Bob Marley and the Bible

Nesta Robert Marley has become one of the most influential musical figures in the history of the world and his popularity, ever growing decades after his death surely will continue until the end of time.  He truly was a revolutionary in the creation of reggae music.  Many regard him as a modern prophet.  However, the days of prophesy are long over and ended.  I consider him rather a messenger.  Inspired by God…certainly.  Prophet of God…certainly not.  Although millions will chant and praise his lyrical melodies for years to come, few will realize their true origin and meaning.  And despite his Rastafarian influence and perception, few will also know of the publicly recorded fact he was baptized Christian by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 4, 1980 (less than a year before his death).  This post is not intended to debate religion; it is simply intended to illustrate the amazing parallels between Bob’s lyrics and the Holy Bible.

“I don't stand for black man's side.  I don't stand for white man's side.  I stand for God's side.” – Bob Marley

400 Years
400 years, and it's the same, the same philosophy
Genesis 15:13
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

 

Africa Unite
How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, to see the unification of all Africans
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ambush in the Night
See them fighting for power, But they know not the hour
Matthew 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Babylon System
Yeah, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long
Isaiah 63:3
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment

Bend Down Low
Oh fisherman row to reap what you sow now
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Mark 1:16-17
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Exodus
Send us another brother Moses!  From across the Red Sea!  Movement of Jah people!
Exodus 15:22
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Exodus
We're leaving Babylon, y'all!  We're going to our Father's land
Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

 

Forever Loving Jah
And then what has been hidden from the wise and prudent
Been revealed to the babe and the suckling
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Forever Loving Jah
'Cause just like a tree planted - planted by the rivers of water
That bringeth forth fruits - bringeth forth fruits in due season;
Psalm 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Forever Loving Jah
Everything in life got its purpose, Find its reason in every season,
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Give Thanks and Praises
Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem and Japhet (Ham, Shem and Japhet);
And in Ham is known to be the Prophet.
Genesis 6:10     
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Guiltiness
Woe to the downpressors:  They'll eat the bread of sorrow!
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Jah Live       
Fools say in their heart Rasta your God is dead
Psalm 53:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Natural Mystic
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last:
Revelation 8:7
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
1^st Corinthians 15:52
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Night Shift
The sun shall not smite I by day, nor the moon by night
Psalm 121:6
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

No More Trouble
Help the weak if you are strong now
Romans 15:1
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

One Drop
For hunger and starvation
Lamentation
But read it in Revelation
You'll find your redemption
Book of Lamentations
Book of Revelation

One Love
As it was in the beginning , So shall it be in the end
Matthew 24:37
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

 

Rastaman Live Up
David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone;
1^st Samuel 17:50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

Rastaman Live Up
Samson slew the Philistines with a donkey jawbone
Judges 15:16
The Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men."

Rastaman Live Up
And they fallen in confusion, well a just a step from Babel Tower
Genesis 11:9
That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Rat Race
When you think its peace and safety, A sudden destruction
1^st Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Revolution
Revelation reveals the truth
Book of Revelation

Revolution
Like a bird in the tree, the prisoners must be free
Isaiah 51:14
The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.

Revolution
We got lightning, thunder, brimstone, and fire
Revelation 11:19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Redemption Song
How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?
Jeremiah 11:21
"Therefore this is what the LORD says about the men of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, 'Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands'

 

Redemption Song
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:  We've got to fulfill the book.
2^nd Kings 23:24
Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD.

Ride Natty Ride
But the stone that the builder refuse, Shall be the head cornerstone,
Mark 12:10
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

Ride Natty Ride
Jah say this judgement - it could never be with water,
No water could put out this fire (fire):
'Cause now the fire is out of control,
Revelation 15:2
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God
Revelation 20:14
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Ride Natty Ride
Panic in the city, wicked weeping for their gold!
Everywhere this fire is burning,
Destroying and melting their gold,
Destroying and wasting their souls.
Revelation 18:11-17
“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more - cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.

“They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe, O great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

 

Ride Natty Ride
Tell you what: now the people gather on the beach, and the leader try to make a speech,
Matthew 13:2
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

Running Away
It is better to live on the housetop, than to live in a house full of confusion.
Proverbs 21:9
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

So Jah Seh
So Jah seh, "Ye are the sheep of my pasture;  So verily, thou shall be very well."
Ezekiel 34:31
You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"

So Much Things to Say
But I'll never forget no way: they crucified Jesus Christ;  They don't know what they're doin', yeah.
Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Small Axe
And whosoever diggeth a pit shall fall in it, fall in it
Proverbs 26:27
If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

Stiff Necked Fools
The lips of the righteous teach many, but fools die for want of wisdom.
Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Stiff Necked Fools
The rich man's wealth is in his city;  Destruction of the poor is in their poverty;
Proverbs 10:15
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

Survival
We're the survivors, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Thrown in the fire, but-a never get burn.
Daniel 3:26-27
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Top Rankin
And John saw them comin with the truth from an ancient time.
Revelation 1:1-2
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

Wake Up and Live
We're more than sand on the seashore, we're more than numbers.
Hosea 1:10
"Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'

Want More
In the valley of decision, In the valley of decision
Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

War
War, war, rumours of war
Matthew 24:6
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Zimbabwe
And in this judgement there is no partiality.
2^nd Chronicles 19:7
Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."

Zion Train
Don’t gain the world and lose your soul
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

Zion Train
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
 

Caught Inside

I started writing the following last week and added a photo of the melted candle remnants to my previous Monday post….It’s just an ordinary picture, but serves as an evident reminder of how close I was to losing my home.  Between the older post about sparks, the Bruce Lee quote about flames, the wax all over Calvin’s make believe tiger, and the actual “success voodoo doll” I told to burn, the metaphors are endless.  But I’m not attempting to decipher an explanation, because it wouldn’t make sense.  Plus, my heart is finally returning to the cold state it was in before getting blindsided over four months ago.  It feels good to know that it will take one insanely special lady to change the temperature.

The heart is a muscle.  Muscles gain strength with use.  Now it’s stronger than ever.  I’m not afraid to be alone.  I’ve spent 90% of my life that way and have everything made without much help.  Of course it would be nice to have a partner in crime, but I sure as hell will never settle out of loneliness…and enough awkward inflicting, feel sorry for myself garbage.  When putting such a petty affair in perspective, it's insulting to 99.9% of the world that actually has real problems to deal with.  Besides, I’m really not alone.  I have a great family and countless good friends.  So forget mish mush and f*#k pity.  Let’s talk about being “caught inside”…since that’s the other book that fell victim to the deceiving candle.  When saying caught inside, it’s no metaphor; it’s surf terminology.  Large waves break outside and everything from that point in toward shore is known as the inside. 

I got caught inside twice in El Salvador.  My brother and I were fresh off the plane and did not hesitate to paddle out into the heaviest surf we had ever seen.  The graffiti covered broken concrete seawall with a huge painted revolver next to the words “solo locales” intimidated us no more than the double overhead peaks.  After flying down my first reeling right, I was steaming with naturally induced serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, whatever before pulling out and seeing the last wave of the set rising up at over twelve feet and staring me down like the Red Sea about to collapse after being parted.  It’s impossible to relate second hand, but imagine laying belly down on the sidewalk and staring up at a traffic signal…and that traffic signal is a wall of water about to bury you in the ocean 100 yards from shore.  So I began hyperventilating to catch the largest breath of air possible before ditching my board right under the lip.  Bad idea…for the board.  I got through the wave but it snapped my brand new stick in half.  End of session.  I paddled back in on some modern wreckage and was left picking up the pieces on shore.  So, it was off to the local “Hospital de Tablas” to find a new rental board for the remainder of the trip.  I was at least grateful to be at a surfboard repair shop rather than a “Hospital de Personas”.  That was the first time. 

The second time was a bit more intense.  The next morning, we rode out early to another spot an hour into the wilderness with Roberto Gallardo, the unofficial “mayor" of El Tunco.  The Pacific Ocean looks like a lake between long period ground swell sets.  It’s absolutely incredible how glassy and calm it can appear for ten minutes until out of nowhere mountains of water rise on the horizon.  If the timing is right, you can paddle out without even getting your head wet.  If the timing is wrong, this can happen…I was a bit sore from the day before, relaxed, short on caffeine, soaking up the environment, and stoked to have another shortboard to catch up on my wave count.  So we paddled out of a small sandy cove in calm conditions between sets.  My brother and Roberto got ahead and made it outside in a minute.  On the other hand, I found myself quickly caught in a rip current.  No worries, except it was pulling me toward an endless towering line of cliff faces as far as the eye could see.  Within seconds, I was being sucked near treacherous rocks.  Still no big deal…I just needed to get outside.  But then the set came.  I was caught inside.  Again.  I tried paddling briefly against the rip to get back toward the sandy shoreline.  Wasted effort.  It was an ABC rule of swimming not to fight the rip current.  Horrible decision.  Lactic acid was filling my arms and confidence was shaken from the odds of yesterday.  After duck diving the first couple ten footers, I got pushed further into the red zone and soon found myself ditching the board under each successively larger crashing wave.  My leash stretched to the point where the board was within one foot of bashing against the emotionless unforgiving cliff.  These were not rocks one could climb upon to escape such watery wrath.  They were clean straight faces of stone.  I soon realized only two choices:  paddle out through the remaining ten waves or get slammed on the rocks, drown, and die.  Easy decision.  That epiphany of fate was the moment things changed on a level never known before.  My life did not flash before my eyes but something indeed did.  I felt the grip of death.  It stood three hundred feet tall, ten feet away, and one wave short of unlucky.  For the first time ever I cried help…all in vain.  The only other two people around were out of sight.  It was purely between the ocean and I.  Then instantly a surge rushed through my body, an animal was born inside me, and I felt like Popeye with a can of nuclear spinach.  So wave after wave I ditched my board, dove with increasing ferocity under each whitewater avalanche, prayed for the leash to remain unbroken, and trusted my relationship with God.  I was not going to die.  I made it outside humbled, grateful, and in some altered state of sober consciousness that can’t be explained.  Then after an hour of hugging my fiberglass friend and bobbing over massive Pacific wavelengths, I was able to regain a new sense of reality and equilibrium.  I had to…there was only one way back to land.  So I waited for the right swell and caught one of the largest, longest, and wildest rides of my life.  After safely making it back to a clearing in the pebble littered shoreline, I managed to slice my heel open in knee deep water.  A minor injury to remind myself the spinach had worn off.  So again, why did I start a blog?

“The very longest swell in the ocean, I suspect, carries the deepest memory…” – A.R. Ammons (Swells)

Not sure what that means, but it sounds good.  Did I mention just meeting a really sweet girl playing four-square at my friend’s brewery warehouse?  In the words of Paul Simon, “the morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball”.  If you’re lacking a full metaphor, google all the lyrics.

Soliloquy

Poetry
Set me free
Words come out
Like rhyming spree

Etymology
Letter alchemy
Melt together
Through antiquity

A-b-c-d-e-f-G
H-i-k-j-k-l-m-n-o-P
Q-r-s-t-u-V
W-x-y and Z

Philosophy
Think deeply
Use your brain
Continuously

January
February
Time rolls on
Perpetually

History
Is but a memory
Don’t change it
That’s blasphemy

Reality
Can’t stop gravity
Life can be
Oh so slippery

Fantasy
All over TV
Rots the mind
Quite graphically

Astrology
Statistically
Make believe
Some fallacy

Sorcery
Raise a mummy
Playing with fire
Can be deadly

Astronomy
Of galaxy
Stare in space
For eternity

Trinity
In prophesy
Alpha Omega
Last infinity

Epiphany
Change mentality
Set your mind
On serenity

Simplicity
Ultimately
Sophistication
By Da Vinci

Italy
Geography
Shaped like a boot
Anomaly

Prairie
Fields of empty
Just a little house
Built last century

Mississippi
River murky
Lining shores
Of water muddy

Winery
In the country
Cracker and cheese
Delicacy

Cherry
Very berry
Sweet simple rhymes
Yummy tummy

Brewery
Distillery
Kegs of beer
Curvy shiny

La Di Da Di
We likes to party
We don't cause trouble
We don't bother nobody

Debauchery
Drink and pee
Cleans you out
Makes you glee

Ambiguity
In your story
Leaves no room
For clarity

Transparency
Prove accuracy
Balanced books
Have symmetry

Honesty
Not perjury
Tell the truth
Avoid mystery

Humility
Talk passively
Hidden strength
Who are we

Humanity
Take bravery
Do something
End apathy

Ferocity
Monstrosity
The only fear
Is itself wimpy

Stormy
Dark and rainy
Touch the sky
Pressure windy

Charity
Don’t be greedy
Share some love
Feed the hungry

Empathy
Beyond sympathy
Feel it inside
Know the weary

Refugee
Catch a ferry
Find freedom
For your family

Community
Spread loyalty
People share
In tranquility

Individuality
Speak vocally
Be yourself
Live openly

Personality
Act politely
Life is short
Don’t be angry

Longevity
Stay healthy
Like a temple
Treat your body

Potpourri
Can be spicy
But fresh clean air
Breathes naturally

Melody
Do Re Mi
Fa So La Ti Da
Lost lyrically

Symphony
Sound capacity
Instruments
Form harmony

Tapestry
Of imagery
Enjoy the arts
Exquisitely

Understudy
Backup scary
People nervous
No other copy

Movie
Medley
Escape the
Temporary

Jubilee
Feel so sunny
Quench my soul
When I’m thirsty

Comedy
State bluntly
Offend someone
Yea that funny

Chimpanzee
Hairy monkey
Scratching backs
Clean the dirty

Ability
Need no pity
Live your life
Valiantly

University
Calm library
Learn the laws
Enjoy study

Geometry
Angle and degree
Delineate
True property

Mathematically
Are you nerdy
Square root of nine
Is number three

Creativity
Break down boundary
Student should teach
The academy

Impartiality
From nationality
Spread some peace
Like born hippie

Jamboree
States decree
Does it matter
If you agree

Society
Is absurdity
Chain free speech
Politically

Embassy
Hidden majesty
Making rules
Who is guilty

Deputy
Let me flee
I’m innocent
Like totally

Monopoly
Fake money
The fruit of life
Grows on tree

Company
Outline strategy
From nine to five
Always busy

Industry
Productivity
Measure success
Track inventory

Electricity
Dependency
Without work
There's no energy

Punctuality
Don’t be tardy
Keep your job
Stay on duty

Slavery
In the colony
Work for the man
Or fight infantry

Adversity
Test unity
We must defend
Our territory

Hopefully
Win the lottery
Sit back relax
Comfortably

Obscenity
Derogatory
Flee from hate
End depravity

Adultery
Play bunny
Lust ain’t love
It’s treachery

Beauty
Can be ugly
Each every eye
See differently

Mockery
In big city
Flashing signs
Are so surly

Irony
Cause injury
Set it straight
Avoid folly

Jealousy
It’s a tragedy
Fills you full
Of agony

Melancholy
It’s ok silly
Without sadness
There’s no happy

Hey baby
Please no maybe
Can I just say
You’re so pretty

Armory
Find the key
Guard your heart
Robert E Lee

Chivalry
Is dead you see
Who killed it
Ones in misery

Chickadee
Me or he
Pick just one
Coffee or tea

Chemistry
You and me
Can’t explain
Just let it be

Trickery
Is so wily
Better watch out
Sting like a bee

Tipsy dazy
Topsy turvy
Stand up straight
Keep fidelity

Psychiatry
Psychology
Shrink your mind
Make you crazy

Therapy
Costs a fee
But I prefer
The salty sea

Surprisingly
Obviously
The last word
Indefinitely

Love ain't what this song's about

So it’s been a few weeks since my last sappy post, and a lot has happened…or not happened.  I’ve tried to leave things alone, but it’s hard to play that game when someone makes you happy.  Every time I regain some dignity and get a piece of my heart back, I seem to just put it right back into a shoebox full of thought labeled for return.  Somehow I managed to meet an architect, a doctor, and a lawyer all within a month and go on nice dates with each one.  But nearly every girl I’ve met my entire life has just been another temporal distraction.  To help clear my mind, I even flew across country to the opposite corner of America, got lost in a big city, slept on freezing ground, surfed in 45 degree water, snowboarded down black diamonds, and randomly ended up at a cabin on a wild river in the middle of nowhere.  Of course the plane flew directly over her hometown and the park we camped at just happened to bear her name.  I could write a whole book about coincidences throughout my life so that’s really no surprise.  Everyone tells me I think too much and read into things, but no one truly knows what’s on my mind.  I’m observant in general and take all these things with a grain of salt.  Even when communicating in person, no one seems to fully understand me.  I’m certain all kinds of assumptions and mockery are now forming with each written word.  All I ever get in response are the same old clichés.  Everyone says you’ll find the right person when you least expect it…stop looking.  I’m not looking.  I wasn’t looking.  Nor was I expecting to meet someone on World Mental Health Day.  Is that a sign?  Is the fact that date is the same as what my bank PIN number has been since high school a sign?  No, but it makes for a good story.  She would never rob me like my first girlfriend did.  She wouldn’t have to anyways.  I’m an open book.  And if whoever is reading this wants to rob me, you’re gonna have to get my card first.  I may have a soft heart, but my will is strong and no single man on earth scares me.  And regardless…

Without somebody, nothing ain’t worth a dime  - Alan Jackson (Livin on Love)

Tis why my last post stated how meaningless my home and job were in comparison with what truly matters in life.  All I’ve ever really wanted is to be mutually in love with a strong and caring woman.  But enough about love; the more you repeat a word, the less meaning it has.  And this still has nothing to do with that as previously posted…especially now that my respect is fading.  Plus this is all starting to sound like word vomit.

Love ain’t what this song’s about
Candlelight
Ain’t what I’m in the mood for now
I don’t need a metaphor
To help me get this out
Love ain’t what this song’s about
It’s about beer and whiskey and drinkin
It’s about playin the fool and acting without thinking
It’s about runnin with your buddies who don’t give a damn
What in the world happens to you man
No love ain’t what this song’s about
It’s about wine and women and song
It’s about doing one thing and makin sure your doin it wrong
It’s about giving in to your deepest desire
Setting the whole damn world on fire
Cryin ain’t what you’re gonna hear
- Roger Creager (Love)

Oh Roger, Roger…setting the whole damn world on fire?  You said no metaphors, but let’s all hope and pray you’re kidding about that one.  I’m not going to set the world on fire and have no desire to.  But I did almost set my house on fire last month by accidently leaving a candle lit overnight.  Good thing I had two smoke alarms, because only one went off at 3 in the morning and it wasn’t that which was closest to the candle.  It’s also good I saw the foot long flame in the corner of my eye before turning back to bed after ripping out the battery under the assumption it was a false alarm.  The ironic part is I made a mental effort to blow out all the candles before getting sleepy so as to avoid such fate.  However, the culprit candle was one that had a broken wick and never stayed lit but somehow held a tiny flame too small to notice.  Lessons learned…double check, don’t assume, and test your smoke alarms!  So not only did I almost lose my house a week after writing the following in my previous entry…

“Sometimes I wish I had nothing (no house, no job, no truck, and no future) so that my life was not inherently defined by everything around me.“

…but the morning after getting back to work from my vacation, I almost got fired.  After nearly nine years of dedication, I got thrown under the bus and put on thin ice.  Did I mention my flight back home got delayed last minute until 10:10 at night? (In case you haven’t already googled the date for World Mental Health Day and started finding ways to hack my bank account.)  Let’s just say I’ll be driving more carefully from now on.

“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”  - Oscar Wilde