Smile to a Frown

One's act of desire will never cease. It shouldn't and therefore you shouldn't hold yourself to the expecation that one day you will cease desiring harmful indulgences; it will only serve to stifle the natural abilities you posess to combat those harmful desires.  Begin indulging... searching... reach out...

Skip rocks, skip down the street, dance like no one's watching, jump into your loved ones arms, sit in someone's lap, run your hands or a stick along a fence, scream "THANK YOU!" to the Heavens, tell a stranger how beautiful they are, hug your boss (or maybe not), smile to a frown, say "yes" with your body language, sleep in, stay up all night, build a fort, have a pajama party, listen to music, listen to a symphony, make a snow angel, splash in puddles, lie in the grass, go for walk, sip your favorite drink with your eyes closed, lie in a hammock, smell your grandmother's perfume, hug your pillow; scream into it, fall in love for a day, fall in love for the rest of your life, smell the rain, listen for the crash of the waves, walk barefoot and wiggle your toes, search for nostalgia, eat something you've never tasted before, drive to a place you've never been, explore.

Explore every area of yourself that you've forced dorment in fear.  Fear of rejection, fear of reality, fear of what others may think, fear of the unknown.  Dare to be you, dare to be uncomfortable, free yourself from fear.  Pour light into each corner left in darkness.  Decide for yourself whether or not you like brussel sprouts, Metal, red wine, cats, dogs, badgers, iPhones, email, Democrats, leather, high heels, being barefoot, the smell of gasoline, or broke and balding older men.  Don't allow fear to make any choice.

Open your hands, arms and subsequently your heart follows.

Reach Out

Guaranteed salvation. Ever present comfort, everlasting faithfulness, zero limitations, unconditional love, serenity. All of these luxuries, promised to you in something so simple as a hand and an embrace never beyond reach.

Reach out. Stretch your fingers, face your palms upwards, extend your arms. This is outreach, this is prayer, this is the promise that you are loved and that you are never alone not in this moment, never in eternity.

The softest of touches that envelopes your fingers, slides over your palms and lightly follows your outstretched arms, finally reaches around to engulf you in an embrace that brings peace to your soul. Breathe. Rest. This is peace.

Not just offered to the weak, weary, angry and depleted. But also to those who are simply tired, frustrated and disappointed.

Reach out and and be comforted by outreach.