Coming Home; Building A Place for Family

Why are people even getting married these days?  You ever wonder what gets people to commit to one another, even when there are flashing messages of getting anything you want - no strings attached - right now!  All around us, the world is thriving on the "non-committal" relationship.  The sampler tray is a popular way of exploring the world and people these days, and access is unrivaled with the rise of technology that helps us communicate, travel, and purchase! https://www.wallpaperflare.com/couple-starry-sky-silhouette-of-man-lifting-woman-near-sports-bike-under-shooting-star-wallpaper-torww So what makes people, who have everything they want at the tips of their fingers,  decide to settle down, commit to one person, and stay there ?  How do we commit the a relationship?  What makes it happy for life? In an article by the washington post, an interesting statistic reads; " According to the census statistics, more than half of the nation’s married...

It only takes 1-2 days for trench foot to develop. In a flurry of gunshots and artillery blasts,  soldiers from all over the world participated in  Trench Warfare .  Not mentioning those who were killed or harmed in direct combat, an auxiliary threat came from the soldiers supposed "protection". Soldiers were huddled shoulder to shoulder in dank, deep ruts in the ground to fight for their countries (and hopefully return to them in one piece).  A trench was dark, cold, and wet.   Those conditions caused 75,000 British and 2,000 American soldiers [stats from Medical News Today ] , to develop a horrible condition endearingly called trench foot. It was a painful condition that, if left untreated, would eventually lead to gangrene and even amputation. Much like the battle fields of WWI, our lives can turn to trench warfare.  Everyone needs to fight - fight for survival, for opportunities, for safety, for comfort, for success -- you name it....

What does it mean to sign a contract? " 'Till Death do you Part...."  is something that many people in the world are ecstatic to hear.  It's lifelong promise of enduring companionship and love.  At least, that's what the contract implies.   In fact, there is a whole slew of items on the checklist that comes attached with our contractual unions.  Maybe some of you will recognize these promises; "...to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."  -- "Rite of Marriage #25". Those are some really great promises.  Even better are the often unwritten implications -- that when we "have and hold" one another, we're talking about holding trust and having a mutual love and understanding toward one another. However, that is not always the case.  In fact, I've seen many members of my family who are more disgusted and repulsed by their ...

Isn't it fascinating how we can mistake good people for what we perceive to be wrong with the world?  Isn't it funny how we can dislike something, and then consequently dislike, or even hate someone who represents that thing?   Isn't it horrible how wrong we are so often? I'm no exception.  I remember being a young man, and my parents told me time and time again that, "smoking is bad for you.  It will kill you.  Stay away from it".  In my tiny young boy understanding of the world, I did a small logical equation as follows; Smoking = Bad.  Therefore, People who smoke = Bad And that isn't the case.  Are they making a bad choice?  Maybe; medical science sure seems to think so!  But does that mean that I should feel some sort of detachment or hatred for that person?  No!  Their choices are not what define them -- though they will affect their lifestyle. This is a point that I learned about a few years ago on the st...