
our entire marriage!
I say that
as if we’ve been married a long time.
But it’s only been 18 months!
And every month,
every week,
every day,
sometimes every hour,
it gets worse and worse!
Is it true what he seems to think,
that marriage means always
and
forever
saying
and
doing
what your partner wants,
just because he thinks it’s best?
And that
doing things this way
promotes harmony
in the relationship?
You’re heaps wiser
than either of us
will ever be!
So, I know
that you know!
Please, God!
Help me know the truth!
Am I insane?
Unreasonable?
Crazy?
Delusional?
Wrong?
Ungrateful?
Argumentative?
And all the other things
he claims?
Am I
really
that
bad?
If I am,
why doesn’t he leave?
After all, he’s the one
with all the money,
whereas I have none!
So, if I were in his place,
living with someone
I thought was so terrible,
I would leave!
Not sit around
complaining about it!
Please, God!
I need help!
And I know
you already know
what I have need of
before I ask!
I call upon your
love,
healing,
wisdom,
creativity,
and humor
(Or is it humour?),
and whatever else you grant me,
not to change anyone else!
But to change me
as you see fit!
Make me like a babbling brook,
always moving merrily along,
never getting stuck or stagnant,
so that I may live a life,
regardless of the people in it,
that is pleasing
to
you
and
you
alone!
Thank you, God,
for your time
and Almighty attention
to this matter!
This is a traditional Highland Bagpipe tune. I played it on a small, but still loud!, practice bagpipe many years ago, as well as on pennywhistle and soprano recorder. Here it is on zither, an instrument you’re probably familiar with if you’ve been following my blog for any length of time. It’s also called a plucked psaltery or lap harp. I hope you enjoy this fun tune!
Having money’s my ticket to savor
All the pleasures of life and its flavor!
Yes I know it ain’t so!
But the pressure still grows
For the path of the half that it favors!
The thing we think is love, is not!
It’s need that fools a foolish mind.
In time we feel constrained, confined,
As growth provides a different plot.
So fixed on love, the mind forgot
To listen with the Spirit’s ears.
If truly sought, true love appears!
We cease to cling, but open wide!
Our needs are met, but from inside.
To love another, conquer fears!
It’s changing and changeable, contracting and contractible, expanding and expandable, a true wonder of nature!
Unfortunately, it’s also elastic in its habits, obsessively returning to them, building their negativity, over and over and over again.
Just when we think we’ve dealt with an issue, moved past a hurdle, forgiven someone, conquered guilt and fear, or grown at last, we find our minds taking that same old trip down that well-traveled, all too familiar negative spiral instead, again and again and again!
What can we do about this insanity, for insanity it is, if insanity really means doing the same thing over and over and over again, but expecting different results?
We must constantly, elastically, over and over and over again, give up our minds to the Great Higher Mind, the One that changes nature, and the One that makes nature willing to change!
I didn’t have a party when I got my ordination license or any diplomas (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate). In fact, the last party I had, or that was held in my honor, was my high school graduation party. That was in June, 2003. So, it’s been a while.
I’ve noticed people having blogging anniversary parties around the web and thought it was a fun idea. However, I never thought I had enough followers to have one of my own. I guess I figured it would be easier, and dare I say less painful? not to have one at all, then to have one and draw little or no interest!
But here is where it ends! Sometime soon, maybe around Christmas, I, too, will have a blogging party! It won’t be an anniversary party, as I started blogging in June 8 years ago. But it will be fun, and I already have some ideas about gifts for all of you!
How about you? Have you ever had a blogging party of your own? Have you attended someone else’s? Or will you go out on a limb with me and host one for the first time?
—
Written for today’s #threethingschallenge at Pensitivity101!
I wrote “Little Boat” last month in response to one of Sue Vincent’s
weekly #Writephoto prompts. If you haven’t heard the original lyre version, including lyrics, you can find it here.
Today I’m playing the song on two instruments, melody on zither and accompaniment on lyre. This is the eighth in my series of double strung experiments.
When I started, I didn’t plan on a series of them, maybe just one or two, to see whether, and if so how, I would handle having two sets of strings to play, with one set for each hand. Well, It’s been a success, and I’ve enjoyed arranging pieces to demonstrate the possibilities offered by this unique stringing. And the series was born!
When I do get a double strung harp at some point, I will record these pieces again, so we can all experience the real McCoy! Until then, I hope you’re enjoying these pieces in which the lyre and zither play at the same time!
Thank you for reading, listening, and leaving your comments and feedback!
Mystical Strings 
You must be logged in to post a comment.