I'll be Naked

John Mayer wrote a song in which he said, "I'll gladly go down in a flame, if a flame's what it takes to remember my name."

Albert Einstein once wrote, "To punish me for my contempt of authority, Fate has made me an authority myself."

I once walked to the mantra of the first, and couldn't wait for the fulfilment of the second. Now, I sit here 28 years old and think back on those two statements and shake my head at the path those simple phrases lead.

I might be known someday but I most definately don't want to be remembered because I had a sensational crash. Those who are remembered because of their beautiful burn-out upon reentry are a dime a dozen. And I can honestly say that if Fate's reward of contempt is to give authority, then I want no part of it. Why would I want to lead where I couldn't follow?

In 2005, a man I had entrusted my spiritual training to told me, "The way you follow is

the way others will follow you." That stopped me cold and I literally wanted no part of people following like I was. Rebellion is necessary when a revolution is needed - whether it be spiritual or physical. However, submission to authority is also necessary. Especially when you've chosen to place yourself under the wings of another.

I understand the heart of what Einstein was saying, but I cannot find the humor. I have been chosen to lead, but only because I live in the freedom of submission to the Light.

So I will gladly go down in a flame, but only if that's how I'm supposed to go down. I'll gladly look stupid, but only if I am supposed to look stupid.

But I will live free, because I am free. And I will set others free, because I have been chosen to do so. And the only thing that will do down in flames are the things that dare keep those given to me in fear.

So, color me naked, and fly free.

- Shadraq

Christmas Feelings

If you want to read earlier posts on Christmas, click here. The post The Worst becomes especially relevant in light of the following post. Please read before continuing.

I know it's October. Let's just be aware of that right now.

My wife and I were at home yesterday (Wednesday) and all of a sudden I get this major "Christmas" feeling. Now, occasionally this happens to me and I don't think anything of it. But yesterday it was amazingly strong so I said something to my wife about it. She was feeling the same thing too.

As I pondered the all-out strength of this feeling I was having, I felt that there was some spiritual significance to it and inquired of what it was.

The Spirit responded by telling me to put on Christmas Music. This created a huge dilemma for me. I usually bash on my little sister all the time for such nonsense and running Christmas Music before Black Friday.

But I obeyed. I dug out Bing's White Christmas Album. Not the Soundtrack, but he has a CD called White Christmas. As we sat in our living room, letting Bing wash over us. I felt the Spirit tell me two things.

#2 - Christmas is a season where we are more cognizant of the Master being near us. The so called "Christmas Feelings" we get from time to time are at moments when the Spirit is near, just to be near. Hence the feeling of goodwill.

#1 - The Spirit told me that the reasons for the Christmas was to act on what he was bringing into our home, and so I couldn't bash on my sister anymore for her "early" celebration of Christmas.

So it's possible that the waves of Bing, Dean, Guy, and Perry will grace our home from time to time, whether it is "in season" or not.

Maybe I'm getting old, or maybe I'm just starting to catch on better...

Merry Christmas!

New Tricks in The MATRIX: Hacking the Matrix

This is part 3 or an ongoing series. Click Here to read the others.

I was watching THE MATRIX recently. I love those movies. Every time, it seems, I see something new that deepens the Supernatural Realm to me. Such was the case this time.

I'll set the scene:
Near the end, Neo is running from the agents (right before he goes up into the apartments) and steals a cell phone from a guy on the street. He punches in a number and says, "Mr. Wizard, get me the hell out of here." He then runs and finds himself in a blind alley, with no way out. He says to his Operator, "Uh, help." The operator replies, "Door."

I've seen this movie 20+ times. It never fails to disappoint, but this time, as I watched that scene, I noticed something I'd never seen before. I skipped back a butm just to be sure. When Neo hits the blind alley before he calls out for help THERE IS NO DOOR.

None. Just a blind alley.

It is only after he calls out for help that the Operator is able to know Neo's need, and hack in a door for Neo to escape through.

I've noticed when I'm in my most desperate hour, I tend to get very spiritual. I call out to the Creator and tell him, "I need a little help here."

And then, suddenly, my whole circumstances changed. The big question is "Would things have changed if I hadn't asked?" The reality is, we'll never really know.

But there's something to being asked. Asking is a way of saying "I have a need, a desire - can you help me?"

Or, will you help me?

Here's the deal, and there's really no way of getting around it - when we hit blind alleys, there is ALWAYS a hack that The Operator can do. Always. Remember that sometimes a "way out" is hiding in a place you just saw as impenetrable.

And sometimes doors appear in brick walls...

- Shadraq

Childhood Demotions

Being a "first child" about to have a second, I've noticed the following...

Most of you "non-firsters" won't be able to relate as much, but I'm sure, on some level, this will hit a memory or two.

I've noticed that, as a first child, your kid experience is basically a series of status demotions. Once you're out of the chute, right away you are deemed favorite child. After that, with the arrival of each additional sibling - your stock PLUMMETS.

If you're a first boy and Mommy has a girl, you are immediately demoted from Favorite Child to Favorite Son. Not too shabby. You aren't #1, but you're first in your particular gender group.

If, however, Mommy has a son - you immediately bypass Favorite Son and move right into My Special Boy.

If your parents have more than 3...you are slipped into that category of My Oldest.

And this is all assuming that your parents are kind, fair, and impartial. If they aren't - brother you might be wearing "hand-me-ups" and wearing hobo costumes for Halloween until you can drive.

Mine were of the "kind, fair, and impartial" variety, and I had 3 sisters - so I've never lost my status of Favorite Son.

I shudder to think of what the rest of you went through.

- Shadraq

New Blog

There's a great new blog that has recently become reactive. It's called Stir The Water - thoughts from Jim Driscoll and friends. Check it out if you have some time. I HIGHLY recommend it.

- Shadraq

These Things Are Fun..

More musings from Dr Seuss' One Fish Two Fish.

****
Did you ever
fly a kite
in bed?

Did you ever walk
with ten cats
on your head?

Did you ever milk
this kind of cow?
Well, we can do it.
We know how.

If you never did,
you should.
These things are fun
and fun is good
****

At first read - or possible 6th and 7th reads as well - this seems a wee bit absurd. It's easy to read One Fish Two Fish and write off most everything as cute-nonsense. It's my belief, as I read more and more Dr Seuss, that there is wealth to be found.

You know that fine line between genius and madness?

I've often wondered what it means to "become as a child." There was a time, when I was growing up, that I would play hide and seek in the baptistery, or ride trikes down the aisles of the Assembly of God church that I grew up in as a kid.

And many of you who know me, no this wasn't yesterday, this is an old story...

Then one day I woke up to find that I was too mature for such things. Church is a place where everyone knows their place. Church is where newbies and kids are smiled at and are told things like "Oh, you'll grow out of that."

Boredom, thy name is respectability.

The issue isn't that the Master is waiting for every man to realize that they are bored - they already know they are bored. The issue is one of respectability. Didn't a famous guy once say "unless you become as a child you will not see the Kingdom..."??? That's not a polite suggestion, that's a promise.

The next time you are worshiping and you see a little kid running around and hiding under pews, consider joining him. What better way to "become like a child" than to copy one. We must unlearn what we have learned if we are ever to be more than we are.

Bored.

If you always do what you always done, you'll always be what you've always been.

Want to see miracles? Be foolish. Wasn't Mikal barren because she was embarrassed at her husbands foolishness? Want to see an outbreak of the Spirit? Walk with ten cats on your head.

Fly a kite in bed.

If you never did,
you should.
These things are fun
and fun is good.

- Shadraq

* More of my posts on Dr Seuss. -->

Edge Polls

Fellow Edge Readers. I give you the results of Previous Polls in which you voted.

I will give you the question, the results, and my observations. Please know that I appreciate each and every vote cast, and the observations are merely my opinion. Feel free to leave yours in my wisecrack section.

WHO WAS THE BEST BATMAN?
88% Christian Bale (15 votes)
5% Michael Keaton (1 vote)
5% George Clooney (1 vote)
0% Val Kilmer (0 votes)

OBSERVATION - Thankfully, y'all showed GREAT taste in picking Christian Bale. Far and away THE BEST. Now, I understand picking Keaton. He was the original. He wasn't very good, but he was the original and, let's face it, better than Clooney. I believe that Kilmer was the 3rd best Batman, but 2nd best Bruce Wayne. But that's my opinion. Clooney? Who voted for Clooney? Please confess and give your reason. I don't want to shred your reason, I am genuinely curious.

WHICH GAME MOST REVOLUTIONIZED ITS OWN CONSULE?
42% NES - Super Mario Bros (6 votes)
35% N64 - Golden Eye 007 (5 votes)
14% XBOX - Halo (2 votes)
7% Sega - Sonic the Hedgehog (1 vote)
0% PS1 - Tekken 3 (0 votes)

OBSERVATION - This was, I think, a great poll. Personally, I voted for Golden Eye. Why is it, do you think, that Super Mario won? Why was Halo's votes so low? Would the outlook have been different had Atari's PONG been added to the mix?

Thanks for voting!

- Shadraq

*Other Polls