Lightkeeper's Journal

We Have Traded

 

 

Photography by Norma Beaird

Poem by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

We have traded...

 

Compassion for indifference

Freedom for tyranny

Production for complacency

Energy for apathy

Prudence for carelessness.

 

Faith for magic

Integrity for popularity

Modesty for exhibitionism

Humility for arrogance

Knowledge for propaganda.

 

Education for indoctrination

Science for spectacle

Vision for confusion

Truth for impulse

Anticipation for fear.

 

Creativity for conformity

Awareness for distraction

Imagination for boredom

Excellence for mediocrity

Generosity for selfishness.

 

Wisdom for folly

Honesty for duplicity

Reverence for skepticism

Sincerity for deception

Righteousness for wickedness.

 

 

Are we happy? 

  

2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 17  

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

King James Version

 

 

 

Copyright 2015, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

 

Values of Hope

 

 

Article and Photography

By:  Curtis Beaird

 

Values, community, neighbors, friends.  Not all things reduced to a price point and all humans viewed as a potential market.  Our curse seems to be that we have managed to commodify everything.  Relationships don't matter unless we have business with each other.

If there is no potential for commerce, financial gain or some other personal advantage, we don't seem to have any reason to talk with each other anymore.  "Nothing happens," as one old store manager told me, "until somebody sells something."

We network, make contacts, build strategic systems, develop alliances and coalitions without once giving notice to the fact that this vertical or horizontal construct is made of people, human beings, flesh and blood souls who are one of a kind and will never pass this way, or our way again. 

Fascination, wonder, and the mystery of simply being alive is lost to the matrix.  Curiosity, compassion and an anger worthy of the name, and laughter deep down, born of the joy of breathing in and out the clean fresh air of life, disappears into the system's chilly abyss.

The driving question of life "Why am I here?" is answered for us by the kings of cash ---- to make and move money.   The prophets of profit are easy to spot.  Their eyes are dark, set deep in their sockets and hard. The corners of their mouth turn down like the horns of a mad bull.  They don't speak; they glare.  They expect their will to be known ahead of any comment.  They don't relate; they measure.  They don't move; they occupy space.  They fill in what's left with their ego.

They gain power by taking yours.  Without yours, they have no power.  Yet, men gladly offer up their manhood to the insatiable appetite of the hollow, hard-eyed one.  

If the profit-maker is a profitess, she is cold.  Simply cold.  She proudly and alone seeks to fill her void with bricks made of gold.  She has an edge, an edge either blunt or sharp.  But, an edge.  Her's is a ruthless power born of a taste for blood and a striving made of a need to win.  Her score is kept not as a total, but a string of those left behind and lost.  She achieves through subtraction, even elimination of all things bright and beautiful, unless it is gold.  

Creation trumps culture.  Spirit and soul outlasts envy, greed and the hollow power they produce. Dead men walking move through time heavy laden with their stuff.  The light of grace outshines the glint from the hood of their polished chariots. 

The song of the soul sings with the wind in the trees.  The culture of death will collapse.  Ashes are the home of the phoenix.  Rising and resurrection, empty tombs and promises, build future and hope. 

Today belongs to death.  Tomorrow belongs to God.  Promises sustain.  Consumption consumes and empties.  Faith fires the imagination and powers the soul.  Our restless spirit finds direction and a horizon made of hope.

Hand finds hand.  Neighbor finds friend.  Love lifts and moves.  Prophets of doom fall silent.  Their tongues cleave to the roof of their mouths.  The obvious comes true and the lion lies down with the lamb.

The Four Horseman ride.  Swords look better as plowshares.  The silence of His presence becomes comfort found at dawn.  The cloud of unknowing opens to the sunrise of hope.

A child smiles.  The earth stops.  The proud are brought low.  The last are made first.  The least are discovered to be the greatest.  The poor are found to be rich and the rich are abandoned to wander alone in an eternal, hungry search for more.

The Alpha and the Omega.  The beginning and the end.  The first and the last.  All that comes between and follows after is called Life.

 

Copyright 2011, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.