Moments of Clarity "The Sequel"

Writer's note; You ever have a thought and write it down somewhere so you can remember it later? That happened to me with my previous post regarding Moments of Clarity.

I have been thinking about this concept for awhile and wanted to get something down on paper about it. After re-reading my post, I realized this topic needs...well...for lack of a better word...more clarity. So with that...comes the sequel. By the by...this one will truly be better than the original...at least in my eyes.

No matter where we are in life...we are always going to have to deal with the "grass is greener" syndrome. I don't have to explain it...you feel it, know it and have lived it. Whether it be relationships... jobs...houses...financial statuses...health..etc. The grass does look pretty green over there.

That's where Moments of Clarity come in. These small droplets in a given point of time give us the vision or foresight to realize that your own grass is pretty green. It could seem insignificant at the time, but carries so much weight in time. A small success. A move in the right direction. A shared laugh, look or touch. That's all it takes. The picture becomes clearer.

We spend a lot of time looking for the one seismic event that says "it's OK right here where I am" but we miss the impactful 20 others that happened already.

Moments of Clarity. You don't have to be a Sherlock to find them. You probably have several everyday. Easy to find...if you are looking in the right places.

We clear?

PS; Several posts ago, I came up with a pretty humorous way to look at your own grass. It involves cathartic acts. I might have to pull that one up again soon. I kinda liked it.

They are everywhere...

Time out.
Start looking for them.

I call them moments of clarity.

It's when everything comes into focus. Everything makes sense.


They are all around us but sometimes we are too blind to see. These moments seem small...a ripple on an ocean. But look deeper. They bring us back to today. They bring us back to what we have.

Look for them. They advance the process...move the ball down the field...they make sense of things.

They truly...make us smile.

Keep looking...

Dad...you want to have a catch?

I'm a lucky man.

This past weekend I went to Lambeau with a couple of buddies (no matter how often I go up there, I am always taken aback by those trips up north). We went out to the hotel parking lot so we could throw the pigskin around. Three good friends...three great friends. One of our friends is still learning how to "have a catch." See...his dad is a great guy but just didn't play ball with him as a kid and he is an only child so he just didn't get the chance to play catch.

Fast forward to tonight. My oldest son's football practice. Now...his football practice field is not in the best area in town. There are always lots of kids running around while my son practices. Not many parents though...especially dads. I was standing around watching practice just tossing a ball to myself when 5-6 kids came up and wanted to play catch. I started thinking to myself...when was the last time they had someone to play catch with. I played catch and then went on my way.

On the way home, I started thinking...how lucky I am. I had a dad who would play catch with me for hours. Now mind you...my dad was 44 when he had me so he was logging a lot of catch time in his 50's. Pretty impressive. Every time I am out with my kids...I think of those days with my dad. We stayed out until the last possible drop of sunshine shut down for the evening.

There are days I don't feel like playing catch. I always figure I do it enough. But to my kids...they probably wish I did it more.

Now that I think about it...they are probably right.

Thanks for the catch dad...

PS; Sorry for the "me" memory focus lately. I guess it's that time of year.

PPS; Next one...I have to tell an amazing story about my dad that one would only think happened in the movies. But it was real.

PPPS; Sorry for the google ads and the movies clip propaganda on the Youtube video...was going to do the blog without the video but it's a pretty powerful scene.

Ends...Beginnings...Questions and Answers.

The dawn of the day brought thousands of ends.

The dusk of the day prepared us for one beautiful life and a new beginning.

9/11/01


No one will ever forget how this day began. Thousands of lives were taken before their time. Mothers. Fathers. Sons. Daughters. Thousands of families forever impacted. The day was filled with pain...hurt...fear and uncertainty.

We will never forget.

I will never forget how this day ended. It was the first Lamaze class for my wife and me...preparing us for bringing our newborn son into the world. I was going to be a father again. My wife...a mother for the first time. My daughter...a sister for the first time. The evening was filled with excitement...trepidation...wonder and uncertainty.

I will never forget.

Journeys ended. Journeys began.

Yesterday...we watched the memorials with our son who is now going on 10. So many questions. Some answers. Blessed to have him with us on this day. So very blessed.

One day in our life that forever changed how we lived.

One day in our life we will never forget.

I am a faithful person...but not a religious one

Writer's note; I usually don't write about hot topics like religion or politics because my blog is not designed to initiate debate. It is designed to make you think.


I am breaking my own rule with this one because it has been weighing on me for quite awhile. I welcome disagreement...but not debate...at least not in this forum. However, if you want to buy me a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and discuss the topic, I am all for it.

Writer's note #2; I usually don't refer to myself in my blog because it is inherent by nature that my posts are my opinions. This one has to be delivered from the "me" perspective because it is my unique experience.

I am a recovering Catholic.

I say that partly in jest but it does convey the feeling I want to create when you hear it.

I was baptized into the Catholic church...raised Catholic...went to Catholic schools...and married into the Catholic church.

I feel like the Catholic church turned its back on me twice during my life. Two very important moments that defined my life forever.

First of all, I had a daughter out of marriage. She is a beautiful part of my life. I don't know what I would do without her. After we had my daughter, we were planning to have a big traditional Catholic wedding. My fiancee and I decided it would be not only fun but logical to get married through the courts before our wedding. Nope...bad idea according to the Catholic church. We were told we couldn't have a traditional Catholic wedding because by getting married in the court, it publicizes the fact that we had a child out of marriage.

Strike One.

Secondly, my first marriage ended with divorce and I was told by the Catholic church that if I wanted to stay Catholic, I was going to have to pay money to the church and have my marriage annulled. Which in other words means that my marriage never happened. When I asked the question...how does the church explain my daughter then...the Catholic church responded with...we can't(don't even get me started on the topic of Catholic priests trying to give marriage counseling).

Strike Two. And in this case...you're out!!!

The Catholic church is fundamentally flawed. I understand the practice of respecting tradition but traditions can evolve while still respecting the initial purpose of the tradition itself. The Catholic church's takes on women, the priesthood and celibacy, divorce, confession and the sacraments are outdated and have created true and real problems in our society.

When I first approached the Lutheran church about making the switch...I started explaining my divorce. The Pastor stopped me and said...I understand...I too went through a divorce. At that moment, I achieved religious clarity. This Pastor understood me and welcomed me into the church with open arms.

That is what religion should be about. Finding ways to accept people rather than creating rules to keep them out.

It's about the Christian faith...not about religion. Faith was created by God. Religion was created by man.

Final point of clarity...don't ever confuse God with religion.

May peace be with you...