Winter’s Work

Posted on December 31, 2014 by therationalelement

When the sky turns into grey

The bright blue begins to fade

Striving ends another day

Working tools are put away

The bitter cold won’t cut me through

Because my mind returns to you

While warming up in my old truck

I’m thanking God for all my luck

I see the gold that I have struck

The ties we have cannot be cut

A million miles can’t hold me back

I’m driving home to our old shack

Through the wind they see me smile

Though the snow begins to pile

Work outdoors gets pretty wild

I think of you, it’s all worthwhile

A hundred hours is just a blur.

In our warm bed I feel you stir.

The Drive

Posted on December 30, 2014 by therationalelement

What if the world took time to understand

What goes on inside each other’s heart?

Everyone tries in their own way

To tame thoughts and yearnings

Steering ourselves toward appeasement

Forced to hide behind our fears

Building facades of many kinds

But no one is truly confident

We preen an avatar

And send it out fiind the dream

Then cause offenses along the way

While attempting to reach it

Few understand how hard we try

If we stop reaching there’s a void

Is satisfaction a form of defeat?

It may be the goal of the icon

But a heart only wants to be loved

And finding that knowledge carries us

Beyond the anxious drive

Past the persona we present

The Right Name

Posted on December 29, 2014 by therationalelement

I gave it the works, flowers and gifts

Humbled myself and took care of the rift

Didn’t intend to cause any pain

But my mouth had to slip and say the wrong name

I love ya dear and will always be true

But my violets are red and my roses are blue

I’ll call you honey from now to the end

Cause I don’t want to be in the doghouse again.

My mother she did the same thing to me

To find the right name it always took three

But a lover will kill if you go through a list

So you better use babe or you’ll never see bliss.

I love ya dear and will always be true

But my violets are red and my roses are blue

I’ll call you honey from now to the end

Cause I don’t want to be in the doghouse again

It Starts With Joy

Posted on December 25, 2014 by therationalelement

To know a loved one is happy

Is the best feeling I know

A heart can be truly content

When a friend has joy to show

This is the essence of love

It isn’t in action alone

But to care for another soul

As much as you care for your own

Giving is more than a gift

Beauty is more than a look

It starts with joy inside

Flowing serene like a brook

If I was to lay down my life

It wouldn’t be for money or fame

But to give my love a life of joy

I would endure any pain

Goodwill to Men

Posted on December 22, 2014 by therationalelement

The history of man always includes his search for origins. It is natural to try and figure out where we came from and why we are here. The most primitive view is one of an impersonal god such as a tree god, a mountain or simply a chance with numbers gave us life. This keeps us as a part of a system with no responsibility but to survive in our ecosystem. But it still begs the question of why we feel responsible as the managers of this earth. Did we just pick that up by some sort of evolution? This view is lacking since there seems to be a sense of justice and nobility in all of us and there are nuanced beauties along with a complexity of functions that an honest person cannot explain with an impersonal entity. At its worse it has an essence of kill or be killed; do whatever it takes to survive and improve our species.

So the next step in logic would be to think of a creator that has similarities to us but is superior. Societies each ended up with their own version of this personal god and his level of involvement in people’s lives. This view eventually gave way to a god who is just, perfect and eternal. Claims about interaction naturally sprung from this, along with how to right the injustices of the world. At its worse, it had elites that claimed they had it in with this god. Claims could be made of of a superior race or revelations resulting in genocide or blood sacrifice of animals and people. Numerous views of gods of this kind were scattered throughout different societies. This was tolerated in different forms for most of human history because a personal and just god makes sense. That is until an alternative view arrived.

A good story always has someone making personal sacrifices for others. The ultimate sacrifice is one’s own life. But even more than that, we value our own children’s lives above our own. A baby was born outside of nobility for the express purpose of going beyond class, race and notions of justice. Someone as valuable as God’s son born in a manger, subject to a poor family in tumultuous times. This perfect and just God, rather than demanding justice, giving, in a beautiful gesture of goodwill and peace. Whether you believe all the details or not, the story does have a certain beauty to it. So we give gifts following the same mindset. Sacrificing for each other as a gesture of goodwill and peace.

Time and Answers

Posted on December 21, 2014 by therationalelement

Some things are impossible to explain to others

Knowing someone so well that the words romance, love and commitments are inferior.

What is understood takes on all of life and it’s incidentals,

It envelopes past, present and future

Conversations put life in perspective and settle the soul

There are no words that describe it sufficiently

So it has to be kept inside to avoid misunderstanding

How can others expect to understand?

They want to keep what years have earned and rightly so

We wait, hope and wonder what to do with ourselves

While giving the respect and honor that is due.

Yet, while being just, there is a feeling of injustice and pain.

That something so valuable might be cast aside.

Or characterized as discontentment, boredom or malice.

Asking time to figure it all out

Hopefully it knows what it is doing.

Etched in Stone

Posted on December 16, 2014 by therationalelement

Held in words, our feelings go

Thoughts we have and what we know

Words left unsaid have value too

Time comes along, brings words anew

What’s been said is etched in stone

Up in the hills for us alone

In this valley there’s much to do

I look up there and think of you

We form words in picture form

To help us through, and brave the storm

They speak aloud without a sound

Give us peace when we lay down

What’s been said is etched in stone

Up in the hills for us alone

In this valley there’s much to do

I look up there and think of you

Juggling

Posted on December 14, 2014 by therationalelement

I thought love was like bowling

With gutters and strikes

The ball comes back

And you get another try

But it’s really more like juggling

We toss desires up

While hoping to catch another

So much going on at the same time

Don’t miss or it hurts!

Smash a toe

And look like a fool

But smile and wait for applause

You’re styling

When it’s finally successful

Luxury

Posted on December 13, 2014 by therationalelement

The greatest luxury

Isn’t found in excess of pleasure

It isn’t found in objects that wear out

What brings the most satisfaction

A treasure of unmeasurable value

Is to have the person on your mind

Also thinking of you.

Toward the Light

Posted on December 11, 2014 by therationalelement

I turned my mind to the past

Nothing lasts, it went too fast

Tried to see on down the road

It’s dark and cold, so I’m told

So I’m heading toward the light

And my heart is in control

We’ll meet again, don’t say goodby

No need to cry, we can’t deny

The future bids and we obey

Then step away with things to say

I’m heading toward the light

And my heart is in control

It all works out before the end

Time’s a friend, the wounds will mend

Darkness leaves and love will shine

Gives us a sign, it will remind