‘It seems late for the Circus to start,’ Billy B remarked. ‘I remember the performances being held during the day or evening, not after midnight,’ Billy B said. ‘The elephants look sleepy,’ Billy B observed.

‘I have been told that there is always a mystery performance at the Night Circus,’ Chet said. ‘Something unexpected and strange,’ Chet explained. ‘At one show, the zebras danced with the rhinoceros,’ Chet winked.

‘I have always loved the Night Circus,’ Neva J proclaimed. ‘Once a lady came up to me and said she was me 30 years from now,’ Neva J looked wide-eyed. ‘She appeared younger than I am now and had flowing white hair to her waist,’ Neva J explained. ‘The lady at the Night Circus told me that there were many things I did not understand regarding life in the shadows. ‘The Ringleader appeared with a beachball-sized head and a cupi doll grin painted on his face,’ Neva J shuddered. ‘Ringleader said wrong is right and up is down,’ Neva J whispered. ‘His plastered expression was immovable, his eyes were darting constantly and full of malice,’ Neva J cried.

‘In this corner, we have for your entertainment enjoyment people who demonstrate that they can not compete in the arena of survival of the fittest,’ Ringleader proclaimed. ‘In the middle ring we have races of people who are not Americans, although they have citizenship, see how they gather together for protection,’ Ringleader said with his static grin. ‘In the far ring, we have the humble and basic losers who attest that Christianity means to love everyone,’ Ringleader danced on one foot and then the other.

‘Are we in heaven or in hell?’ Jane asked. ‘Have we lost the plot and veered off onto a side road on the path of life?’ Jane commented. ‘I see the Civil Rights movement alongside the abolition of all things Diversity,’ Jane exclaimed!

‘Avoid the Night Circus,’ the Preacher said. ‘Its beauty is enticing its reality is frightening,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘Pray with me in the woods for a little while,’ the Preacher pleaded. ‘Soon the light will reveal what has been hidden in darkness,’ the Preacher said.

I was not a morning person until I retired. Now, Mylo has me up at 5 a.m. or before. He is a morning dog for a few minutes until he stretches beside me for a morning nap. Morning is a good time for clear thoughts. Perspective is keen. Hope is at its zenith.

Morning brings a clean slate. The chalkboard has been erased and washed. New chalk in the tray. The darkness of the night is illuminated. Ghosts we saw in the shadows evaporate. Night worries have become day plans. Peace comes easy in the morning. Quietly and serene with no bluster. We can do what needs to be done. We can succeed. No one will hold us back.

Unease is on our horizon. The feeling of misstep is with us. Good hard hard-working people are losing their jobs for no reason. People whose skills are needed. Important work is looked at with no pity. Seniors are being hurt. The world’s economy is experiencing an earthquake, and we are the recipients of the shaking. Our leaders promise that we are taxing other countries and that we will get rich from the proceeds. Our leaders are taxing us with massive increases in the price of groceries and automobiles…all consumer goods. We need a little Good Morning.

The outcry of the rich is a massive call. ‘Do not hurt my money,’ Rich proclaim! ‘If you want to be re-elected, stop the madness,’ Rich promises.

We awaken from a nightmare. We rub our burning eyes and wonder if it was a dream…or a terrible reality…

Lassie and the carrier pigeon knew how to come home. We are seeking the path. Most of us are well-intentioned. Our goal is the best for our kids and grandkids. Dark clouds cover us at times as we look for the Sun.

Empathy is real. We feel the pain of our friends and family. Americans are a giving people. No political party, church, or civic organization has cornered the market on love. When we see suffering, we remember our own distress. Someone helped us. Someone cared about our betterment. Many of us have benefited from the assistance of our human family, who have empathy for us.

‘Come in and join us for dinner,’ Jim said with a wide smile. ‘I know you must be hungry,’ Jim continued. ‘We are glad to have you at our table,’ Jim said as he patted the Poor Boy on the shoulder.

‘I am hungry, MaMa,’ Little Girl said. ‘I remember when we had ice cream and cake before Dad died,’ Little Girl said. ‘Dad sure did like coconut cake,’ Little Girl said with a tear in her eye.

Opening Day at Wrigley Field. The promise of Spring. The Stock Market is plummeting. Retirement accounts are evaporating like a snowball in July. Easter is just around the corner. Christ’s message of eternal hope. Life is worth living.

‘His church seems a bit out of the way,’ Traveller said. ‘I have heard that Preacher accepts the hungry and voiceless of society,’ Traveller noted. ‘Money is of no importance to him,’ Traveller observed.

‘I wonder how people find him in these thick woods,’ Mary said. ‘Preacher welcomed me when no one did,’ Mary observed. ‘He seems to see the heart rather than the poorly clothed body,’ Mary whispered. ‘Preacher asks my advice on important matters…often before he asks his other male assistants,’ Mary smiled. ‘Preacher makes no difference in the abilities of women and men,’ Mary noted.

‘We are all travelers,’ the Preacher said. ‘The Journey towards our home is full of sideroads,’ the Preacher said. ‘We need each other and owe our loyalty to all of God’s creation,’ the Preacher noted. ‘We’re not going to make the trip alone…we need the help of our fellow travelers,’ P said.

Hand in hand, the nomads travelled home. Some were sick, some were pushed in wheelchairs. All races were there. Gay travellers were there. Transgender people were there. The Tribe of Humanity was Homeward Bound…

I and my family have been privileged to join my dear brother and sister in law at Miramar Beach, near Destin, Florida, for the past six years.  The …

May’s Magical Moment

Tornadoes were everywhere last evening. This morning has the freshness of a new day. The ripcord ride of the rollercoaster. The life that we love so much and all of its surprises.

‘Today we will find him,’ Jane said. ‘He stays in the garden,’ Jane added. ‘Peter loves an adventure,’ Jane laughed. ‘He is a scamp, you realize…he likes tricks,’ Jane winked. ‘He invited me to live in the garden with him, but I told him I had to attend classes,’ Jane grinned. ‘Peter answered that we would go to Oxford and take rooms next to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, she said. Peter tells me that he has enjoyed many a warm pint of Bitters at the Bird And Baby Pub, as they called the Eagle And Child,’ she said.

‘When you introduced me to Peter, I saw no one,’ Chet said. ‘I witnessed you having a running conversation with him but could only hear your side,’ Chet noted. ‘I did see the glimpse of a light blue jacket behind you, but before I could focus it vanished,’ Chet explained.

‘Welcome to the Bird And Baby,’ C.S. said with an outstretched hand. ‘J.R.R. and Peter are in the back with some Bitters,’ C.S. winked. ‘Peter has some life advice,’ C.S. smiled.

‘PR says to keep your friends close and your enemies closer,’ J.R.R. said with a wink. ‘PR is slurring his words a little…he has had several pints,’ J.R.R. grinned. ‘PR says that we will have a nice Easter as he has prepared much fun for those who like a good time,’ J.R.R. informed with a sly grin. PR knows the President and has a desk in the corner of the Oval Office, although he is not seen due to his peculiar habit of invisibility, J.R.R. laughed.

‘Elon is leaving,’ PR said as if the air was speaking. ‘He stayed around long enough to mess everything up, and now he is on to his next project, ‘ PR observed. ‘I drove his car it was not my cup of tea,’ PR winked. ‘Better days are coming as the promise of Easter tells us,’ PR said. ‘Storms and darkness just before the dawn,’ PR danced as he drank his Bitters pint…Down In One…

It has been a stormy couple of weeks. A forecast of historic rain is with us until Sunday. As I attempted to exit the Subaru this morning, the wind pushed so hard against the door that it was all I could do to open it. Trees are falling before the main event. Tumolt comes in a moment.

Confusion and disorder are the present distress. ‘Clowns on the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am stuck in the middle with you.’

We seek shelter from the storm. A place to hide until the rage passes over.

‘A storm is coming,’ Old Man said. ‘I saw it in a dream,’ Old Man continued. ‘People hid in the woods, OM said. ‘The trees sheltered us and we could see the storm clouds pass by,’ OM observed.

‘Stay with me for a season,’ the Preacher said. ‘I have seen storms before,’ P noted. ‘Here we will speak of peace and sense of place,’ P advised. ‘Clear thoughts will be our guide, love for each other will be our doctrine,’ the Preacher assured. ‘While elected leaders seek their own welfare, we will seek the best for each other,’ the Preacher promised with sad eyes.

‘Who was in your dream?’ Old Woman asked? ‘Was there anyone we knew?’ Old Woman asked. ‘How bad was the storm?’ OW asked.

‘The high places were leveled as hurting people sought help from their political heroes, ‘ Old Man said. ‘The heroes turned their frightened eyes and gaping mouths from their people as they ran for their lives,’ Old Man said. ‘There was no sound of cymbals or the tinkling of brass from the leader…only manic fear,’ Old Man said softly.

‘The world is quiet now,’ Boy said. ‘No more fighting about slogans and tribal conflict,’ Boy said. ‘There is planting and harvesting…reading and discussion…everyone is interested in their neighbor’s welfare,’ Boy joyfully noted…

Pastor Kerry’s children’s message this morning was about the Prodigal Son, one of my favorite stories. It illustrates the endless love of Christ. If we were judged like we judge others, we would be in dire straits.

‘This is the time to clean up financially,’ the Executive Assistant said. ‘We are on the inside and it is good to be the king,’ EA continued. ‘Many people are suffering, but the right people are in the catbird seat,’ EA laughed. ‘Things have never been so good for the right Party,’ EA noted. ‘Just our knocking on the door strikes fear into the civil service staff,’ EA grinned. ‘We have a Get Out Of Jail Free Card,’ EA mused. ‘We are giants among mortals,’ EA proclaimed.

‘Excuse me, sir, but your father has called for you over a dozen times,’ the Executive Assistant’s Assistant told her boss. ‘Your Dad asked that you come to Sunday dinner,’ EAA informed the Boss. ‘He said that he loves you and is praying for you,’ EAA said with a smile.

‘He is a good man salt of the earth…I am sure he is praying…he prays unceasingly,’ EA said softly. ‘Dad never forces his will on me and I am sure he is worried about me in my new political role,’ EA remarked. ‘Dad told me that the meek would inherit the Earth,’ EA whispered.

‘Where is my EA at…I need him to brainstorm on more cuts to the federal civil service and the making of a new America,’ M said. ‘EA is instrumental in closing government jobs that help the poor and waste our taxpayer money,’ M said with satisfaction. ‘He comes from working people…his Dad is a country preacher…he knows the terrain,’ M noted.

‘Dad, I am lonely, tired, and afraid…I am ashamed of my role in the devastation of so many people like us,’ EA said with remorse. ‘Can I come home and sweep the church after service?’ EA asked? ‘I was never happier than when you told me of Christ’s love and care for the poor and forgotten of his time,’ EA somberly said.

‘Come, my beloved son…Preacher is here with a timely word for us,’ Dad said. ‘Preacher said your boss M came to him at night and asked if he could tell him of Peace,’ Dad said. ‘Preacher welcomed M into his hut in the woods and they ate fish and drank wine,’ Dad told his son.

‘Elon, I knew you before you were born and loved you,’ Preacher said. ‘Your mother was my friend,’ Preacher said softly. ‘I told her I would care for you,’ Preacher promised…

Rain today, tomorrow storms. Life in Southern Illinois. We carried our happiness with us. We wore a cloak of peace. We held an olive branch in our hands. Our Vice President insults our greatest allies. Many of them have died in our wars protecting us. This passes for wisdom among the potsherds.

The smallness of our actions reveals our diminished role on the world stage. We march headlong into the battle for the soul of America. Which soul are we reflecting? Is it the soul of life acceptance and diversity, or is it the soul we seek the destruction of all who are in our way of achieving our goals?

Job scraped himself with a potsherd when his boils erupted with pus. He sat among the ashes. Job cried out to God. So it goes when we forget who we are. We lose the plot. A story as old as time. Give us a Golden Calf that we may worship, the Israelites said to Aaron. They got weary of waiting for Moses on Mt. Sinai. Perhaps God forgot them and became preoccupied with more interesting pursuits. Maybe he found little people he liked better. What if it was nothing but a big tease?

Addiction is hard to quit. Smoking kills as people puff merrily to the grave. We seek those who will fill our itching ears with a balm that validates our fears and conspiracy theories. Unemployment is at historical lows, so let’s fire thousands of people…that will make the economy boom…

‘Why is life so complex?’ The woman asked the Preacher? ‘Leader tells us to trust him and that he represents God…but the things he asks of us are bizarre,’ the Woman continued. ‘Is it true that only a few humans are predestined for Heaven while the rest are chaff upon the thresing floor,’ the Woman asked with tears in her eyes?

‘People across the Earth are suffering and sit among the potsherd hungry and hurting, yet all aid for them has been withdrawn in favor of better government,’ the Man said. ‘The hopeful have become hopeless… is this how it should be with God?’ The Man asked. ‘To take from those who have nothing and give to those who have everything is an abomination,’ the Man said as he spat upon the ground!

‘This is how nations devolve,’ the Preacher said. ‘Faith in God raises a nation until it becomes rich…then it seeks exclusively what money can buy,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘The greatest gift life…is here one moment and gone the next yet men and women believe how they are today is how they will always be,’ the Preacher said. ‘A dream shaded in a foggy mirror is the promise…many can not see it,’ the Preacher quietly said.

Does a tree fall in the forest if no one sees or hears it? The compelling draw of the woods is the times of total silence. Silence is such an unusual experience in our industrial society that it is gripping in its blanket covering. Quiet frightens people. They look for words to fill the void. Noise is commerce, success, and progress, and silence is haunting in its requirements. Silence fosters thought. What words are needed, or are they necessary?

‘We have been gathering for hours and still more come,’ He said. ‘We are tired of the fight and weary of the battle,’ He continued. ‘The manic proclamations of the powerful are like weights and chains to our souls, He sadly said.

‘So many meaningless words lies told for truth,’ She said. ‘The Chattering Class has robbed our peace,’ She continued. ‘The obsession of speech for speech’s sake has replaced meaning and purpose,’ She sighed. ‘Insult is lauded as wit while cogent thought is demeaned for its logic,’ She observed.

‘Come and pray with me for an hour,’ Preacher said as he walked alone. ‘The Deceiver told me that I could have all of the kingdoms,’ Preacher said as he looked over the busy city. ‘Jerusalem Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing,’ the Preacher said.

‘Friends are now enemies,’ the Leader said. ‘Enemies are friends,’ the Leader continued. ‘I will sell you a great car,’ the Leader extolled. ‘The more hardworking people we fire, the better our country will be,’ The Leader promised. ‘We don’t need any stinking vaccines, just better vitamins and raw milk,’ the Leader said with a smirk.

I enjoy observing. We introverts are watchers. We see and contemplate what we have seen. We want to be part of the crowd. Part of the In Group and the Cool Kids. When I was a lad, all the boys liked blue jeans. I did not care for denim. I wore slacks. Where did the hats go? There is a plethora of caps but not hats. The man or woman who wears a hat stands apart. Once, you wore coordinated clothing, no brown shoes, and black trousers. Now it is free-for-all with good reason. Men always took their hats/caps off in the house. My friend from first grade, Jackie, forgot to take his hat off, and the teacher would admonish him to take his hat off in the house and place it in the cloak room. I wondered why the teacher called the school the house and what a cloak was.

There were few tattoos in my youth; today’s youth have tattoos. A Venezuelan man was arrested for having a tattoo in honor of his brother and autism. Are tattoos now illegal?

‘They marched him through the streets with blood dripping in his eyes from his head wounds,’ Mother said. ‘Laughed they did and spit on him while mocking him,’ Mother continued. ‘He walked bowed over to the waist with no defense or response to the torture,’ Mother cried.

‘Preacher said to give the government what was theirs and give God what is his,’ Child said. ‘He admonished us to think of a better kingdom,’ Child whispered. ‘Preacher held my hand when I was afraid and I felt safe,’ the Child cried.

‘Look for his followers, they have his appearance,’ the Centurian said. ‘You there…I have seen you with him,’ Centurian asked Fisherman. ‘Do not deny your affiliation with Preacher or I will frog march you through the streets like him,’ The Centurian demanded.

‘I do not know the man,’ the Fisherman said. ‘I have been on the seabank mending my nets and wondering what all the commotion was about,’ the Fisherman attested. ‘I would not know him if he stood before me,’ the Fisherman said as he spat on the ground.

‘America for Americans, the Leader cried with a gleam in his eyes. ‘Only those who look and act like us are acceptable as it was meant to be,’ the Leader said. ‘We are purifying the blood,’ the Leader danced on one foot and then the other.