Did Your Snow Days Bring Darkness?

I am so surprised by the number of people that have expressed how "tired they are of being stuck at home". The disclosure has been more than the usual cabin fever itches. I certainly understand the want and need to receive the daylight. The people that I have communicated with are actually uncomfortable with the solitude, the loneliness, and the quietness. That in itself speaks volumes about the shallow depth of human psyche. Sadly, it also indicates how much we have moved away from Aboriginal traditions. Meaningless Modernity (reality television) has conquered Spiritual Simplicity (meditation).


The mind can recklessly wonder when there is nothing to do. It can play tricks on you too - but the plus that should be gained during Snow Days is way more valuable than having something to do. Also, it has been noted for years that a whole lot of sexual intercourse is had during inclement weather. I remember while serving in the Eastern Caribbean how the population rose nine months after a hurricane. Go have sex!

Returned Peace Corps volunteers talk all the time about their service abroad...Sometimes too damn much! The common denominator in their story telling is their initial struggle with 'having nothing to do'. That Nothing has been known to early terminate the experience of living and serving overseas. However, in time while truly living in small villages in Botswana and other Peace Corps host countries the returned Peace Corps volunteers grew to appreciate The Nothing. It is during those very moments of Nothing that these men and women from all walks of life conducted an inventory reflection. For some that Nothing has literally made them better and/or saved their lives. For me, my life was finally put into context with the help of Buddhist Chant and Meditation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1evxMA7yYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR3dM-GlZK8&feature=related

When was the last time outside of two minutes after the clock striking midnight on New Year’s Eve that you 'took some stock'? Really examined the inventory within your life reservoir? This is always a challenge for me!

Like the Peace Corps volunteers serving all over this world - as I typed are doing and as you read - we (us bored Americans) should sit in the dark. Actually, some Peace Corps volunteers live without indoor plumbing and electricity for 27 months or more. They are living like the people:

Then you have those ‘pussy-foot’ volunteers who lived LARGE:

That would be me…

Sitting in Darkness is Doing Something. It is an opportunity for us to make every attempt to SEE ourselves in the Dark.

What did you see over the past three Snow Days? Or, did you avoid The Darkness? If you did, you may have just missed out on Doing Something.

Oh! You could have used your imagination too; I went for a swim.

Muata Nowe

Dreaming with Seniors

When one genuinely cares for the elderly the caring displays respect and honor of those who paved the way.


Jeremy Bloom does not have to do what he does. He is a popular man with money. But, he has decided to help dreams come true by working with men and women we refer to as senior.

Touching, Truly Touching

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/olympic-skier-makes-dreams-true-elderly-grants-wishes-jeremy-bloom-jeremy-hubbard-11998692  

Jeremy’s Foundation:

http://www.seniorwish.org/

The Peace Corps will be 50 Years Old Next Year

The Peace Corps is when it all changed for me. My life changed. I became a new person. The people I met…Amazing men and women! So much courage. So much heart. To be a part of the Peace Corps Family is my badge. I wear it with honor. I will defend my experience and my service with my life. Nothing will ever take the place of those 2years (1994-1996). My love is strong for John F. Kennedy’s baby, Peace Corps.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#39546419

It is Touching, Truly Touching to view this video. The memories come back like a tsunami. I remember my first night. My first home stay family in St. Lucia, The Browns. Then my Antiguan home stay family, The Scholl’s. Myrna, my mother a way from North Carolina. Alan, Leslie, and Brian – my brothers. Love…Service…Sacrifice…Dedication…

The pictures...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39173126/ns/nightly_news/

Brian E. Payne

Finding Father

I am definitely not one to say that ‘God works in mysterious ways’…this story may not be a coincidence. What I will admit: Nothing is Random. I learned that the hard way a few years ago - thanks to Reverend Wilkins.
What a Touching, Truly Touching story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/03/2010-09-03_terminal_cancer_patient_reunited_with_long_lost_daughter_who_turns_out_to_be_hos.html  

Brian E. Payne sharing.

Praying that My Prayers are Answered

*Haiti needs a reason to Dance*

I wish I could say a Haiti prayer that would be answered – and wake-up to news that Haiti’s situation is getting remarkably better. Better faster! That has been my prayer for the past six months. Actually, I stopped praying for myself long ago. All of my ‘good thoughts and energy’ have been for Haiti and Haiti’s people lately. No more do I get down on my knees – and ask God to ‘look out’ for me, my family, and my friends. While I need prayer, I refuse to be so self centered with my prayers. My focus is on the world’s humanity. This does not make me any different than thousands of men and women who have decided to channel their communication with a God for the benefit of those suffering. Suffering, in all my drama throughout this life, is not something I am familiar with – so why should I continue to pray for me and my mess? My praying energy needs to be with people like the young lady featured in the video below.

A good story:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/38202943#38202943

Brian E. Payne sharing.

The Skydiving Hero

Heroes are known to sacrifice.

While watching this video (below), I thought of one man. His name is Michael Hatfield. A marine. A friend. A man that has and will sacrifice for another person. I just know if placed in the situation you are about to view that he would do the same for me. I am fully confident of that!

That's what men and women who serve/served our country are trained to do. And, to be 'trained' to ultimately sacrifice one must have heart.

Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, and Peace Corps men/women are sacrificing for us...ON THE FRONT LINES.

I honor all those who have served and/or serving our 'in trouble' country on this very special weekend, Memorial Day Weekend. Stop and praise them in between hot dog eating bites!

The Skydiving Hero:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6471304n&tag=related%3Bphotovideo

Brian E. Payne sharing.

Shoeless Summer

Please watch the 3 minute video:

http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=84301143001

Some say that shoes describe and/or characterize a person. I wonder what is said about the person who has no access to shoes or cannot afford to purchase any?

I remember the summer of 1982. It was hot! We were living on James Avenue, The New Projects of Thomasville, North Carolina. Momma could not afford to purchase us (Shirley Jean, Clinton Tyrone, and Brian Eugene) shoes so she did the next best thing: She went to Family Dollar and purchased us some flip flops. Remember these: http://smartleah.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/haveana-flipflop-gold.jpg? We wore them all summer with no complainants. No lip! We had no reason to give any lip! We enjoyed having our feet exposed. Back then we had no concept of our poverty. We were happy kids like most Old and New Project kids.

In some parts of the world kids drastically need shoes,

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/JohnnyGunn/Cush194011_IN_Indiana_Farm_Children.jpg

Brian E. Payne sharing.