My Life in Pictures, Parts I-III

Here are some photos to go with the parts I've posted so far. I've already shared some from my early time in the Army, so I won't re-post them. (See 4/25/14).

Me

My family

Christmas! 

Daddy

My favorite toy: GI Joe

This was supposed to be Minas Tirith. But there's only so much you can do with sand.

Did I mention that I'd been a pirate?

John Denver - Poems, Prayers & Promises

I read somewhere that, though it was not one of his big hits, this was one of John Denver's favorite songs, and he included it in greatest hits collections just because he liked it.

I met him once. I was in Aspen, trying to get a job with their police department. Their process included having applicants in whom they were seriously interested come up and spend a week riding along with them, and while I was doing that John was in there because of a D.U.I. I didn't get the job, but it was a pretty cool week anyway: Aspen's a great place and I'd probably never have gone otherwise.

'One does not have to swallow poison or hug a dagger, my dear, to commit suicide. One can kill oneself and remain alive physically.'

-- Lloyd C. Douglas

...and when they've given their all, some stagger, and fall. After all, it's not easy; banging your heart against some mad bugger's wall.

-- Roger Waters

I'll Fly Away

The first time I ever heard this song was at a church retreat in Interlaken, Switzerland. This sweet girl, Marina Woods, sang it in harmony with a couple of others--she had the voice of an angel. I had a big ole crush on Marina, but she was the archetypal good Christian girl, and beautiful, with long, curly hair, and I was a long-haired, grungy, guitar-playing freak. Then, on the last day of the last retreat we were on together before we both moved back to the States, she came up and gave me a big hug and said something sweet. So we wrote to each other for a while, but of course she met someone at college and fell in love, and got married, and that was that. Still think of her every time I hear this song, though.

Angel Band

I had no earthly hope--but faith,
And that forbade a selfish death.

-- Lord Byron

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

-- Job 13:15

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”

-- Epictetus

What is Hell? Hell is oneself, Hell is alone, the other figures in it merely projections. There is nothing to escape from and nothing to escape to. One is always alone.

-- T.S. Eliot

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

If a man say, 'I love God', but hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

-- 1 John 4:16, 18, 20

Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" -- Psalm 34:18

Rejoice

You said "follow"
     and I followed
You said "obey"
     and I obeyed
You said "believe"
     and I believed
You said "love"
     and I loved

But now I am forsaken
Lost in a desert to which You led me
Without hope, joy, or love

You said "suffer"
     and I am suffering

-- M.S. du Pré

All his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. -- Proverbs 2:23

Creep

Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain...

-- Jim Morrison

The thing about always trying to do the right thing...

...is that nobody ever believes you.

Abyss

Alone

Trapped between

the terror of space

and the horror of time

There is no escape

There is no mercy

There is no hope

There is no end

-- M.S. du Pré

Hurt