Summertime

Summer time, the perfect time for a picnic and a trip to the beach. Even if just in thought, you know you are there whenever you hear the summer breeze whispering ‘relaxation’ in your ear.

 

The summer heat leaves us with but few options.

Caged inside the four walls and the sweating boys and girls usually lead to a time of relief either at the river or at the beach.

 

SUMMER-TIME JAMAICA is a fantastic time. I recall days spent travelling by foot to pick mangoes and to then cool ourselves off in a new by river or beach.

 

 

 

 

The Path before us - Retirement

The Path before us – Retirement
By J.D. Gordon
Copy right © 2008. All rights reserved.


The path before us is filled with hope
Hope for better and in spite of the challenges
We know with God, we can cope

The path before us is decorated with the colours of our dreams
We ingeniously shape and frame it
The dark paths, with our lights we must lit

Some people plan to retire
And others retire to plan
I have written some thoughts which could make a poem, a speech or a song

Retirement puts us in full control
So we get to be the manager of our own time,
All the time, and for the rest of our time to come

No longer will Corporate breathe down your neck;
You can now relax and breathe fresh life into your hobbies.
Yes! Now you can throw out the clock, or kill the cock

The path before us is now the path you are taking
Every day will bring with it a new cake for baking
A new sketch for painting
Fresh earth for planting
And a new reason for waking

With retirement you are not being shoved off the stage,
You now get to sit back and watch
Watch your role being played by someone else.
It is times like these which bring the greatest fulfillment, for you now know for sure; surely you have made your mark.

Butterfly

Where are you?

Where are you butterfly?
You are not quite a bird
Not quite the music we have heard

You are not flower, nor butter
You are not worm, moth nor a fly
You are a mixture of butter and fly
You butter my garden, so splendidly

Flap! flap!, your wings
Melody to my heart sings
Your move and grooves
Soothe and butter my hooves

Butterfly Kiss
I never want to miss
The drops of honey
Upon my lips

I can now dance
At least one more chance
Like diamonds to girl
Butterfly you bring life to my world

Beauty

Beauty is 10% what you see and 90% of how it makes you feel.

Copy right (c) 2008 J.D. Gordon. All rights reserved

Today – Yet another day

Today as I celebrate yet another birthday
My heart is filled with gratitude for what the Lord has done.
It is persons like you who have made it possible for me to celebrate yet another one

Many today regret having been born
Many today regret others being born.
I’m thankful you have not found yourself in either category.

Yet another day, yet another opportunity to mold something new
Yet another day, yet another time,
Another hour, God and yourself to be true

On my birthday, I always purchase a gift for my mother.
After all, that day is a commemoration of the incredible gift of life that she gave me.
Yet another day to be me

Children and forgiveness

It is not that children easily forgive, they know no alternative but to remain kind, caring and friendly. Teach them otherwise and they may opt for it.
Copy right (c) 2008 J.D. gordon All rights reserved

Fat-her Day?

Dad, daddy, dada
Pa, pappy, papa
Old man or father
They are all the same

You whose effort goes unnoticed
Who not just only ‘Fat her’
This is for you and about you
Cause even grown men need their dad too

In my little world you are my hero,
You are my champion
And so I call you Dad.
Happy father’s day

Staying in the process

I do not know what you are going through right now, but I know God can help.
One of my most profound lessons over the past week has been about patience.
Honestly, no one likes to wait, but this was how I discharged some of my weight.

1. I learnt that being patient benefits me more than anyone else. – It protects me
2. 
   If I stay on the production line I will become complete – Just complete the process
3. 
   If I jump off the production line and abort the process I could become useless.
   
4. A part of being patient is learning to accept things sometimes for what it is worth
   
   You are able to get through this too. You thought last year was rough and now this. But this too shall pass. It is only a season, a phase. You must stay in and learn your lessons well, I know you will win.

When no one hears but you

(Is this your desperate cry?)


When no one hears the song of my heart but you
For you know my heart and the things I go through
You know the melody of my song
And you whisper in my ear, “It won’t be long”

When no one hears the song of my heart but you
Who then can judge whether or not I am true
For those who dance to its tune are not many
For the hearers are only but a few

Oh I wish they could hear
Through all the hooting, chanting and shouting
With all this hullabaloo
All they ask is, “How are you?”

But no one knows the song of my heart like you do
You know its dynamics, quietness and nuances
You even sing the parts with me
And we sway together like the wind and the tree

I cannot stand the loneliness
My heart longs to express
I wait patiently to lie on thy breast
Only there will I ever find sweet rest

When no one hears the song of my heart but you
A world of sadness without you
I shall stay by your side, where from the ills I can hide
In your presence always, right there, we sing together

The place where I am free
And I find my life again
Oh the bliss, with chorus on my lips
Yes! I find me, I find me, I find me in you

Aim

I must turn and go,
Turn and run
To that place where I must travel
To that dwelling of satisfaction, fulfillment and fun

I must aim
To hit my intended target, my mark
I must aim and aim well
For victory, At times I may be like a hawk

Where is my intended goal?
I asked myself.
Who removed my base, my home plate?
Is this a delusion by night?

I need to find my way
For I know on this path I must stay
I will aspire, inspire and acquire my dream
I will persevere and fly, though my struggles are many

I must turn and go,
Turn and run
To that place where I must travel
To that dwelling of satisfaction, fulfillment and fun

I will aim and I will run,
My hands still swaying
And my legs even now are sprinting
I aim to reach my aim

Purpose, purpose, purpose
God surely knows
Soon I will celebrate
Once I arrive at that triumphant Gate

Rid yourself

The things which affect and influence us most are those that were said to us, done to us and we never forget. They grow and become like flesh that cling to our mind, body, and heart. We must therefore continuously rid ourselves of those things that are toxic.
Copy right (c) 2008 J D Gordon All rights reserved

We could learn a thing or two about patience part 2

Does patience have a beginning? Does it have an end? What exist at the end of our patience road? When we exercise patience, are we being protected from anything or we are just hurting ourselves? Who is the beneficiary when I exercise patience? How does it help me?

In my quest to find answers on this ever important issue and virtue of patience, these are some of my findings:

Where should patience start?
Patience begins the moment or instant you recognize the need to exercise it. That time when you become anxious and overwhelmed. It should begin at that point you feel most uncomfortable because it is just not happening for you.
James 5 v 7 says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”If you have an interest in something, or you have invested your time, your money and energy, then you will want to wait out the process to see the results of your labor. I recall writing these words as a blog in the month of March, “Most of the weights we carry around in life are due to an unwillingness to wait.”
I have found this to be so true even in my own life. Patience must begin with each new day. Forget the ills and forbearance of yesterday. Every day is a day for a fresh start. I cannot overemphasize the importance of ridding ourselves of yesterdays unwanted, that is a blog all by itself.

Who does patience benefit?
As I look at it, the giver of patience will reap the greatest rewards of giving it.
Why do I say that?
Well, let us look at closely. First of all this was what the wise man Solomon had to say in proverbs 19 v 11, “A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

Does it hurt to exercise patience? Until we reach the point of a change of attitude or a change towards the situations around us; then what appears to be ‘the pains of patience’ will continue to exist. In order for patience not to be painstaking, there must be a change of heart to whatever is bothering you. It is so amazing that as a result of our willingness to wait we become less pressured, less stressed and less frustrated with everything around us. Patience is hard work, but it leaves us feeling free and calm.

I have to deal with impatient people every single day as I drive on the Jamaican roads. I only wish it was as easy to inject into others this all important ingredient to life as it is easy to talk about it. I would have been able to heal many homes and families, employees and managers, friendships and all.

I want to close by talking a little about principle no. 2. In part one of this blog in February I expounded on principle no. 1 which says:
Whatever you need you are going to find it difficult to give
This explains why some of the persons you meet who really need patience are the very same persons who find it very difficult to give it. They need it so they can’t give it.
In principle no. 2

You receiving what you need and so desperately desire is tied up in you giving the very same thing you need.

Quite a profound principle; if you want love, start loving others and you will be surprised just how much love comes back to you. The same is true for friendships, patience and so on. Start being friendly to others and you will win more friends than you could ever imagine. The minute you start to exercise patience you will become more and more patient. After all, it is a fruit of the Spirit.

In part 3 of this topic I want to close off by talking a little about what are we being protected from when we exercise patience. It will answer questions such as why did God instruct us to have patience and also expect us to do so in all our relations, even when dealing with him, the Divine?

Then finally I will expound on what exist at the end of the road call patience. What will you and I meet up there? When your patience has run out what happens next?

Babies

Babies bring out the best of our survival skills, our smiles and our power and will to care. If it doesn’t come out, then it just isn’t there.

copy right (c) 2008 J D Gordon. All rights reserved

People who touch our lives

Some people are like angels, simply heaven sent.

They touch your heart and make you do and believe things you just never thought possible at all or perhaps you thought you could do it, but just needed the push, the energy and the determination to get it done. You perhaps just needed someone to believe in you, someone to cheer you on.

God delights in using each of us to better the lives of those who we come in contact with on a daily basis. If you are an Angel, then continue to touch the lives of those who are in your way and even those who you will have to sometimes detour to see.

If you can touch one heart, then you would have rid the world of one more broken heart and one more victim. Each heart that is touched will then create many more transformed lives.

Think about those who have touched your lives in recent times, say a prayer for them and thank them. We thank God for family, friends and strangers he has placed in our lives that have touched our hearts forever.

Instrumental music for the soul

I love instrumental music and I have been composing a few new ones. Check out some of my music and enjoy it by clicking on the following link:

http://www.dubtunes.com/process.php?PHPSESSID=e72adfa28679878874db2158bbb32a34&pname=ShowAlbumDetailsProcess-Start&CategoryID=CategoryID&AlbumID=4

Find your soil or die

In November of 2002 I was talking with a young Lady residing in Canada, who was going through a rough period in her life. She was married, unemployed and a Christian. Ironically these three areas were her greatest areas of struggle. She felt as though she was being stifled at her church, just barely hanging on. Her marriage was almost over and she was just not getting hooked up with the right job and her finance was drying up.

She and I spoke for hours as she shared her heart and one story after another. She was perplexed and sad, but hopeful. She was desperately searching for answers and among the answers she needed was to ‘find herself.’ So after listening to her full story, I made a comment which many may have regarded as too simple response for such a multi-faceted problem.

In my response I told her, “Find your soil or die”. I was so moved and surprised by the profoundness of the statement that I went further to write about it in my book, “The Colour and Power of Your Thoughts – Inspiring, witty and motivating words.”
I made sure to comment that finding your soil doesn’t necessarily mean going in search of a new environment.
Sometimes it means finding a more fertile area in the ground in which you have been planted. Sometimes it requires creating that environment for your own survival.

I do not know much about farming and gardening, but I do happen to know that sometimes a plant is drying or dying and despite your best efforts it just will not flourish. So you uproot it and plant it somewhere else and amazing results starts to happen. The plant becomes revived, it begins to flourish and bear fruit. I thought to myself, ‘what an awesome message.’

In the same breath you might be struggling where you are and barely making it. You may even be operating at a level ten times less than you were created to be. You could be earning more, helping more, and giving more, living healthier mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. You are just not living victoriously. Where you are planted is not fertile enough for you to grow.

Your roots are desperately in need of a better soil, a better environment. So you decide it is time for a change; a change of heart, a change of attitude, a change of friends and sometimes even a change of your support group. I am so touched by this, that every time I begin to talk or write about this subject, my hands become filled with goose pimples.

I spoke with the young Lady late last year and in a brief exchange she told me she was now living in Florida and felt as though she had just started living.

Not because we don't get along

Not because we do not get along it means you are devious and I’m not.
Nor, are you imperfect and I am flaw free.
The greater the tendencies to disagree the more divine the love and accord will be where it is found.
They say, two can not walk unless they agree, but two will not agree unless they learn to take little steps together daily; trusting each other to make one move at a time.

Not because we do not get along it means that God loves you any less than He loves me.
Trials are supposed to make us strong, not become bitter, but aspiring for better. It always presents an opportunity to learn something new, something different and something which gives us that "wow" reaction.
Even though we have our struggles you have taught me a few things about me.
First, I must be a little more patient, forgiving and a little more caring.

Second of all, I must open and maintain an account of love, patience and forgiveness;
An account where I can make withdrawals once the need arises.
For there will be days when what you say will hurt me and what you do will cause pain.
My friend, my colleague, my relative and you too stranger

Above all the things I have learnt, this one stays with me most, if we are going to get along it is a choice we must make. A simple yet painstaking step we must take.
I choose who to love and who to hate, who to forgive and care for, even if it is a fake.
But once I started giving you a chance, I suddenly realized the many beautiful and wonderful things about you, things that were being covered by the shadows and the clouds of my anger.

Surely, we have got to find a better way, a better way to live and be.
As difficult as it may seem, the choice is mine, for with the choice comes the will and the attitude to win, to do and to become. Tell yourself you can and you will.

Keep the tap on

You are flowing with inspiration and burning with fires of passion. You are able to think and reason at a much higher level than normal. You have finally tapped into your creative imagination and what seemed impossible is now but a ‘walk in the park’.

God has positioned you right where you are for such a time as this. You are affecting lives and lives are being changed to a commitment to Jesus Christ. Your wisdom is God-given.

I urge you my friend, to keep the tap on. Whatever makes you glow like a bulb, shine like a star and become all that you are, keep it on. You have much more in you to give and to pour out so keep your tap on.

Some things in life will dry up or cease once they are no longer desired, treasured or cared for. I urge you my friend, to keep the tap on.

If along your journey your pipeline becomes clogged, just seek the help of the ‘Great Plumber – God Almighty.’ In all that you will achieve and do, remember there are many who are counting on you, so keep the tap on.

I am a Natural

I have drawn the conclusion that of all the gifts God has given me; he has made me into a natural. Of all the stuffs our parents gave us they gave us some of the most essentials which are keys to life and motivations for living.

Apart from being real, corporeal, flesh and blood, I naturally fit into to any mold.
Like water in a mug and socket to a plug. It is a God-given gift to be able to fit into the position of a carpenter, a plumber, a builder, an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer and so on. Don’t get me wrong now I am very mindful of my limits.

Being number eight of a total of nine children to both parents, these are some of the roles we would play during our play times. Can you recall ever being a fire fighter, a police officer or a nurse? Well, I can recall some of my fond childhood memories.

When I say I am a natural. I am lifelike, inimitable, congenial, and sympathetic, true to life, true to nature, faithful, true as steel, spontaneous, friendly and fully homemade. I delight in nature and I am a deep admirer of natural beauty.

Even in drama at school or at our church we were great actors playing our roles with sincerity and passion. After all, isn’t life a big drama and we must all play our roles well?

Our parents paid us the necessary attention to ensure we were all able to do everything around the house. We were being groomed to become self-reliant yet remaining human enough to offer a helping hand to someone in need as well as knowing when we needed help.

As a natural, I am not motivated by material stuff and possessions. Instead I am motivated by love, laughter, passion, smiles, hugs and kisses and other thoughtful deeds. I am motivated by purpose, a purpose to live and a purpose which I must fulfill. For at the end of this natural life I will not be remembered for the things I possessed and owned, but for what I did, the way I made others felt and the things I said.

I am a natural, not complicated but true to the cause for which I stand.

The power of mothercraft

"She who mothers a child also mothers the children with whom her child interacts."

copy right (c) 2008 J. D. Gordon. All rights reserved.