"FREE AT LAST!"

O, the walls that we build; to keep out the perceived evil that threatens us with paper dragons and fanciful villains. Secure, we set inside our strong fortifications, impenetrable from without and indestructible from within. Sterilized in our own filth the iron vines of pride and self-love sprawl over us and the siege begins, there tethered to the ground, a captive within our own fortress and a slave to the tyrant we trained, who now at will opens the barred gates for demons, ten times more vile than he, to enter. Writhing in torment and fear we see the true fire breathing dragons and taste the bitter reality of evil. When dawns on our mind the reality that the only safety, was not a wall to shut out the ones around us, but an invite to bring in and care for them. But slaves we have become, we have shut out the ones who could have fought for us- what hope is left for such a one? Breath, breath but the faintest petition for help, cry out for saving and give full and free permission for the castle of your own making to be torn down by the Mighty One. He will speed to the fray and drive off the demons, vanquish the dragons and slash through the vines that hold you bound, He will carry you to safety and restore your soul, He will never leave you! You can be free at last!

A Tale of Two Men in the Rose Garden

Once upon a time there were two men walking through a garden, a beautiful rose garden. Roses of all colors and sizes spread themselves across the landscape, a breathtaking sight to say the least.

Both men young and full of life, some said they looked like two peas in a pod, happily talked, as they walked together, about the flower's each looked for. As they came round a small bend in the path both took a deep breath and a long look at the fragrant sight they stood before. It was the most lovely Roses in the entire garden, a bush of strong luster mixed with delicate blush, the buds were held high in dainty elegance. The red petals set against the green of the leaves with the evening sun giving a golden highlight was an enchanting sight that non would want to leave. The two young men advanced with all the handsome looks and charming wit they could muster. They walked round and round the rose bush until they were sure the lovely Rose buds they wanted had seen them, then each one picked his own flower. Carnal going first picked one of young beauty, even though twas all tightly closed. Caring went last and picked his Rose bud, one slightly more open but of pure beauty, never before picked by another. The two young men ambled off into the sunset, each with his beautiful Rose bud and each dreaming of a life “happily ever after”. As night was coming on both men parted ways, each to his own destiny.

Carnal was sure his Rose would be the envy of his whole town once she had opened up to full bloom. Midnight was almost there, the morning was coming but Carnal could wait no longer, his words had not made her open up into her full beauty and he was so anxious to show his “love” and receive the fulfillment that he wanted so badly that one by one he began to pry and pull on the delicate petals. Some of her petals broke and fell to the ground, others were crushed and bruised, large red drops of rose blood fell silently to the grass below. Carnal reasoned that this must be the way she was made; for always another new petal came from behind the others. At last he saw her heart, he had made it!!! And as he held her up in the light of his camp fire all his joy and pleasure turned to anger and frustration, for now he saw just a stem with thorns to hurt him and where beauty once had been no petals remained to give charm! He threw her down in disgust to the ground and left her there to die all alone only covered with the black of night. Carnal kicked up his heels as he strode off into the night saying “there is nothing to love it's all a farce!” But yet he still wants something he does not have and will look for another Rose he can tare apart.

Now, Caring had lovingly taken his Rose bud with him and put her in a vase so as not to let her wither and grow old. He could see that there was beauty deep inside, a reservoir of love just for him! She would be the queen of all Roses when she opened up wide in all her beauty. It was now past midnight, his camp fire had gone out, the cold of the morning hours threatened to freeze and mar the edges of her beauty with it's cold and cutting chill, then it was that in love and comfort for her beauty Caring drew her close to the warmth of his heart. Morning dawned fair and in it’s early light and warmth from the sun Caring’s Rose opened even wider revealing more of her hidden beauty and fragrance to the man she now loved and trusted.

As Caring walked on with his Rose next to his heart there came a rose-stand by the roadside. Roses of every size and of every color, it made him think of the lovely sight of the rose garden the day before but somehow it paled in contrast as if almost artificial. Now Carnal tended this roadside stand and called out to his old friend. “Come get something new, it's no fun to have an old Rose, trust me I know, the one I took in the garden yesterday made me' poor hands bleed bad with her thorns at midnight.” Caring held his now gorgeous Rose up high and said. “This is my love, this is my dove, we are one for life and my life would I give for her protection!” And with that Caring passed quickly by the rose stand with his sweetheart close so his heart!

Afternoon now found Caring's journey taking him through a desert, hot and harsh the sun beat down. Caring took his shirt off of his own back to give shade to his one and only, his bare back to the burning wind and blistering sun providing protection for the Rose of his dreams. Many a man had lost their way in this desert, many more had left there Roses helpless on the burning sand. But even though exhaustion wracked his body and blisters riddled his back Caring kept on going, for he would rather die than let harm come to his Rose. Aw, ‘twas her sweet fragrance wafting on the warm breeze that kept the life blood pumping through his veins as he toiled all afternoon across the desert. But every step a smile he wore for his Rose was safe in his arms, without her no doubt his bones would be bleaching in the sand!

Near evening the sound of a babbling brook, the smell of the lofty pine trees, the songs of the beards, and the scamper of the woodland animals welcomed there prince and princess! With the creek of the door Caring and his Rose were now home! In the glow of the fireplace, in their cozy cabin, he gazes into her beautiful face full of all the joy and love that only time can bring!

A fairy tale you say? Nae, but a reality that selfish hearts can know only when greed we lay aside and let love come inside.

My dear friend, time fails me to tell the tale of the Rose left for dead, but in the future I shall! And to all may the rose Gardener speed you on your way.

That Other Man...

I must take a wee bit of thy time and tell thee of a man who I made the acquaintance of this morn. I am sure you know him well...yes, that man. You know, that man, the one down the street. His clothes, no doubt, are from the 90's, he has a weird way he walks, and even a funny sounding rasp in his voice when he talks. What ever did his wife see in him to marry such a man; he's not even a wealthy man, for a wealthy man, we know, would not look so!

You know that man, that other man, he's old and lives alone, always a smile he has for the children in the neighborhood but they all are warned to stay away from such an one, for truly, he could not care about them; a pervert on the inside must he be!

And that other man, you know the one, sick and maybe dying from a rare illness. He should have known better than to travel the world round and bring back a sickness for us to share.

O yes, and I grimace to call him a man, but you know that “thing”; I saw him today, even the barbed wire and iron bars did not abate my uneasy feeling. I'm glad he wears orange! They should just shoot him and save a buck...I heard that he killed some other man!

But don't forget that other man, you know the one, yes that's him, driving his exotic car. Oh how I'd love to be his friend; his house is big and he's got a “ton” of money! If I had such wealth I'd never work again nor be bothered with all the little things in life!

And I could tell for hours about that other man, you know the one, yes I'm sure you know him well. You will find him all around the world, lands far and near. I hear some are a bit too queer, some I'd love to hate and others I'd hate to love, but they are all just that other man; nothing at all like me! You see I have feelings inside this heart of mine. I laugh and cry, love and care; you see there is me inside of here, skin over muscle, muscle over bone; my color I can not change, my eyes are mine, a nose that to me alone belongs. I've been rich, I've been poor; I've been wise, I've been a fool; I've helped and I've hurt. I just want to be happy, I just want to be me, without a facade to hide behind and make you think I'm some other man!

Now standing in front of the looking glass I see that I'm just another man; yes, that other man, just like the rest of them; here we stand just like all other men. You see we have feelings inside these hearts of ours, we laugh and cry, love and care; you see there is us inside of here, skin over muscle, and muscle over bone all to protect our hearts so dear. Why O why have we let our looks become a snare, why do we not love our own flesh and blood, how have we come to treat with indifference all men who are just like us...All we are the same to Him who loved us and gave his own self to save all men everywhere!