Keep Digging!

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. I can't stay long, though.. I have some digging to do. Yeah, it's spring, and that means gardens everywhere are being delved into with rigor and gusto. The fragrances and blooms are enthralling. While there is much to be said along those lines, I have something else in mind as far as "digging" goes.

I suppose I am thinking more along the lines of spelunking, or caving. Exploring the depths of something to determine the contents.

Imagine the anticipation of the team as they clear the mouth of the cave. Winding and ominous, the stalactites drip a cadence echoing onto wet floor of the cave. Deeper in the explorers venture, away from the fresh air and light.

While it's true that "mining" here in the US is generally far from dangerous, the thrill of finding some weighty treasure is a lure for many!

Coal mining is pretty regulated here in the US and a lot safer than it ever was. There are two types, surface and underground. Much of the best mining is underground. That requires some digging.

If you want to get past surface knowledge of God, and discover the amazing wealth of knowledge, insight, and extraordinary character of the Creator of all life and matter - then you have to dig.

Use His word as a plumb line - and within it you will find nuggets that He hides just beyond the easy reach to propel you to KEEP DIGGING!

Wooing us closer and closer, He waits for us to find more and more about Him. As you hold a diamond in the light it refracts and reflects in a glorious display of tones and hues. In fact, we humans are only able to see a narrow range of electromagnetic wavelengths or light - just imagine the brilliance of a rainbow up close - seeing colors meld into one another!

Speaking of unimaginable colors- this is a small glimpse from the book of Revelation (chapter 4) about the throne of God... John, one of Jesus' disciples describes his vision -

¹ After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a]of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. *

All I can say is it kind of makes me want to see the colors of heaven RIGHT NOW! : )

Have a GREAT week! and get your hands dirty! <3

Beginners and the need for grace

Hey! Welcome back! Thanks for your time! I am going to talk shop tonight :)

I went to an open mic jam in Granby last night...

It was a great jam, in fact! The house band slid sleekly from one jazz/blues standard to the next with barely a break in steam. The rhythm section was so hot I almost went home for oven mitts... lol... The head honcho is a really close friend of mine. This guy's chops are so good - never mind play behind his back, he can LOOK at the guitar's strings and they move - lol : P

I have learned a lot from him... Let's call him Barney.

Barney has played with everyone... He was down in Muscle Shoals, Nashville, and even recorded on a Percy Sledge album.. For those of you old enough to remember him... or albums, for that matter... :P

One thing he taught me was how to be a gracious player. He showed me by example. In essence, you can be the best player in the world, and if you are unkind to "the rookies", then you really aren't all that hot.

You know something? I have met some amazing players.. even played with some... No, I am not going to name drop... it's just obnoxious - *eyeroll*

Ironically, it seems the higher they are on the musical "food chain", in their cool confidence, they are more concerned with imparting to others than they are beefing up their egos. How strange.. It's almost like the equally perplexing relationship between pick-up truck tire size and height of the driver... : *

I was pretty cocky some years back. Big fish in a small pond syndrome... or rather "sin"drome... :) Annoying as all heck.

So, to get, rather grudgingly, to the POINT (lol) - it's this: I have had some rather humbling trips on "Grace Mountain". The first few times, I hurled headlong down... but slowly, I realized that (some of) those poor fumbling players learned from me...

The encouragement (which by the way means to give COURAGE) and the kind words from a pro, more than once, kept me from quitting.

It was pretty humbling to realize that I could have life IMPACT on the 'green ones.' :) and hopefully, someday, those newbies will take the fledglings under their wings... and teach them to fly :D

May your jams be soaring!

Stretched to the breaking point

Ok... I have had more mental ramblings lately. My fervent hope is that I can convey them in a way that somehow resembles sense ... : P

The question I am going to pose to you tonight is this:

Are you being stretched? Stretched so tight you can almost see your bones underneath? O_o

I have had SOME kind of stretching lately...

How much more can I get pulled apart at the seams before before I BREAK!!?!?!? At nearly six feet tall, I think I am "stretched" enough! lol

But seriously, I can relate. I have had all kinds of struggles as of late... I won't tell you all of them, but I have been dealing with all kinds of doubts, financial windfalls, bends toward depression and hopelessness... it's sometimes so hard to remember "This, too, shall pass" - the constant encouragement that this old world is not my long term home... that I have a bright future and hope :D

There have been times during the past few weeks where I have felt that I am so alone, and no one understands the pain and loss that I have dealt with these past few years.

I really could have a great pity party... In fact, I have, truth be told. Unfortunately, I was the only one that showed up for the party, and it wasn't all that fun.

So... in answer to the above question? How far can we be stretched before we break? What if I tell you that for me, that was the whole POINT?!

"What?? You are certifiable", you grimace skeptically...

Yes, I am... most certainly... :) BUT this "testing" is GOOD! : )

Did you know that when silver and gold are heated to excruciatingly high temperatures the impurities, or dross are/is removed? Removing them makes the precious metals more and more (pure) beautiful! As the dross is removed, you can see your reflection more and more clearly in them. It takes time to remove ALL of the junk! It can be a long process!

When you combine pressure with heat in coal, it produces a diamond. Likewise, when we let the trials shape rather than shatter our character, we sparkle!

I, for one, am endlessly captivated by the beauty and sparkle of diamonds. <3

For me, my trials and pains aren't wasted! I have a promise from my Father, (the Heavenly One) that every pain I go through will have a purpose... that somehow - someway He will produce something good! Even if it seems hopeless... He LOVES hopeless, cuz for Him, it's not!

Remember that when the kitchen gets too hot...

and have a "sparkling" week!

Thank you to the Open School of Gemology for the blog pic : )