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Zen on love & Zen on Ego

Zen on Love
there is something
at the heart
of all things

deep empty full
alive simple vast
sweet innocent free
courageous profound
still perfect clear
lovely loving love

Zen on Ego
the subtle and illusive
assumption of existence
a starting place
for other thoughts
an assumed reference-point
the thought of "I"
the "I" thought
where division begins
and wholeness breaks apart
dividing our world
into names and things

Zen Filter

Beginner's Meditation Techniques

"The natural goal for anyone beginning meditation is to experience some real degree of stillness. It is easier said than done. How many of us continue would continue to meditate without getting some sense of the benefits? In the beginning that obvious benefit is some sense of peace. One needs to experience a degree of peace and relaxation that can be without a doubt attributed to the fact that one has meditated."

my chest is bare

in the path of an arrow

with eyes affixed

i embrace this last breath

savoring sweet intrigue

before being struck

will you also be blinded

by the brightest of mirrors?

will we wobble together

with poor eyesight

drunk on romance

near the cliffs at lovers cove?

if so, let us fall in unison

yet not towards the beach

covered in shells

but away from our bodies

into a cloudless sky

Japanese Proverbs - #3

"Egao wa kokoro no akusesari Kyo wa dono egao"Your smile is your heart's accessory.
What kind of smile will you wear today?

Japanese Proverbs - #4

"Kotoba yonjyu pasento, 
hyojo jyugo pasento, omoi jyugo pasento,
egao sanjyu pasento, gokei
komyunikeshon hyaku pasento"40% words, 15% facial expression,
15% memories, 30% smile,
total =100% communication.

Japanese Proverbs- #2

"Egao ga areba jibun ga kaeru
tanin ga kaeru unmei ga kaeru"
If you smile you can change yourself,
others and your future.

My Japanese Proverbs... #1

"Ureshi kara warau tanoshiii kara warau nakitai toki koso warau"
You smile because you are happy
You smile because it is fun
When you want to cry you should smile.

James Otto - Soliders & Jesus - Acoustic Photo Montage

Dear Lord
We Stand Together and Never Alone
Through Our Trials and Triumphs Father
We Have Faith That You Will Bring Us Home
Walk Beside Us In Battle
Carry Us Through To Victory
Give Us The Strength To Do That
Which Others Could Not
Be With Us Today
Just As You Were Yesterday
Take Care Of Us Today
And Carry Us Through Tomorrow
Give Us The Strength
And The Will To Fight
Dear Lord
Watch Over Us Tonight
Amen

The Beatles-I've Just Seen A Face

They look ordinary, they lace up just the same, but it's not the boots that matter, it's my soldier in the boots that means the world to me.

The Lords Prayer

The Lord's Prayer Words

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

GOD is busy right now!!!

If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks!!!!!!
A United States Marine was taking some college courses
between assignments. He had completed 20 missions in Iraq
 and Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor  who
was an avowed atheist, and a member of the ACLU.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in.
He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "GOD, if you are real, then
I want you to knock me off this platform... I'll give you exactly 15 min."
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes
went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am GOD, I'm still waiting."

It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got
out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him;
knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.

The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently.
The other students were shocked and stunned, and sat there
looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to,
noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked,
 "What in the world is the matter with you?  Why did you do that?"


The Marine calmly replied,
"GOD was too busy today protecting America's
soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid
stuff and act like an idiot.. So He sent me."

The classroom erupted in cheers!

 

SMALL TOWN U.S.A

SMALL TOWN USA

A lot of people called it prison when I was growin' up
But these are my roots and this is what I love
'Cause everybody knows me and I know them
And I believe that's the way we we're supposed to live
I wouldn't trade one single day in small town USA

Give me a Saturday night, my baby by my side
A little Hank Jr. and a six pack of lights
Old dirt road and I'll be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that's full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay here in small town USA

Around here people break there backs just to earn a buck
We ever get ahead but we have enough
I watch people leave and then come right back
I never wanted any part of that
And I'm proud to say that I love this place, good ole small town USA
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/justin-moore-lyrics/small-town-usa-lyrics.html ]

Give me a Saturday night, my baby by my side
David Allen Coe and a six pack of lights
An old dirt road and I'll be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that's full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay, here in small town USA, oh yeah

I wouldn't trade one single day
Proud to say I love this place

Give me a Saturday night my baby by my side
Sweet home Alabama and a six pack of lights
An old dirt road and I'll be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay, yeah I'll be okay here in small town USA
Oh yeah, small town USA

THE WELCOME HOMES...

WELCOME HOMES ARE THE BEST THINGS

US MILITARY WIVES LOOK FORWARD TO

AS WELL AS GIRLFRIENDS, BRIDES TO BE, ETC

Just Souls
Nancy L. Meek, ©2002

Lift up your voice. Follow me
Thank the ones who kept us free
Whether home field or Isle of Nam
Offer prayers and an open palm

Salute the brave, the tried, the true
Who loved Liberty through and through
Who clutched the torch and held it high
Who ran with it to the battle cry
For souls like me and you

Who loved our country more than self
Left comfort home upon a shelf
Risked it all for freedom's hue
Doing, of course, what they had to do
For souls like me and you

We have a choice. Follow them
In faith; pave the way for future men
Light of hope around them pearled
Or live oppressed in a bitter world

Evil is still alive on planet Earth
Caring not for Freedom's worth
Peace and Love beyond their grasp
Doomed to Hell's eternal lock and hasp

The soldiers die. The poppies blow
Toward Heaven's fields, row-by-row
Plucked from Earth; and by and by
We, each, will reach beyond the sky
To touch a petal where poppies grow
Just souls like you and I

***************

My Life.. My Mind .. Day In And Out

And I miss you when you're gone, that is what I do.

And time goes by, so slowly, and time can do so much. Are you, still mine?

Empty spaces fill me up with holes, distant faces, with no place left to go. Without you, within me, I can find no rest.

You're my life's one miracle.

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could use a wish right now.

Guess I must be wishin' on someone else's star.

The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear.

There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do, to make you feel my love.

When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part.

One more day, one more time, one more sunset I'd be satisfied, but then again I know what it would... Leave me wishing still for one more day with you.

There's a possibility, There's a possibility that all that I had was I was gonna get.

But I swear, you'll be blessed... And you, you'll be blessed. You'll have the best, i promise you that. I'll promise you that I'll pick a star from the sky, pull your name from a hat, I promise you that you'll be blessed.

And I'll take with me the memories, to be my sunshine after the rain.

Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone.

I'm trying to put this thing to bed, I drugged it in it's sleep. There isn't many memories I'm comfortable to keep.

Staring out, depressed about the words I have to bleed, so torn apart. Crying, desperate, fighting questions, scared to let go.

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house, that don't bother me. I can take a few tears now and then and just let 'em out. I'm not afraid to cry every once and awhile even though going on with you gone still upsets me, there are days, every now and again I pretend I'm okay, but that's not what gets me. What hurts the most, was being so close.

I hope you're doing fine out there without me, cuz I'm not doing so good without you.

If I could be like that, I would give anything. Just to live one day in those shoes.

I'm so tried of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears... And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave, your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone. These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real, there's just to much that time can not erase.

And do you know the silent sorrows of a never ending journey through the pain? Do you see a brighter day for me, another day, a day... Do you wonder what's in store for me, the cure for me, the way? I look down, see the tears I've cried, lives I've lied and deaths I've died.

It's just tears and rain.

Ten Tough Things About Being A Military Wife...

1. DeploymentsThese are I think the number one reason to dislike being a military wife. Nobody likes deployments, worrying about our husbands and being lonely at home, but we all have to go through with them.
Ways to Deal:
As a lot of people said in their posts yesterday, deployments are a way to help us grow. Ways to deal are to seek support of others: from God, friends, and church. It's still not easy, but it definitely helps to have support!

2. Being Away From Friends and FamilyHere is on that has been tough for me. I really miss being away from friends and family. I miss Florida so much, and get sad when I see people on facebook, who get to go to Florida all the time. I know it's part of the military life, but that still does not make it easy.
Ways to Deal:
I don't think anything can make up for your own friends and family, but making new friends where you are stationed helps a lot.

3. LonelinessBecause we are away from friends and family, I find that loneliness can creep in a lot. Loneliness is especially bad when your husband is gone as well. Sometimes just being home alone all day just makes for a rough day.
Ways to Deal:
Talk to God. Tell Him you are lonely and remember He is always with you. Spend time with friends as you can, that helps a lot and keeps your mind off the loneliness.

4. MovingFor military members moving is a part of life, and sometimes that can be difficult after moving so many times, or moving while you have kids. It's hard to adjust each time, and hard to leave friends behind and make new ones.
Ways to Deal:
Make it fun, and have a good attitude!

5. Work ScheduleMy husband is on call a lot, and that means he can get called in at anytime day or night. We have been in the middle of church and had to leave, and he almost missed Easter Sunday as well. It can be very frustrating.
Ways to Deal:
Have a good attitude and find other stuff to do do keep busy if he has to work.

6. Finding Your Place After a MoveAfter moving so many times, it gets hard to each time make new friends, find a new church, and find your place in the community. Sometimes it only takes a little while other times it can take months depending on where you live.
Ways to Deal:
Reach out to others, volunteer, find military wives groups.

7. Having to go to the Military Doctors.I could go on and on about this one because I have a lot to say on the matter after having a lot of problems with the Doctors we see here on this base, but I won't. I do like the health care coverage, but I wish we were allowed to go ahead and choose our own doctors who are not part of the base and who have more schooling.
Ways to Deal:
Pray. Be patient. Pray.

8. Not being able to Plan AheadThis is a big one for me, because I am a person who likes to plan ahead. The military just does not let you do that. You cannot plan too much because anything could change at anytime, any number of times. It's just the way of military life and I have come to expect it.
Ways to Deal:Know that you cannot always plan, and be prepared for change no matter what.
9. Drama
I did not realize how much drama was involved with being a military wife or even having a husband in the military. I do my part to stay out of it, but even my husband tells me stories of things that he deals with and it amazes me how drama is even in the military!
Ways to Deal:
Stay away from it, and know that drama will probably be there no matter where you go!
10. Being Supportive
I know this may sound weird, but sometimes with all the things we go through like those that I mentioned above, it sometimes gets really hard to be supportive of your husband. Especiallyafter he mentions he is going on another deployment, going back to work after he just got home, or is going to miss a certain even because he will be working or deployed.Ways to Deal:Ask God to help you be supportive no matter what. Remember that he needs the encouragement just as much as you do!

military wife survival tips..

1. Learn to be independent. Odds are, your spouse will spend time away from home for various reasons. This means you will be in charge of bills, cooking, cleaning, childrearing, etc. If you can't handle this without your spouse, you will never be able to survive as a military wife. This is true whether or not you work outside the home.

2. Be prepared for things to happen. Your spouse leaves for an extended period of time. All hell breaks loose in the house. This can include any or all of the following: illness of you or kids, car breaks down, anything in the house breaks down, death and natural disasters. The important thing is to go with the flow. Know that things happen. Don't live your life in fear, but don't be surprised when things happen.

3. Know that you will move every few years. It is the rare military person that spends years in one place. Know that you will move, and if they military pays to move you, as opposed to you moving yourself and the military paying you, that things will probably get broken or damaged. There's an old joke about military families buying all their stuff at Wal-Mart, because they have to replace things all the time. As has been stated: things happen. Be prepared to move at a moment's notice.

4. Perhaps the most important thing is to keep a sense of humor! If you don't have a sense of humor, you will NEVER be able to be a military wife. A sense of humor will get you through the hard times: illness, moving, problems, etc. One day, you will look back on your experiences. It is better to laugh about them to look back and lament the things that went wrong.

These 4 tips will help you make the adjustment from being a "normal" civilian to being a military wife. The military life is never easy, but it is never boring, either. It's a different way of life, but one that can be lived with much enjoyment!

The Do's & Don'ts while in uniform

The military service etiquette we abide by today is steeped in several hundred years of U.S. history.  Many rules change over time as the military updates codes of conduct to reflect new attitudes and etiquette.  However, some traditions still exist that may seem a bit antiquated (or even unfair) to you, the spouse.
When reviewing the list below, keep in mind that maintenance of these rules allows service members to project professionalism.  These rules apply to your service member anytime he is in uniform, but many also apply to you when you are you attending a military function or in public with your uniformed hubby.

Do:
Walk on your husband’s left side so he can salute others.
Refer to your spouse by his first name or nickname, or as “my husband.”  Do not refer to your husband as “Capt. Smith” or “the Captain.”
Stand at a public function or ceremony when the senior officer enters and is announced.   This applies to everyone in attendance.
Offer your husband an umbrella in the rain, but only if it’s black. He’s not allowed to carry any other color.
Push the baby carriage or stroller so your spouse doesn’t have to.  It’s considered “unmilitary” to do so while in uniform.
Help your spouse carry any packages or bundles to make it easier for him to salute.  (Are you wondering if a man made up these rules so that wives would have to do all the heavy lifting?)
Don’t:
Show public displays of affection, except at homecomings and goodbyes.  This includes kissing and holding hands.
Offer your spouse a piece of gum.  It is not “military” for him to chew it.  The same goes for smoking while in uniform.
Allow him to put his hands in his pockets unless he is placing or retrieving an item.
Refer to your husband’s orders as “our orders” unless you are a service member yourself.
Offer him food or drink while he’s walking.  He should not be eating, drinking or using a cell phone while walking in uniform.
Refer to others in the service as “sir” or “ma’am,” even if your spouse does.  Refer to them by their rank and last name (“Capt. Smith”).
Allow your child to wear your spouse’s uniform for Halloween.  Uniforms bearing insignia, badges and tabs should be worn only by authorized personnel.

How To Pray For Your Military Man..

HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR MILITARY MAN

The Bible tells us that “The prayer of a righteous man [or woman] is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). So what are you praying for? Most, if not all of us pray for our husbands. But do you know exactly how to pray for your military man’s unique needs? I asked Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Koeman, currently in Afghanistan, for some specific things we can be praying for. Here is the insightful list he shared with me:

Pray that he would have the Peace of Christ with him — especially if he travels outside of his Forward Operating Base (FOB)

Pray that he will depend on the Love of God to keep him from bitterness at others (who needlessly make life difficult on their subordinates especially when they aren’t the most competent leader).

Pray for Protection. Psalm I25:2 “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

Pray for that he will be vigilant if he is called upon to fire upon the enemy. Psalm 144:1-2 “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”

Pray that the enemy will be turned back. Psalm 40:14 “May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion: may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.”

Pray that our Soldiers will be fulfilled in their jobs. Without purpose time out here is extremely long and difficult.

Pray that Soldiers/their husbands will resist lowering themselves to low levels of conversations and instead seek to be examples of goodness and righteousness.

Pray that Soldiers/husbands find “good and solid” Christian brothers to have fellowship with.

Pray for the leadership in Platoons, Companies, Battalions, Brigades ….depending on what level the Soldier/husband works. Leadership can make or break a man. They have the biggest impact.

If you're not in love with a solider you wouldn't know any of these..

          IF YOU'RE NOT IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know adventure. You don't

 know smelly gray PT uniforms that require a daily washing.  You can't

 understand green and brown camouflaged bags flooding your bedroom floor.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't understand the meaning of the

phrase "going  to the field" and the weeks you spend away from each other.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can never imagine the hole in your

 heart when that phone call comes? "Honey, I am leaving tomorrow to go

 overseas.  I don't know how long I will be gone or exactly where I am going,

 but I want you to know that I love you - always!"

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you don't know what it's like to say

 that final good-bye. You don't know what it really means to be glued to the

 television. You don't understand fear and you can't possibly understand the

 sleepless nights of endless crying wondering if you will ever see the love

 of your life alive again.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know the immense joy, the

 uncontrollable smile, or the butterflies in your stomach when you see your

 soldier march into the family waiting area upon redeployment.  You can't

 understand the self-control it takes to stand on the other side of the room

as some higher-up gives a seemingly endless welcome home speech while all

 the soldiers stand in formation. You don't know what it's like to have

that second first kiss or what it's like to experience puppy love all over.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't truly understand how to make

 every moment count because you never know when that phone call may come again.

 If you're not in love with a soldier, you can never really understand how

 very delicate life really is!

 

The Silent Ranks...

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms,
 No blues or army greens.
But I am in the military
In the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world
Is the place where I live.

I am not in the chain of command,
Orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does,
this I cannot forget.
I am not the ones who fires the weapon,
who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough.
I am the one that is left behind.

My husband is a patriot,
A brave, a prideful man
And the call to serve his country,
 Not all understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed
to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice,
but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married,
Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks
know as the Military Wife.

In Honor of My Husband (Joseph A. Precup)