Markley's Blog

So I have been trying to post a blog now for the past several weeks. I have to start with what I may call a cover blog just because of the circumstances in which things happen and a need to share. Today is the start of my vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Waking up to see the sun spilling over the tops of the mountains is inspiring to say the least. Then to step out on to the deck and into a hot tub with my wife and best friend next to me is nothing short of perfect.
The beginning of this year has been a journey I never wanted to take, never expected to take, and yet I praise God for taking me thru all of it. The past six months have been emotional, physical, testing on relationships, and in some ways scary, lonely, and at times questionable. In later blogs I will expand and share how God is, has, and will always be in control of every part of the past six months. For right now, I am going to sit and enjoy the sites and sounds that God has me surrounded in. Relax, recharge, reconnect, and relish, all He has blessed me with. A wife who loves me unconditionally; family that are a blessing and a joy to be around; and friends that put a smile on my face and a laugh in my gut! God is way too good to me!!!

Our world once again is in mourning as we deal with another act of violence against not only another human, but it seems to take on a whole different stature when it’s a child.  Let alone twenty children!  My heart is breaking as I try to comprehend what would motivate a person to not only take another innocent life, but why the life of a child?  As the story unfolds the more my heart cries out for the loss.  It puts everything in proper perspective and gives me a whole new appreciation for those close to me and those young lives that have their whole life in front of them.

I guess it doesn’t matter if you are in a movie theater enjoying the latest release or a small child who is just learning about the world, tragedy can strike without warning. The possibility of this incident happening in your world is even more threatening than the day before.  Why we ask? We will never have the answer because the shooter is dead.  That seems to be the ending to such unthinkable acts; we never get the reason why. Kids excited about the weekend and what they were going to do for two days away from school.  Two weeks from Christmas and all the excitement that comes with that.  Now there are tears and loss.  Young lives shattered and taken.  Adults just doing their job and in an instant they’re gone.  Some will say where was God, why did He allow this to happen?  Answers will not come because no one knows.

There will be those who want to get rid of guns and say that’s the problem.  I believe in the second amendment and we should be able to arm ourselves.  It’ not the gun that kills, it’s the person.  If a person is bent on taking a life, if they don’t have access to a gun and are bent on creating mayhem, they will use whatever is conducive to accomplish what it is they want.  There will be those that question God and there will be those that want every gun off the streets. Will it bring an end to senseless violence?  Will not getting the answer we want from God mean He’s not in control?  The answer to both questions is no.  What I will do is let those I love, know that I love them and get a hug from those I can hug. I will rest assure that my God is on the throne and in control.  That’s what will help me deal with this senseless tragedy – that, and a big hug from my wife. So we should say a prayer and hold those we love that much closer.  

I have been debating on what I should title this blog.  As of 3 o’clock this morning I was awake in bed with several titles flying thru my mind. How do I respond to the results of the 2012 Presidential Election? They range from, “Now What?” to “So This is It?”, or even, “So This Is The Way You Want To Go?” to being so blunt as to say, “Really?”  I was thinking of what to say, spew my opinion, vent my anger, share in my disappointment, and really write a diatribe on how I felt about the election.

After 2 hours of running a thousand thoughts thru my sleepy mind my alarm went off and I awoke to more questions on what my response should or would be.  I skipped the morning treadmill and sat and watched the news just to see and listen to what the people had to say.  Then during breakfast it came to me.  “Faith”.

In my Bible reading I read Hebrews 10:23 “let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waiver not; for he is faithful that promised:”How often is it we see the Faithfulness of God?  Every day!  In knowing that God is and will be faithful to His word, it allows us to be faithful in Him.  That’s where I want to go with this.  I could sit and write a whole bunch of negative conatations, but what will that accomplish?  So I thought I would focus on God’s Faithfulness.  Our hope is in God and in Hebrews 10:23 we are told to hold fast to the confession that He (being God) is Faithful to what He promised.  He confessed to His people that He would be Faithful to Himself, and to us.

When that happens and I see God being Faithful to Himself, I can remain faithful in Him for He never changes. Writing a page full of negative, sarcastic, and ugly sentences will not change or make anything better.  Sure it would make me feel better after I vent, but again it will last but a little while.  If I choose to put my faith in God and His Faithfulness, than whoever is in office it won’t matter how I feel about it! It’s what God allowed.  So I will humble myself and realize God knows better than I do. In fact it even says in 2 Chron 7:14 “ If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  I don’t need to and I won’t have to worry, God’s got this! One last scripture just to finalize Gods authority: “I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” That settles it for me!

Okay, I guess it’s time to take a stand and speak out and up, for what I feel is wrong about the direction of our country and where it may be headed.  I have four siblings; we were all raised with traditional moral values.  Religion was introduced to us but at no time forced upon us. We were taught what was believed to be right from wrong, all based on our parents moral convictions, (which they more than likely were taught to them from their generation).

Listening to the speakers at the DNC, you would think they can walk on water.  They have done everything right.  I believe it is very ironic that when each speaker finishes their respective time at the podium, they ask God to bless America. Yet, because of the stands they have made into laws, it goes completely against the moral fiber this country was based on. They ask God to bless America, and yet it’s okay to kill a baby in the mother’s womb. “It’s not a life” they tell us. The truth is, in just eighteen days after conception, there is a heartbeat.  Millions of those innocent lives have been aborted and yet we think it’s alright to ask God to bless America.

Same sex marriage, the right to love who we want to love regardless. Yet the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was because of the sexual immorality that prevailed in the land. It seems like a double standard and  justification is a way to let us live the way we want, regardless of what God has told us is an ungodly lifestyle. That is not what is considered a traditional marriage. Same sex marriage is not traditional and should not be treated as such.  Now I guess that I have stated my personal beliefs,  I will be labeled a Homophobic, and a gay basher.  Which is as far from the truth as the east is from the west.

I never want to get into the political debate but there comes a time when we can’t stay silent.  I don’t know what will happen if the President does not get re-elected.  The fear of what will happen if he does makes me want to say what is on my heart.

We still do not have a budget.  I understand we are all in one way or another immigrants.  But when we talk about kids in America suffering, why do we allow non-citizens more freedom and government programs than for our own. Why do immigrants find it easier to get business help from our government and we Americans are denied some of those same benefits.  I don’t have all the facts; I may speak out of turn, style, or just straight frustration.  I want what’s best for our country just like every hard working man or woman does.  I’m just, confused, tired and at times downright angry that it seems harder on the average American than those that are not even a citizen.  That’s not right.

I just want America to be great again – a time when we had moral values that were strong.  When there was definite right from wrong instead of “do what you feel like.” I want a government that is governed by the people and for the people, not government controlled.

As far as separation of church and state, all’s that meant was, the government would not tell us what religion we would practice as a nation. That’s it.  Enough said.  I’m done.

You know it seems the writer in me goes through spurts.  There are times when I get creative and I can’t wait to get my thoughts or ideas down on paper.  Wait, again I remind myself that even though I may have started to put my thoughts on paper 18 years ago, nowhere in my writing is paper involved.

My recent venture into the tech world, (which I have documented in several other blogs or ramblings) is, not only do I have a PC, and a laptop, cell-phone, iPod; I now add an iPad to my personal collection.  I have raved and also knocked technology, but in most cases and for the most part the convenience of most of it is remarkable.

I carry my iPad with me always because like most people my calendar is available at times when I may be asked if a certain date is available. Plus it is much easier to grab it and jot down a note or a thought for later. The process of writing is really neat, cool, and exciting. For instance the thought of putting something down on paper, sorry, putting thoughts into my iPad and retrieving them later on my home computer with out the aid of a flash drive is cool.

I had no idea what I was going to share as I started this blog, or rambling, I just had a thought and as my fingers started to type the thoughts grew into a small article, blog or a rambling. It just started to take a life of its own.  That’s the joy I get out of writing. Starting with some thoughts then let my mind take over.

Some people when writing a book suggest you put together a story board.  Some people like the story to develop as they get lost and they get excited to see where it will take them. Both ways have advantages and disadvantages. There really is no right or wrong way. I myself like the story to come to life while I write it. Yes I have a story in mind, but how I get from the beginning to the end is an adventure in itself. I get excited as if I am reading the book and can’t wait to see what happens on the next page. I know in my mind what’s going to happen or what I want to happen, but seeing how my mind will make the fingers type out the desired conclusion is like turning the page with anticipation, to see where the story goes.

Those are some of the joys and fun I receive from writing.  Seeing what happens and what the results are of what was on my mind at the time.  For instance this article is over 500 words. When I first sat to write something I had no idea of what, or where, the article would, or  be about, or how it would end.  That’s part of the fun and enjoyment a writer gets out of writing.  To see where they may have started with an empty piece of paper, (yes some still do use paper) or a blank screen and to see what they have completed once whatever they had on their mind at the time, has come to life.  Even if was in the form of a character, or informational piece, or maybe, like in this case, just a bunch of ramblings.

Who cares? That’s how I feel and that’s what I’m going to write. I have a right to
my opinion and we live in a country where there is a right to free speech and I
feel the need to freely practice that right. That was my response when I was
asked if I really wanted to write this and have it read by someone who may get
upset and take action to stop further attempts at expressing my opinion. At
first the writer and then the rebel inside said “you betcha”. Then the rational
side bumped into my pride and said maybe
you should think about this.

So I am thinking and the more I think about, I think the
whole personal rights thing would make a good article itself. So I will place
the original article to the side and look to other avenues to express that
freedom and will share something different.

When do we take our freedom too far? We have the “freedom of speech” but that
doesn’t mean we stand up in a movie theater and yell “FIRE”. We also have the
“freedom of choice” but do we take that freedom out of context and use it to
take an innocent life? We have the right to
“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, but do we act immorally to gain
those rights? It’s been said that you can’t legislate morality, so where do we
go, or what do we use for a foundation to stand on? Our founding fathers, when
writing the laws of the land and the Constitution, used a moral standard as
their foundation. So even though morality cannot be legislated, we can ask
those who feel they need to use their immorality to make a statement, “why”?

I broached the question once. At what point
is someone’s right to do what they want wrong? The answer came back, when it invades my morals and offends me, it
has gone too far. I had to decipher that for a moment until it finally made
sense. A person can do whatever he or she wants as long as the practice does
not invade my space. They can do all they want in a place where it effects no
one else. We all have that freedom. When we stand there and express it in a way
that offends someone then it’s wrong. The burning of the American flag or the
desecration of it in any way really bothers me. As Americans we do have the
right to protest. We need to realize when protests take place there are those
that may be offended. We can stand and say “I don’t care, I have a right”.  This may be true and let’s always give thanks
to God we live in a country that has that freedom. Let’s also remember that in
order to be heard we need to listen.

Once again our forefathers did not expect lawyers, radicals, liberals, to take the
words they founded this nation on and twist them and look for loop holes to make
it support whatever cause they stand for or stand against. We need to be able
to protest the things we feel need to change or things that need to be made
better. We do not need to twist things to make it fit our personal agenda.
Wrong is wrong.

If it was wrong back then it’s probably still wrong today. If morality worked back
then, morality will work today. It’s funny, if you look back through our
history, the looser we get with our morality and our laws, the more
uncontrolled we have become. The cry goes out “what has happened to our
society”? We are losing it because we have let go of the foundation it was laid
upon.  When you mess with a foundation
the whole structure becomes fragile and weak. Our morals have been slowly chipped
away like dried up mortar between bricks.

The foundation of our great nation was built with strong moral convictions that
over the years have stayed firm. But with the driving force of a jackhammer the
liberal philosophy is slowly making it weak. With its continuous pounding the
footing we started with is becoming unsure and unstable. We need to realize
that if we continue to haphazardly, selfishly, and mistakenly use our rights
our foundation will crumble from under us. Then with what, will we stand?

Vacation!
Yes! If you’re like me it’s something we all look forward to. Sometimes,
however we travel so much and run to every possible attraction that before we
realize it, the time of relaxation is over and we never really relaxed. I have
always wanted to take a vacation and do nothing but nothing. So far, the time
away from my 40 hour, (wait, things are slow at work so I have to say 35 hour)
weekly requirement to bring home the necessary funds to survive, has been the
least active time off I have ever enjoyed.

First let me say that my wife and I love to drive, so even the trek to our spot of
leisure was a joy. Now that we have arrived, we have both declared “NO
AGENDA”!!! We let the day, our mood, our desire, and our minds set the pace. We
are going to do nothing but nothing. The evening we arrived we set our luggage
down and went to the pool.  We have
basically been there ever since. I’m not joking. We get up, have a light breakfast
and off to the pool. While at the pool we read, nap, or take a dip. Usually
it’s all three. So far at the mid-point we have been to the coast, out to
dinner and once to lunch. Each time we end up back at the pool.

I know some may be saying “how boring”! That’s just it. We want to be bored,” in
essence”.  After the daily schedule and
commitments that come from our jobs and other activities that we get involved
with, a small time away from all of it and be able to do nothing but nothing is
actually very exciting.  So when a brief
shower interrupts a small time at the pool it has no effect on what we do. We
move under the canopy and continue right on reading and writing this blog.
After 30 minutes guess what? The rain has stopped and we venture back out to
the pool and continue our “nothing”.

Sure there are numerous exciting, expensive places we can indulge in, but by doing
nothing it also becomes a very affordable vacation. That is another reason for
loving doing nothing. I mean with the aforementioned hours being reduced, the
need to be very “frugal” during this vacation is vital. With fall approaching,
and Christmas right around the corner, well you know what I mean. So for the
first time I am able to achieve what I think constitutes a vacation.

A time to sit back and refocus, recharge, and reconnect. That is my goal for
these twelve days away from work. Half way through and right on schedule. Will
come back to finish when I feel too bored and need a little something to do. We
have been to some very interesting spots down in Jensen Beach. We partook of
the cuisine at Mulligan’s and enjoyed some reggae music and then moved up the
block to Crawdaddy’s to hear some good blues. (Will be headed back there one
night this week). Lunch at Duffy’s was a treat but breakfast at Jan’s was a
little disappointing, only for the fact they put more cheese than egg in their omelets.

Looking forward to getting back to Jensen beach on Thursday night for “Jammin in
Jensen” a weekly event that has all types of music and the culture is well
represented.  Enjoying the night-life with no agenda and no alarm clock is very cool. The hardest thing to do is to
decide where to go. On Wednesday night we ventured out to Shucker’s. It is
right along the coast and sitting there listening to the waves crash and having
a delightful portion of Penne Primavera that was more than enough for both of
us. With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop and the love of my life next to me,
the evening couldn’t have been more perfect.

A walk over the St. Lucie River on Thursday morning was
refreshing and an exhilarating way to start the day. Then guess where we ended
up? That’s right, back to the pool. Actually after just a couple of hours, both
my wife and I said, “That’s enough.” You know the old saying “too much of a
good thing”. Well I think we may have hit the point of no return. We are
starting to feel a little bored of being bored. I know, I know, I started out with
the premise of do nothing but nothing. Well, after 7 days of doing nothing we
are looking forward to doing something. So it’s Thursday and we were told of a
new restaurant to try. Conchy Joe’s was a pure island and tropical setting.
Everything from a raw bar to almost everything nautical on the menu. We went
early and then headed to” Jammin’.  We ended up ( I told you we would) back at Crawdaddy’s and heard a great band
called Shaker’s. With a sky filled with lightning as a backdrop they played an
electrifying set that matched the light show in the southern sky.

Friday! End of the week and one day away from leaving our
“boring” vacation. At least that’s what you may be thinking and “yes” I did
elude a couple of paragraphs earlier that we were feeling bored. Make no
mistake, we love our vacation and though we may be a little bored we are sad
it’s almost over.

The morning of our trip home started the same. Well, first
straightened up and started to pack the car. Then we went to the pool and hoped
that some of the acquaintances we had made were there so we could say goodbye.  John and Marge, a couple we met and really
enjoyed their company, were already in the pool and we joined them. We told
them that we look forward to seeing them when we return.  As we traveled back during one of our stops I
was able to post my “blog” on my feelings about 9/11 and will finally post my
week long “blog” about my vacation on Monday which Marge said she will look up
and read.  Hope she enjoys reading and I
hope the rest of my readers do also. John –  thanks for the names, and don’t worry, they’ll
never know!

So it’s back to work and the daily grind. As I mentioned
before, the Christmas rush will require a lot of attention and money, and my
wife’s birthday is here at the end of the month. One more thing to get excited
about……  hockey season will start in 4
weeks Yea!!

So how and where do I begin? Ten years seemed to fly by
faster than I would or could have imagined. I have written about it, I remember
“it” as if it was yesterday and the longer I sit and stare at the screen my
mind is not coming up with a way to Honor and Remember those who lost their
lives on September 11^th 2001. I capitalized those two words because
I feel it is important that we do just that. Honor and Remember. I was not
personally involved and not personally affected by the events that shattered and
changed so many lives.

Wait!

As an American it did affect me and made me very angry. That someone would commit
such a horrific act of violence with disregard to human life in the land of the
free and home of the brave should make us all mad. In the words of former
President Bush, we were told that “we have seen the face of evil.”  It’s ugly! It’s despicable! It’s shameful!
It’s disgusting! It’s the act of cowards! You have to feel that anyone willing
to take the lives of innocent people who have nothing to do with or against
their cause are cowards. And “yes” you may quote me on that!

I guess all the ceremonies and remembrances that will be held will do honor to
those that lost love ones and to those first responders. I unfortunately will
be on the road for the bulk of that day and away from the media. I have seen
previews and want to be able to see and hear all the different stories,
tributes and honor given. Alas, prior commitments with traveling will not allow
that to happen. Hopefully closer to the evening where there will be stopovers I
can catch a glimpse. So in the meantime I write my “blog” while on the road. I
need to share my thoughts on a day, that I feel in the words of former
President Roosevelt, “shall live in infamy” and what as an American I can do.

Honor and Remember! That’s what I can do. Never forget the images of that fatal day.
There are some who are trying to do just that. As if it never happened. Well it
happened on the 11^th of September 2001 and to try and act as if it
did not, and try to erase any evidence of that fact would be a monstrosity. We
were viscously attacked without provocation. Innocent lives were lost and
changed forever.

FOREVER!

Never forget that. We sing about our glorious flag and how it “gave proof through the
night that is flag was still there” We sing in Honor of our flag and for what
it stands for. Those lives also stood for freedom and liberty and they should
never be forgotten.

Freedom.

We should never forget that. Freedom. For beautiful and spacious skies, for amber
waves of grain. For purple mountains majesty above the fruited plain. Those
people lived with that idea in their mind and hearts, and it came to a sudden
end on  that tragic day. That day and those lives should always be Honored and Remembered. We should never forget the lives that were taken.

Never!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America” I remember reciting that every morning before school
started. To me it was a normal part of the day and was never offensive. Of
course at that early age I really didn’t understand the meaning of what I and
the rest of my classmates were saying.

Now being an adult I’m still not offended and never
will be. The word “allegiance” according to Encarta means loyalty to ruler or state or
devoted support. Well my support may not always be devoted (only because I
will not always agree with our government) but I do feel strongly about those
words.  They mean we support the flag and
the republic for which it stands one nation and that the nation is under the
authority of God. What does offended me are those that say they offended by the
words “Under God”.

We have big corporations display those words on
their respective products but remove the words “Under God”. They wish not to
offend any who may buy their product. Now I would have a little more (and I
emphasize little because they are an
American company) understanding when they export their product the wish not to
offend, but when sold here those words should be there in their proper place
and context.

We have national broadcasting channel
recite those words over the airwaves, yet the words “Under God” are not heard.
Those are some very important words. Not only “Under God” but the word God
itself. It’s important enough that it’s the last word the President says when
he finishes the “Oath of Office.

Every President has ended his oath with
“So help me God”. Now I know that when the oath of office was written, our founding
fathers mention of God was there for more than just purpose or platitude. I’m
sure that when our earliest Presidents recited that same oath they did not
expect our moral values to change, though they have. Though it has been argued
that you can’t legislate morality, morality is a fiber that is sown into the
fabric of America. It’s who we are.  It’s
what we are known for and it was the foundation of what this country was and is
built on. You can’t weaken any foundation without it affecting the whole
structure. Our country was placed on a moral foundation that our forefathers
felt was needed to make us strong. The guidance they had came from personal
convictions and sought out wisdom, through prayer and council.

Did they get everything right? No. Our
country is still reeling from past mistakes but we are learning and we are
growing to become even a stronger country. That doesn’t mean that when we
change, our morals change with it. If the guidance our founding fathers used
was the word of God, that same God that they swear the oath to, and the same
God that is in the Bible they place their left hand on, then that should be
what we use to guide us in decisions today. God gives man the right to choose,
but that does not mean that the choice we make is not without consequence or
that the choice we make, makes it right. I hold any President responsible to
make decisions based on the foundation this country was founded on. If we mess
with our foundation the consequence of that will eventually weaken our
strength. Stop worrying about offending. They don’t like it they can leave. Now
I don’t wish to sound callous or selective but why should we as a country, a
“self govern” country give up our freedom to give proper Glory to and respect
for “God”. That was the reason we left and started this country.

We were not worried then about
offending. We took a stand and fought, built, and structured our country to be
one of freedom and take care of ourselves without the fear of tyranny. We
placed God as a very important part of that construction. Now after 235 years
we start to wonder if it’s right or wrong to have the Pledge of Allegiance
recited in schools. Oh we can do that if we remove the words “Under God”.

You don’t even hear the National Anthem
on most nationally broadcasted sporting events. I said most and I’m not
including local or cable broadcasts. We as a nation need to remember why this
country was founded. We have men and woman, husbands and wives, moms and dads,
brothers and sisters, fighting everyday to keep us free. To keep even those who
may not want the words “Under God” or the word “God” on anything, free to speak
out their disapproval or resentment of the word. That is the joy of freedom.
You may not always agree and like what happens, but at least you’re free to
express it. We shouldn’t change for a small minority of people who don’t like
something but hold on to what the majority of people believe is most important
and true. That our nation is and should remain known as “One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty and justice for all”.