Where do we go when we die?

We can really know the answer to this! In fact that is the plan, God's plan. He wants us to know in our hearts where we are going. He's invested a whole lot in making sure we do. If you've read my Love & meaning of life post you will know what I mean when I say that Love is integral part of it. He has given us the love between a man and woman as an example. This is to show us a love that is unconditional and by choice, by faith. That's the key; Faith. He has told us how to get to heaven. Not by works of our own but accept the salvation, the free pass, that Jesus gave us by taking on our debt. To believe not by proof but by Faith! The kind of faith down deep in your heart. Now you know.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

This is sometimes difficult to understand and harder still to accept but here it is: Bad things happen. Sorry, but that's it. Bad things happen. These bad things are not of God's creation. They are of our creation. Well, that may not be the most accurate choice of words when it comes to tornadoes or such, however it is not God that puts us in the path of nature's destruction. Now you are probably saying, "How could God stand by and let this happen?" This is getting to the point of it all. Remember that whole "made in His image" thing? Well part of that is a certain dominion over the world. We are capable of creation and destruction. We are given a world in which creation is challenging but rewarding and destruction is easy but has consequences. Not all the costs of destruction end up being paid by the destructer. That is just how it is when you share the same world. One of our responsibilities as caretakers of this world is to our brothers and sisters present and future.
All this may sound too global and general to apply to our situation today or to the death of a loved one. Here's the thing. The bad is here. You or I may not have created it but we (the human race) have. Weather you believe the specifics of Adam & Eve's story and how original sin created death, the fact is that it's part of our world and it happens. As for God standing by, that's where it may be easy to miss but God is there. He will not undo our destruction but he provides us a way out. He takes on the blame of it by no less than giving His only Son's life! Then when you think you can not get through the suffering and grief he provides a way. It sometimes comes in the form of another person he places in your life. Someone to be there to help you through. Someone often without even their own understanding is able to be there with just the right words or just the shoulder to cry on. Today we may loose one of these unwitting angels of God. This angel may have been blinded to God's Grace by all the heartache he has seen but I pray if he has not seen It that a Just God will take into account his occupational handicap.

Can an old dog teach you a new trick?

Did you ever train a dog? Well here's the secret behind that... sitting up or rolling over were never the point. The lessons were about responsibility and knowing the limits of one's ability to control. That's right, the lessons were for you! Chances are, if you got anywhere, you figured out that it was no use blaming the dog. You reward or discipline the dog in order to get the desired result. You may have even figured out that the reward worked best. But did you learn the trick? Or is there an old dog out there rolling over and showing you up? The trick you were supposed to learn is how to deal with every other person in your life. Trust me, you will find few that can be controlled like a dog but the principal is the same. You have no more reason to make demands and place expectations on a person than you do on a dog. If you think I am saying people are like dogs you are already forgetting that the lessen is about you. It's just that if a person, or a dog, does not do as you expect then you only have yourself to blame. Don't take it too hard though. Some just take a little longer to train.
Here's a tip (not to take too seriously); when trying to control a person there is no better place to connect the leash than at the wallet. ;)

Get to know your emotions, we do.

I'm not sure if I've read it in a fortune cookie or not, but I'm sure it would fit; One who hides one's emotions from one's self reveals them to the world. You see, emotions can not be hidden. The best you can do is learn to ignore the tell tale signs. You then proceed to display them all completely unchecked. If you have a problem facing your emotions and haven't read the same fortune cookies, take a little poker advise: Look your cards in the face or you'll show your hand.

Longing for Love & the Meaning of Life

Everyone has a built in longing for Love. When young and foolish, we often confuse it with lust. It takes satisfying at least one of them to know they are not one in the same. In fact, the longing for Love leaves all other pursuits in the dust, for it is this longing that is the reason for being. Well that sounds so trite, "reason for being." I don't mean just a reason to get out of bed or just the spice of life, rather I mean it is the very meaning of life.
Now let me qualify; the Love I speak of, it is not just the best friend love or family love or even just the "I'll lay down my life for you" love. All very important and valuable sorts of love to be sure. I'm talking about The Love, and unless you've had it you only know the longing. It's really the ultimate combination of all sorts of love and what's more important it's returned. To be clear, this Love is unconditional. It is given abundantly without any anticipation of reciprocation and yet the smallest gesture of Love in return brings overwhelming joy.
Back to the meaning of life. This is where it gets rather heady but we are talking the meaning of life. Let's go back to the beginning. God is creative and he's created beings before, Angels even, so God has company but he's still longing for something. He's longing for Love, The Love. So how does one go about creating a being that can overwhelm it's creater? You parents know the answer to this one. That's right create a little you! He made us in His image, to have all the same characteristics, the same longings. Now wait, we are not all powerful all knowing... Well no. That's impossible. Think of it. All powerful, all knowing pretty much means only one. So what's the next best thing? Full autonomy!
Okay here's where I try to tie this up in a neat bow. (Pretty ambitious I know, after all it's just Love & the meaning of life!) The thing that makes The Love overwhelming when it is returned is that you don't expect it. How's God going to get that? Simple, like a wealthy person or royalty might conceal this information so as not to taint the courtship, God offers evidence of His Love but no proof even of His existence. So that's it, the reason we are all here, the reason I am here, the reason you are here, to Love God. Still don't understand? Well, answer this: Have you found Love or are you still longing? Want to know more? I have just The Book.

How to grow up.

A child asks aloud "who will help me?" An adult asks in silence "how will I do this?"
A child complains about things to be done. An adult tells stories of all that is done.
Or to quote the company that made my favorite cars, "On the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers: Drivers Wanted!"

Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is true, but true beauty comes from the heart. It is the fusion of cherished memories, fondest pleasures, sincerest hopes and desires. It is our entirety, our self. Do not try and contain it but release it. Let it explode onto the world. It is this true beauty as it radiates from the eyes of the beholden that captures the heart of the beholder.