Morning Friend,I'm writing this morning's edition, Sunday evening so I can get it out "as promised" on Monday.Up until this point, I've offered Monday Musings as exactly that....an unrehearsed, mental "snap shot" of my particular state of mind and perspective upon waking on Monday morning. ( which is usually around 07:00, and that gives me the required 4-5 hours I need before the NOON deadline ).Why the NOON deadline you might ask?Well, noon till 2 is "nap time" and that's all related to working "evenings" and being "fortyish" and other significant variables in the life of someone in the process of re-defining themselves as they try and absorb as much of a newly discovered way of living as possible.In short, my days are FULL of life, and an afternoon "cat nap" gives me the extra energy I need to fulfill the PROMISES I make....like "musings".... ON..... Monday!But WHO, did I make this promise to, you might ask?To MYSELF, is the answer, and THAT is what I mean by "re-defining".A few short years ago own "definition" used to read:TIM - (proper noun); lackadaisical, indifferent, selfish, unreliable, apathetic, procrastinatory, well-meaning, listless, untrustworthy, undignified(adverb); impaired, ex: " He was TIM drunk"Not a very pleasing adjectival collage to be sure, but the only ones that are PERMANENT are those etched on one's tombstone I daresay, so I'm on a bit of a "mission" these days with a blueprint of some basic living principles and the Good Lord's guidance to try and clean that mess up if I can.In my humble opinion, the foundation of a life worth living is DIGNITY - or as the dictionary calls it, "the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect".Dignity however is like a "good credit rating" - once lost...EXTREMELY difficult to recover.The cornerstone I'm attempting to re-build around is about TRUST:- Am I TRUTHFUL?- Can I be COUNTED on?- Am I RELIABLE?- Do I fulfill my PROMISES?- Is my word SOLID?- Am I "worthy of esteem or respect" ???A daunting set of questions indeed, but infinitely revealing as a measure of one's trustworthiness and level of dignity. When the answers are all "NO", as they were in my case, my "credit rating" was wavering somewhere between a snake's belly in a wagon rut, and a well digger's boots?When you're that low, you can't even trust yourself.And that's where you start.Fourteen weeks ago I promised MYSELF that I would write "something" EVERY Monday. I've been rolling along pretty well until I realized I'd made a commitment to work for my brother tomorrow morning.As resourceful as he is, my brother cannot carry a furnace by himself so I'm going to work for him tomorrow as promised. He is one of a fast-growing legion of friends and family who are starting to BELIEVE me again.When the answers to those aforementioned tough questions are starting to come up "YES"....when you wake up each morning and say "THANK YOU GOD!" instead of "HELP ME GOD".....when your formerly HEAVY heart now SOARS like a bright kite with you in tow....then dear friend, the foundation is starting to take shape.And as I glance at the clock and see that it's past midnight, I suppose I'll just have to say in my own inimitable, unparalleled, incomparable and DIGNFIED way......"Morning Friend".Love tImMy :/
“Laugh as much as you breathe
and love as long as you live." *( and nap when you can?)
My Love For You by Timothy Gerald Franklin Lawrence
is bigger
than a shoe
The End
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Look after yourself...without health
you are of no use to anyone.
If I owned this company,
would I hire someone like me?
THREE Angels!
Angela, Ash & Janelle
Ab's ( REALLY GOOD) Joke of the WEEK!
A great example of Flawless Male logic —
This is a conversation between a husband and his wife. Please note that she asks five or six questions which he answered quite simply; but, then she is speechless after answering only one question.
Woman: Do you drink beer?
Man: Yes.
Woman: How many beers a day?
Man: Usually about three.
Woman: How much do you pay per beer?
Man: $5.00 which includes a tip (this is where it gets scary!).
Woman: And how long have you been drinking?
Man: About 20 years, I suppose.
Woman: So a beer costs $5 and you have three beers a day which puts your spending each month at $450. In one year, that would be approximately $5400, correct?
Man: Sounds Correct.
Woman: If in 1 year you spend $5400, not accounting for inflation, over the past 20 years puts your spending at about $108,000, correct?
Man: Again, sounds about right.
Woman: Do you know that if you didn’t drink so much beer, that money could have been put in a step-up interest savings account and after accounting for compound interest for the past 20 years, you could have now bought an airplane?
Man: Could be true. Do you drink beer?
Woman: No.
Man: Where is your airplane?
for Kenneth Mayo
Hope AND SWIM !
When I fall into an ocean, I know with certainty
That I am wet and startled will at once be plain to me
But will I sink or will I swim...to the depths or to the shore?
Perhaps a log will come drifting by, or a boat out on a tour?
I could hope as I was sinking, but I’d still drop to the floor
And hoping would I be, for logs and tour boats evermore
So I think I’ll set my sights on land and give my legs a kick
And stroke though I am weary, my decision will I stick
While Hope sustains the helpless whose outlook is often dim
Hope also fuels the Faithful, giving Strength to those who swim
So even if I falter against this fearsome tide of health
The shores of my fulfillment rise beneath me in my stealth
I’m hopeful for the strength and the courage not to give in
I thank the Lord for Faith and my resolve to hope AND swim!
My prayers and God’s Blessings be with you my friend!
Timothy Lawrence
Abraham Stainer Esq.
a.k.a. "Ab"
Tinker-Timmy & Friends
Jan'l. Angeela, Ash and Ab
Monday, November 17, 2008
Reliabiltiy -14
Life Stories
The end of life…is not!
It is the end of a Chapter in a Grand, Spiritual, Novel !
These chapters called “life”, are enriching, engrossing
narratives of one’s earthly adventures.
In them, are an abundance of supporting characters and
supplementary plot elements, often curiously overlapping
and mysteriously intertwining.
Their length and depth varies from person to person;
from protagonist to protagonist.
Some people who have “died” in chapters ended many years
ago, are still quite “alive” today!
Their SPIRIT; their influence, their charisma, their wisdom,
their character, their enthusiasm, their joy, their ESSENCE....
continues to fill the “life pages” of all they’ve touched.
Their frail and finite physical chapter is ended, but the richness
of their story flourishes, and enhances God’s Novel!
Like timeless passages, indelibly marked in our hearts and
memories, to be re-read and forever treasured….
their lives never truly “end”!
When through God’s Mercy, the earthly narrative of someone
we love, ends….their life does not!
And for that, we are truly blessed!
* Dedicated with gratitude and love to the enduring Spirit of all who transcend fear and inspire faith by truly living God’s gift of life to the fullest!! T.L.