Ale for the Soul

More than a few years ago, there was a TV series titled Burn Notice .  If I remember correctly, the main character was a former CIA operative whose services The Company no longer needed.  As a result, he was flown to Florida, dropped off in the middle of nowhere, and was wished the best of luck in fending for himself.  That's the way I felt upon exiting incarceration after almost four years of service for the State of Texas.  (The term service being very loosely used, almost humorously.)  I was herded onto a Greyhound bus and taken to Fort Worth.  With $50 in hand and a lot of people wishing me well, I was esentially living out my own version of a burn notice.  The great State of Texas got what they wanted out of me, an innocent man who was used as an example for a tough-on-crime, election-year judge in San Antonio.  Not wanting to dwell in the past and hindering my future by doing so, I quickly set out to make the best of what may lay ahead....

Have you ever had an event take place in your life that was so profound and left such an indelible mark that you now view life through the lens of before and after?  Maybe it was getting married?  "Back when I was still single" or "Now that I'm married" are phrases often heard in this arena of life.  Another scenario is to have tragedy strike.  "I was never the same after my child was murdered!"  By comparison, some events are more difficult to deal with and life-altering than others; however, the basic point has been made: something happened that significantly propelled an individual on another track in life.  For the sake of this blog entry, I will name two life events that radically changed my life's trajectory: a four-year mandatory vacation with the State of Texas and meeting the Lord Jesus Christ.  The catalyst for the latter is the former.  The relationship with the Sovereign Creator and His Son Jesus began at an early age.  It wasn't ...

Fairly recently I noticed a hyperglycemia description on my medical profile with the doctor.  On April 19th, when I see the doctor again, I'll discuss to confirm the diagnosis, among other health issues.  This came as a surprise as not much was talked about the designation before getting listed as a health concern.  In looking up what this means, I wanted to see what the tell-tale signs were and how to address the issue.  Hyperglycemia is when there is high blood sugar due to a lack of effective or failing insulin.  (You may have heard of insulin resistance.)  Among the signs given, I was able to check off in agreement a few of the manifestations: blurred vision, skin infections, frequent trips to the bathroom, and so much more.  Knowledge is power, and a lot of the content was very revealing and now made a lot of sense.  If I was younger, I would probably blow all this off and deal with it at a later age.  Now that I am older, turning 50 in ...

Wow, almost the end of February already?!  Damn, time seems to rush by faster and faster the older I get.  Recently I had another childhood dream die a grotesque and untimely death.  An employment opportunity in my career field popped up, and almost as soon as it came along it vanished right before my eyes.  Working for Kofile Technologies as a preservation and archival clerk would have at least gotten my foot in the door of a career that has been ever so elusive and cunning.  I won't go into the details, but the company dropped the ball and the door of opportunity slammed shut right before my very eyes.  No practical experience was required as there was on-the-job training offered.  In addition, they did not require a degree.  Exactly what I was looking for dashed once again.  Hope deferred makes the heart sick.  (A personal rendition of a Biblical proverb.)  In spite of this heartbreak, I do have quite a bit to remain thankful for...

A new year is upon us, and it's almost February already.  Wow!  So far, 2023 has been a good one as I'm diligently working on my bucket list.  On New Year's Day, I participated in the First Day Hike at Cleburne State Park.  There were two different hikes slated for the day.  Both included hiking to the CCC-built dam, while the longer hike diverged to the trail running along the perimeter of the state park.  (Roughly six miles in length.  My arthritic back sure hurt the following day.)  In addition to the time spent outdoors, I finally took four days off from work in order to visit family for the holidays.  For whatever reason, the job wouldn't allow me to take off.  Out of frustration, I simply stated yours truly would be out-of-town for a few days and the shifts need to be covered.  If this constitues a resignation, so be it.  Surprisingly, I still had a job upon arrival back in Fort Worth.  Guess playing hardball pays of...

Hope everyone had a very Christ-filled holiday season.  I sure did, even though yours truly wasn't able to spend time with family.  The second best option was to spend a few hours with the men and women of my support group.  We had a great time of fellowship over a hot meal.  I took two to-go plates to friends of mine whom I knew probably didn't have family nearby to help celebrate the season.  Then I spent the remainder of the day in solitude.  On Tuesday I also celebrated my 49th birthday.  Yes, the last year of the age decade is coming to a close.  Not sure how I feel about it as I reflect back on the time spent in my current place of residence.  Why can't I be happy and experience the abundant joy I know is possible through the Lord Jesus?  He has so richly blessed me, yet I often fail to "taste and see that the Lord is good".  Happiness is fleeting, but joy can be had in spite of life's circumstances.  Try as I may, I keep...

About a month ago, my mentor and friend passed away from a very aggressive form of cancer.  Thinking it was an issue with his gall bladder, he was shocked to learn it was Stage Four cancer.  Wow, can't imagine how he must have felt to all of a sudden have mortality staring at him in the face.  Shaking my head in disbelief at yet another friend transitioning from this terrestrial sphere to eternity.  Five total in almost three years.  Unfortunately, unlike a few of my other friends, Pat passed away without Jesus.  This makes his death even harder to bear.  Today his family will hold a Celebration of Life service at the Lecture Hall inside the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.  Since I wasn't able to get off work to attend, I will remember the life of my friend in a special way while on duty at the cigar shop.  A celebratory smoke while enjoying a cup of coffee is in order.  One day soon, I also hope to frequent the coffee shop we would often me...