If the one loved leaves a bright red rose
Don't tear the offering apart
Looking for some meaning it doesn't declare
It is enough it sweetens the air
Don't ruin it's soft, sweet smelling petals
Don't crush its vulnerable heart.

The red rose of love is what it is
Nothing more nothing less.
Examined too closely, the lover could miss
The message it offers, and the hopes it imparts
Don't damage its petals
Don't crush its heart.

If you hold the rose lightly
Caress its velvet soft leaves
Be careful of its delicate stem, which might sting
Watch out for the thorns a rose always brings
Love doesn't just embrace us; love has demands
Don't let loves red rose die, in your hands.

F. Rice 4-11-2010 (C)

Our journey into the heart of God is seldom lit with flashing neon lights.
Neither is the journey always easy, it takes a strong heart (a needy heart) to get to God's heart.
Sometimes the journey seems dark, the way dim and unclear.
We don't always have a map through its rugged terrain.
In the Scriptures we have many personal maps of those who have forged their way through.
We have many from different era's, different times and with differing degrees of intent.
The Scriptures, and History too, is full of the testimonies of those who have explored that Landscape.

Some started out for that country and never returned.
The Bible is full of Soul-prints left by the great ones of Christ's day.
Since then we too have witnessed down through the years, great men and women who have finished the journey.
We can see for ourselves their Soul-prints embedded in history.
Our own lives have been enriched and inspired by their hearty testimonies.
Among us today there are those who are just about ready to go to the other side, where their journey will be rewarded.
Some are part way through, others are just now starting on this awesome journey to the heart of the Father.
Some have had their journey interrupted, others have seen their journey take wild twists and turns, some have aborted the journey altogether.
Some complain, and turn back just as the lights of home beckon in the distance.
There are those however, who persevere until they break through the night into the dawn of the new day.
This journey isn't for the faint of heart, to finish the course one must be driven by love for the Beloved.
F.Rice (C)

c

Merely skirting the outer perimeters of the abyss of complacency.

What is the main cause for complacency, and just what is complacency; does it start within the deep soul of a man or woman?
A couple of definitions from the dictionary on complacency:
1) Self-satisfaction.
2) Unconcerned.

Maybe indifference could (should) have been another definition.
If we took the two words, self-satisfaction and unconcerned, we'd have no trouble finding letters, with which to make up the word indifference.
For the time being, let's stick with two of the dictionary definitions for complacency.

Let me also add, that the time which I spend upon this article writing it, and those of us who read it; we must remember we are not exempt from some form of complacency.
For, it is likely that Self-satisfaction has come back to bite many or most of us, at one time or another.

Is there ever a smile so smug, or an act so thoroughly self-serving as self-satisfaction?
Even the question itself is an oxy-moron.
Yet, we can one and all attest to this fact; for we have without doubt, seen or experienced the old demon of Self-satisfaction.

If, one were to take a plunge into an in-depth exploration of the abyss of Self-satisfaction, one might write until the end of ones life, and never exhaust the subject.
One also might properly ask, 'isn't there a positive side to the idea of Self-satisfaction?'
Perhaps not!! For, the idea of 'positivity' regarding Self-satisfaction, would likely be a very slippery slope.

There is a striking difference between, base Self-satisfaction and the 'gratification' of ones accomplishments.
In the attitude of gratitude we see a beautiful streak of thankfulness.
In gratification, there is a knowing that we owe somewhat to those who have buoyed us up and, those who have contributed to our gifts; it therefore may not be classed as merely, self-satisfaction.

I see already, on just one of these definitions, it has taken a lot of time and words.
So, very quickly we will attempt, by grace, to show a little of the other half of 'complacency.'
Unconcerned:
'As a general rule we don't concern ourselves with people, or things which hold no interest for us.'

If we've never sat for a day, with a friend who has for whatever reason, poor verbal skills; and really listened to their story, then we have no idea how it really feels to walk in their shoes.
But, it isn't always just the mentally incapacitated who hold no interest for some folks.
Anybody, who looks different or has different ideas, can lead to 'unconcern' for many of us.

If they don't attend our church, or believe the way we do, or if they have different religious or political views than ours, then they are not one of us, therefore, we need have no interest in them.
If they espouse a different view of sexual orientation, they are a liability, therefore not to be accepted.
If they don't fit in, then it is o.k to just be indifferent to them.

Do we, in complacency, walk unconcernedly, past the beggar?
Do we forget to visit the incarcerated, and the lonely; would the old and infirm only slow us down?
I think not!! For clearly as His lambs and sheep, we wish to leave His 'Soul-print' upon what we do.
The body of Christ in this earth today, goes about doing good, in the fulfillment of His wishes.
And it does so, for His satisfaction, and to show His concern for All People.

F.Rice 4-5-2010 (C)

Often we meet people and say, 'that person really impressed me.'
The person hasn't just impressed you, it is likely the person has left his/her soul-print upon you.
The idea of soul-prints has been around a long time, I am sure.
Although perhaps, there are still some of us who have never looked at it quite like this before.
For me this is just more incentive to try and be sure that the soul-print I am leaving behind impresses toward Jesus.
My experience with Jesus was more than just an impression, He left a deep soul-print upon mine.
I deeply crave that His soul-print be super-imposed upon mine.

It is evident that evil too, can leave its soul-print upon our lives.
This is immediately obvious as we look seriously about us, and witness the carnage and devastation left in its wake.
It pains me to see people who look like real shepherds, but when the mask slips we see not the soul-print of Jesus,
but the wicked face of evil.
I am mesmerized by the bold, and bald statements made by some against those whom God has placed in power.
By neglecting to understand and obey what is clearly stated in Romans concerning our leaders, the body of Christ in such areas has blind spots.
History has a way of repeating itself, therefore the wise among us is required to recognize whose soul-print is stamped upon the coin.

3-31-2010 (C)

Our world has seen many great souls come and go.
It has also seen many not so great, come and go.
Hitler was one of the not so greats, as was Saddam Husein.
My focus though is on the greats!
Jesus, Gandhi, and Mother Theresa, just to name a few.
The list is endless, and of all of the great souls who have visited our earth, Jesus is who I most adore.

'No one ever cared for me like Jesus!'
When life deals me a losing hand, He gives me His hand.
When the load is impossible, He carries me.
When it seems I am going under, He lifts me over.
In times of deep anguish, He embraces me.
When all other friends are too busy, He comes along side.

Soul prints has always intrigued me. I am convinced that each of us leaves a soul print in our wake, in much the same way we leave finger prints behind, after we have handled something.
I have been moved by the beauty of some souls, with whom I've been in contact.
On the other hand I have been dismayed by the unloveliness of others.
Some souls have impacted me for good, others for their lack of goodness.
Some move us to compassion, some move us toward love.
No matter which way we are moved or impacted, we sense the imprint of the others soul.

When we first encounter another, almost without volition we look immediately into each others eyes.
Some say, "the eyes are the windows of the soul.'' I'm inclined to believe there is some truth to this.
This is a concept we mostly want to have validated to us.
We search the eyes of a loved one and in them we feel, we see exactly what they feel for us.
Our joy is indescribable when we see looking right back at us all the love, and caring we are projecting.
Sometimes there seems no need for words, the soul knows its own language, and speaks volumes to the searcher.
Now, we have received and left a Soul print in our wake.

24-3-10