The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

OLD JESUS

By Leave a Comment

I saw an old Jesus
Walking through
A crowded waiting room
In a place 
no one wanted to be
He Shuffle passed me
In faded, wrinkled pajama bottoms
And a lifeless gray T-shirt
Sipping on a stained Styrofoam 
cup of coffee
He floated to a pause
In awe of the brightly colored fish 
Swimming around a shiny but finger smudged aquarium
And they seemed to multiply 
Wildly in a flurry of surreal color
that eyes could barely focus
and imaginations dare to envision
A Hand Out
became a Life Raft

My ice water took on a different taste of Merlot
that left a warm glow which seemed to illuminate within me
An ember that glowed
warmed
without incinerating
With a mere ever so light touch of his fingertips
Or a soft gaze  of his eyes
One by one we were 
metamorphosized 
And then in a much
quicker than the blink of an eye
and way less subtle than the distinct note
from a shiny trumpet
There was a suddenness 
Of difference
I not only  forgot why I was there
I was in fact
No longer there 

YOUR HEART

By Leave a Comment

Have you ever lost your heart. . . ?
Loaded question, huh?
Well?
What makes it such a touch question
is just trying to figure out
is that a
Physical
Emotional
Psycho-Social
Spiritual
L I T E R A L Question. . .
Ohhhhhhhh how you should know by
NOW
and all nearly some 800 Blog Posts later
that I’m a Sucker for the Sap Movies
and this one,
LAST CHRISTMAS
is maybe the sappiest of all
and it’s leaked a glue over me
that I can’t wash away
(and most likely don’t want to, anyway)
Nothing seems to go right for young Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. But things soon take a turn for the better when she meets Tom — a handsome charmer who seems too good to be true. As the city transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, Tom and Kate’s growing attraction turns into the best gift of all — a Yuletide romance. . .
Sa-Sa-Saaaaaa-SAPPY, right?
ba-ba-baaa-but
it made me think
IT MADE ME FEEL
the times I’ve lost my
h e a r t
Uhhhhhhh not so much
physically
emotionally
psycho-socially
spiritually
so much as
uh-ohh. . .
dare I write:
metaphysically. . .
and I guess I’m inviting you
to ask
to reflect
a time(S)
you’ve actually lost your heart. . . ?
Can I help answer?
Are you the same you were
10
20
30+
years ago?
What changed from the time you were an infant
to the time you became a toddler
to the time you became a preschooler
to the time you were in elementary school
to the time you were in junior high
to the time you were graduating high school
to the times of different jobs
to the the times of continuing education
to the times of getting married
to the times of having children
to
N O W
. . .just how many,
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LOST YOUR HEART
and maybe better still. . .
FOUND IT?
Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst:
Here’s to all of the times to come
and all the Seasons
that’ll allow
the prompting of the question:
WHO AM I?
(MAY THE ANSWER CONTINUALLY BE DIFFERENT
as it has countless times before)

UPROOTED

By Leave a Comment

It’s real easy to feel
UPROOTED
over these past few weeks;
there aren’t many that feel the
SAME WAY
they did three months ago
six months ago
twelve months ago. . .
IS THAT A GOOD THING?

I have long had to give up one of my favorite things in life:
R U N N I N G
even walking is no small task
a given
but I’m able to get out
in spite of the sore knees
aching feet
if’y back
at the pace of a ruptured turtle
and it’s come with a blessing:
S I G H T
it’s almost as if I was blind all of those years
when I would run
always trying to beat the day before’s
T I M E
and only caring about
running faster
longer
in personal record times
but now I see
what I never looked for
what I never cared about observing
S E E
not just with my Lasik improved eyes
but my ever sensing soul
BEHOLD:
(not just)
A FALLEN ROTTING TREE:

UPROOTED
Once a Provider of Shadows
not I lay in them
Splashed
Soaked
in a veil
that doesn’t quite hide me
but conceals who I was once
Tall
Strong
Mighty
Ever Bending
Even not never Breaking
Just Uprooted
Slammed down
by elements over time
that wears no watch
keeps no seconds
and can’t be stopped
UPROOTED
never again to suck from the earth
only to be sucked into
with the harsh gravity of decay

UPROOTED
I use to reach tall
for the sun
now I soil myself

A caster of shadows
A Shade provider
A silhouette maker
now a mere holder of nuances
Splintered

A Barkless whimper
an unoffered whispered prayer
A silent shout

ROOTS
knowing they can never grow
deep enough
or worse
last long enough

A feeder
of saplings
and wild flowers
UPROOTED
I once grew
now I make grow
Ever to remain
in one Season
A New One

It’s amazing what you see when
Stop looking
and start
W A T C H I N G

UPROOTED
sometimes means to
N O U R I S H
instead of being
n o u r i s h e d

f e e l i n g
UPROOTED
lately. . .
maybe it’s not so much a question
that needs to be asked
just answered
in another way. . .



OUT OF THE BOX

By Leave a Comment

I M A G I N E
What would it be like
if we never
c a t e g o r i z e d
people;
If we never put them into boxes
so that we could not only
describe
define
but literally
box them up. . .

Our world has changed dramatically
over the past week
and the
c H a n G e
is not over
. . .not ever day
but ever moment
it seems to continually be
evolving in a way
at a speed
none of us have ever
e x p e r i e n c e d
illustrating in a way we’ve never known
that there is no longer
A THEM
but an
U S. . .

The World
is literally yelling for us to
S T O P
just for a little bit of
N O W
while the we come to understand
with a little discomfort
that
T E M P O R A I L Y
never is
permanently. . .
With THIS certainty:

There is no need waiting for
L O V E
to take Shape
when it is
boundlessly
Shapeless

Rear View Mirror Living

By Leave a Comment

No matter
how much you Rear View Mirror
I T
The Windshield
Always looms larger
Even when sitting still
Idling 
Bringing into Focus
The New
Not a destination you go
but a Universe
You create
Only to
Make it a part of your
Rearview Mirror World
As you travel
On
Speed is never of the 
Essence


(Lose your Time Pieces)
Use your Wipers
If necessary

To only see Clearer
Gawk
Unblinkingly at what’s before you
With only an occasional quick glance
At what’s behind you


And
if  you  LOOK  at  all
Make sure it’s Forward
Always Forward
To looking Back

G P S
can never
M A K E
you go forward
and no
C O M P A S S
is necessary traveling backwards
E V E N
if it’s slow
or seemingly
m i n i s c u l e
each step taken ahead
is a most powerful
A D V A N C E
assuring
that memories are sacred
BUT THE MAKING OF MEMORIES
are even more hallowed
by their Pulses
that Rear View Mirror
e x t i n g u i s h e s

YOUR BENCH (mark)

By 6 Comments

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. . .
I don’t much care what you’re
looking at
SO MUCH
AS WHAT YOU
S E E

Out of all of the sights
and sounds
we’re bound to be
bombarded with
over the next few weeks
there’ll be none more important
than the ones you won’t so
much look at
or even
SEE
as much as the ones you’ll be able to
S H A R E. . .

The most important Bench that exists
isn’t the one we occupy;
IT IS THE ONE WE
S H A R E
with Another. . .

In this Season of
LIGHT and HOPE
there’s a certain
guaranteed
B R O K E N N E S S
mostly sitting right next to us
and the only one that can make a difference
is You. . .

You’ll never be called to
LIGHT THE WORLD
so much as just to
s i m p l y
share your glow. . .

So
take another
g a n d e r
glimpse
at what you didn’t see
but need view


The Unreliable Critic

By Leave a Comment

No pun
i n t e n d e d. . .
but this is a pretty
R E F L E C T I V E
piece, huh?

Is it true. . . ?
Are we our worst Critics?
Are we Reliable Critics?
What do you see bad in yourself
that others can’t see nothing but good in you?

Maybe out of all the questions that might be bouncing around
from your head to heart to the deepest part of your soul
this is the one that matters the most:
WHEN YOU STAND IN FRONT OF A MIRROR
DO YOU SEE MORE OF WHAT REALLY ISN’T THERE
OR MORE OF WHAT IS?

Are you a reliable critic. . . ?

Do you ever really
k n o w
what another truly
s e e s

Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst:
Look Again

The movie in your mind
may never make it to the
BIG SCREEN

LOOK
A G A I N
The ticket you’ve paid full admission
is never really a shadow
of the
MAIN
ATTRACTION
you are. . . .

M E d i a ‘ D

By Leave a Comment

Ever feel like a mere

S           H           A           D           O           W

of   yourself.          .          .

It’s   most   likely

T   H   E   N

we go elsewhere to seek

a truer L I G H T

a Clearer REFLECTION of who we are.          .          .

W H E R E    B E T T E R

than   the

I         N         T         E         R         N         E         T

the massive  MEDIA  Monster

NOW THIS MUST BE TRUE.            .            .

There was this APP on Facebook that Generated

THE  RESULTS

THE  INNER  CRYSTAL BALL

ALL of THIS with an gotta-be-true-color-analysis

WAIT.          .          .WHAT

Uhhhhhhhhhh.          .          .

how does one blush in BLACK & WHITE

SO      SAYETH      THE      FACE      BOOK      SAGES

.          .          .IS  IT  EVEN  DEBATABLE

.          .          .IS   IT  EVEN  THINKABLE

.          .          .IS  IT  EVEN  IMAGINABLE

W     E     L     L.          .          .N O W

There’s always DOUBLING DOWN

and knowing that this would be the TATTOO

on my SOUL and my SIDE

Maybe this can all be DEFINED

Maybe this can all be UNDERSTOOD

Maybe this can all be EXPLAINED

May this can all be LIVED

with a mere sincere:

Isn’t      it      really      just

T  H  I  S      S  I  M  P  L  E

It’s not so much when

FACE COMES TO MIRROR

as when

MIRROR COMES TO FACE.          .          .

when the SOUL is reflected

and not your facial features.          .          .

Life    is    MIRROR

.          .          .Life gives us not what we want.          .          .

LIFE       GIVES       US       WHO      WE       ARE

.     .     .it matters not how you are

M E D I A ‘ D

to The World.          .          .

HOW        DO        YOU

  S  E  E       Y  O  U  R  S  E  L  F

(Be THAT)

Christmas’ed

By 4 Comments

S               T               O               P

Don’t do anything for at least the next three minutes

or however long it’ll take you to scroll through this post.           .           .

Q       U       E       S       T       I       O       N :

When  is  I T ?

When did  IT

WHEN   WILL  IT

first   come   to   you   this   year?

When    W     I     L     L  

I T   L E A V E?

First present?

Last Present?

Somewhere in between parties or when you hit the pillow after some chaotic days?

Or has it already   G   O   N   E

before it has actually   C   O   M   E

I   am   a   firm

K       N       O       W  ‘   E       R  

that  Christmas,

or any other special holiday/event

doesn’t   so   much   come   on   a   day   or   for   a   Season,

b u t   i n

M       O       M       E       N       T       S

Last year.       .       .

I’ve  already  had  a  varied  assortment  of

M       O       M       E       N       T       S

over these past few days and weeks.       .       .

I bet you have, too.         .         .

I was at Costco shortly after Labor Day

and way before Halloween

and there were already Christmas Trees and lawn decorations

adoring the place

accompanied with Christmas Carols.          .          .

T        R       U       T         H:

I  think  it  starts  with  the

CHRISTMAS     IN    JULY

please-come-out-and-save-my-business-before-Christmas-gets-here-in-5-months-sales

We  always  have  a  way  of  celebrating  many  Christmases  during  the  holidays.         .         .   

and before and afterwards.     .     .

Any  M O M E N T S,  y e t ?

A Bell-Ringer outside of a grocery story proclaiming I must be a minister not because of my suit, tie, overcoat, but because I actually looked him in the eye and wished him a ‘Merry Christmas’ when I put a donation in his red kettle:

 A            M       O       M       E       N       T

Standing in Starbucks on Cyber Monday and the guy in front of me, telling the Barista that he was going to buy our drinks for the morning:

A              M       O       M       E       N       T

Conducting the Memorial service of a man I’d never met and assuring the small gathering of people that, “You haven’t heard the last of Steve,” and before I finished saying his name a flower pot dropping loudly to the floor from the side of his casket:

A              M       O       M       E       N       T

Seeing an awesome performance of The Messiah and during the warm-up the magic of the music
began a wave that became a tsunami of emotion;
it was like I saved a year full of tears
and numerous times during the performance they had
no problem flowing:

A            M       O       M       E       N       T

Walking into the Atrium of an Inpatient Unit and having four people pointing at me; when I walked up to them they turned their cell phone around showing me a picture of myself after they had just googled me to find me for possibly conducting the memorial service of their actively dying mother:

A            M      O      M      E      N      T

Seeing my grandchildren from the littlest
(the two year olds)
to the oldest,
(our 16 year old)
continuing to grow right before our eyes
and yet remain very child-like at the same time:

A            M       O       M       E        N       T

Waking up in the middle of the night and noticing that your holding a hand that’s clutching yours:

A         M       O       M        E        N        T

A song that comes on from your Shuffled Playlist at the exact time you really need to hear it but didn’t know that you did:

A          M        O       M       E       N       T

A phone call.          .          .

a Text. . .

a letter. . .

a chance meeting. . .

A   L   L               M     O     M     E     N     T     S.          .          .

It’s   NOT   if
M         O         M         E         N         T         S
ever  occur

as really if they ever

C       E       A       S       E  ?

Maybe the specialness of this Season

is just reserved to those who are actually

L O O K I N G   for   those   M O M E N TS ?

When  is  it?

What  MOMENT  does   IT  first come or

has   it  ?

Is  IT  still there or does it lay discarded.        .        .

cast aside like some soon to be useless wrapping paper?

We know, long ago as it has been told us,

“MARY KEPT THESE THINGS IN HER HEART. . .”

In his Classic, THE  OTHER  WISE  MAN, Henry van Dyke said,

“ARE YOU WILLING TO BELIEVE THAT LOVE IS THE STRONGEST THING IN THE WORLD–STRONGER THAN HATE, STRONGER THAN DEATH–AND THAT THE BLESSED LIFE WHICH BEGAN IN BETHLEHEM…(ALL THOSE) YEARS AGO IS THE IMAGE AND BRIGHTNESS OF ETERNAL LOVE?
THEN. . .THEN YOU CAN KEEP CHRISTMAS, AND IF YOU KEEP IT FOR A DAY, WHY. . .WHY NOT ALWAYS?”

It’s all about   M O M E N T S.         .         .

a  n  d ,

and just when isn’t there  ONE?

Maybe it’s not about  MOMENTS  at all.         .         .

Maybe it’s not about Noticing  MOMENTS.         .         .

Maybe it’s about just

C R E A T I N G      T H E M !

C H R I S T M A S ‘e d.         .         . 

If   you’re   going   to   be   TENSE—

why  not   BE   the   PRESENT    ONE .   .   .   ?

Here’s  to  your

M          O          M          E          N          T

and the many more to follow.       .       .

M          O          M          E          N          T          S :

They’re to be Made.       .       .

They’re to be Shared.       .       .

They’re to be enjoyed.       .       .

They’re to be NOTICED!

THEY’RE   TO   BE   LIVED   AGAIN

AND  AGAIN

AND AGAIN

A  N  D .          .          .

Had  any

M   O   M   E   N   T   S

lately?

They are like puzzle pieces

spread across a table top

begging to be put together.        .       .

The problem?

We most likely miss many more

than we notice.          .          .

and those might just be the most special ones of all

because it’s not always what we notice

but what we don’t recognize

that matters most!

Hit the

PAUSE    BUTTON

it’s  not  a  matter  of  it  all  coming  to  you

as you just seeing

that  it’s  already  been  here

and  never  leaves.         .        .

even  if  you  never  arrive

even  if  you  have  long  left

IT

.             .          .Get  Christmas’ed

and give a little of it.       .       .

The MOMENTS

you give

just might be the most

important MOMENTS

of all

and then maybe the greatest

D       I       S       C       O       V       E       R       Y

of all will be

u          n          w          r          a          p          p          e          d

m          a          y          b          e

.          .          .m a y b e

it really is up to you

and that might be the best news of all.          .          .

Just a Minute, NOW

By Leave a Comment

https://youtu.be/9Z62xHU9ZQg

It might be an over simplification of things

O  R        N  O  T;

Bad   Days   Happen

but

Good      Days      Remain

and it’s not the bad things that remain forever
(it   only   feels   like   it)

so   much   as   the   good 

that   overshadows   them; 

It’s   true

when the storm comes

the hurricane destroys

the tornado uproots

the fire incinerates

the flood sweeps away

the blizzard immobilizes

just a minute, now

r e c o g n i z e

n o t i c e

s  e  e

the sun shines warmly

the cool breezes soothe

the candle flickers and glows out darkness

the gentle ocean waves hypnotize

so though it may sound

severely simple

watch a baby smile

smell some fresh baked cookies

listen to your favorite play list

call a friend

send an anonymous gift

Just    a    minute,   now

BE  FOR  SOMEONE

WHAT   YOU   NEED   MOST   FOR   YOURSELF

Just    a    minute,   now

watch the world change

as the way you
                          SEE
                          SMELL
                          TOUCH
                          HEAR
                          TASTE
                          EXPERIENCE 

c         h         a         n         g         e         s

in just a minute

n                    o                    w

 

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man