Believe It and Be Satisfied

I've been thinking about this verse a lot lately. It was given to me by an older, wiser, big brother type of friend. That's all I'm going to say - wouldn't want to jinx anything, you know...

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone… to have a deep soul relationship with another… to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God, to a Christian says…

“No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by ME alone, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with ME alone, discovering that only in ME is your satisfaction to be found will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning… stop wishing, and allow ME to give you the most thrilling plan existing….. one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching ME… expecting the greatest things. Keep expecting the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait. That’s all.

Don’t be anxious… don’t worry… don’t look at all the things you want… you just keep looking off and away and up to me or you’ll miss what I want to show you. And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time) until you both are satisfied exclusively with ME, and the life I prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me, and this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love… I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with ME, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and with love that I offer you with myself. Know that I utterly love you. I am God… Believe it and be satisfied.”

Christmas Caroling - Day 3!

December 8 - Christmas Song - The Dave Matthews Band (or is it just Dave Matthews - I really don't know)

You thought I was going to forget didn't you! A little more modern choice this time...

When I was in Freshman at UAlbany, the guy I was dating played this song for me - it was a ploy to get me to like DMB - or - at least that's what he told me. Anyway, I remember the exact moment I first heard this song and I fell in love with it - the song, not the guy... It's really a year-round song, appropriate for Easter as well as anytime we need a good reminder of what it's really all about...

Lyrics:
She was his girl, he was her boyfriend
She’d be his wife, and make him her husband.
A surprise on the way any day any day
One healthy little giggling, dribbling baby boy

The Wisemen came, three made their way
To shower Him with love while He lay in the hay
Shower Him with love, love, love
Love,love,love
Love,love was all around.

Not very much of His childhood was known
Kept His mother Mary worried always out on His own
He met another Mary, who for a reasonable fee,
Less than reputable was known to be

His heart was full of love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love was all around.

When Jesus Christ nailed to his tree
Said oh Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening sea
Instead I fear I’ve spilled the blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children is all around.

So I’m told, so the story goes
The people he knew were less than golden-hearted
Gamblers and robbers,
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me, like you and me

Rumors insisted that He soon would be
For His deviations taken into custody
By the authorities, less informed than He
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Searching for love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love was all around.

Preparations were made for a celebration day
He said eat this bread but think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be the blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around

Father up above
Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love is all around
Father up above
Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love, fill me love, love, yeah
Love, love, love
Love, love, and the blood of our children all around.

And - sung by the man himself:

Turning Family Dogs into Dancers

I fancy myself a pretty experience flyer. When I was in Wisconsin, I flew at least once a month for 2 school years straight - plus I've been taking trips with my parents for years. I have two trips already planned for the coming months - Vegas in October and Orlando in February. One thing I loved when I was flying by myself to and from Wisconsin was greeting people and watching people greet. Around that time this Ani Difranco song came out and it's just one of those songs that always puts me bouncy and happy. I remember one particular time - I believe it was coming home for Christmas after 9/11 - when people weren't allowed to meet at the gate anymore, so it wasn't as much fun on layovers to watch people reconnect - a couple planned their flights to meet in Detroit and fly home together - it was so happy. He met her at my gate and they jumped into each others' arms - just beautiful.

c jane posted today about "learn[ing] how to love, to accept love and feel love." being our purpose here on Earth. I don't know much about The Church of Latter Day Saints, but I really like that thought. I guess there are things happening in my life right now that are just making me smile more often and open and ready to accept the love... I am so blessed with so many wonderful people... ;-)

Anyway, here's the song:

the arrival's gate

gonna go out
to the arrivals gate at the airport
and sit there all day
watch people reuniting
public affection is so exciting
it even makes airports ok
watching children run
with their arms outstretched
just to throw those arms
around their grandpas' necks
watching lovers plant kisses
old men to their misses
at the arrivals gate

watching a mother
with a mother's smile
don't tell me to move
i just wanna sit here for a while
i have determined
it's a sure cure for cancer
watching excitement turn family
dogs into dancers
at the arrivals gate

i got me a white bread sandwich
with some shredded lettuce
and i got me a ringside view
for my quaint little fetish

i just wanna drain my little pink heart
of all its malice
and kick back for the afternoon
in this fluorescent palace

everybody's in a hurry
here in purgatory
except for me
i'm where i need to be

at the arrivals gate

Something That Totally Consumed Me

I was stumbling around on the Internet at work the other day, checking my blogs. It's like a big game of dominoes with me and blogs - I start with one, which leads to another, which leads to 4 more and more and more amazing stories of human hope, courage, humor, sadness... I am amazed by this Internet community sometimes...

Well, anyway, I stumbled upon this story of Stephanie & Christian, parents of 4 who were in a terrible plan crash in Arizona about a month ago - they suffered terrible burns. You can read more about the accident and their recovery here: http://www.nierecovery.com/ - a blog written by Stephanie's sister.

There are so many amazing things about this story - the way their families have banded together to get through this, the way the Internet community - a large gathering of many people who don't know each other - has banded together to raise money for their recovery. But, I think what strikes me the most is how at peace with God and life this whole family seems in the face of such huge tragedy. I mean, I'm sure they are grieving and hurting and confused and all those normal human reactions, but they seem to have such an amazing grasp on their Morman faith that they are at peace with the situation. It is truly inspiring to me...