Monday, June 20, 2016

Our Failing Hearts

It's been many months now that the phrase "Men's hearts shall fail them"  has been floating in my mind.


"And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people."      


This scripture is referring to events leading up to the second coming (Christ coming to the earth again to rule and reign). It is a sign of the times in which we are now in.

For me, although the context is referring to fear taking over, I also feel it means that love is being lost. Love shall fail them. Love will cease to be sought after. Love will no longer thrive in the hearts of people.

Mocking death threats to an oppressive government. A family's tragedy turned guilt inflicting nightmare. Turning speculation into a voiced weapon of intentional harm. Instead of praising that a child's life was saved the focus is placed on the "unjust" death of the animal that would have killed him. The right to kill babies is not only legal, but strongly defended. Men's hearts are indeed failing them. Love and non-judgement is pridefully being paraded overtop a deceptive beast that's full of hatred, vanity, and finger-pointing.

It's everywhere. I even see it in myself.


Why we feel the need to be up to date with every detail in someone else's circumstance is saddening. It's almost as if we feel that if we knew every detail we would be justified in critiquing them. As if we're somehow exempt from the sin of judging others if we have bits of information in our hands for proof. As if in some way we could actually walk in another's shoes.

We can't.

We'll never know another's circumstance. No matter how much we've read about it. Watched the news over it. Or even visited with them personally about it. We'll never have a full account. There is only 2 people who will ever know another's experience and that is the individual and Christ through his ever-reaching atonement. Not us. Never us.

So what can we do? What can I do about my failing heart?

I can fill it with love. Love is what it needs to thrive. To sustain life within it. To keep it going.

"LOVE: Deep devotion and affection. Love for God includes devotion, adoration, reverence, tenderness, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, grace, service, gratitude, kindness. The greatest example of God’s love for his children is found in the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ."  -'Love' Guide to the Scriptures


"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another". John 13:34

"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."1 John 4:18

I think actively loosing ourselves in serving others is the key to ensuring our hearts don't fail us.

I also think we need to be mindful of the circumstances that seem to cloud our heart with judgement. Whether it's when we're around certain people, certain places, or certain social media outlets.

Our hearts are depending on us. Will we fail them?


"May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong." 


Heaven's slice is filling our hearts with love. 


Saturday, June 11, 2016

The Dirt In Our Manes

Anybody's whose spent a good portion of their lives in an enclosed arena will definitely relate to that which this post is referring to.

You spend a better part of an hour or more chasing in calves, opening up shoots, warming up horses and chasing down decent shots for your loop to snare. 
You sit in stands watching how their runs play out and wait for your event to make it's show. 
You practise in quansits. 
It's the horse loving sport. The work, practise, and performance. 
And after it's all said and done and you exit it's stage with your horse in tow. 
Load him up or turn her out. It's over. 
And you eventually feel what has subtly settled onto your hair and eyelashes. 
Dirt. 
Good ol' dirt that's been kicked up and swirled about in the horse-work steam and cattle cry air. 
You can feel it's tangible texture as you touch your head and you can see it visibly on your eyelashes. 
I cherish that texture. 
It's so many childhood memories soaring through. Adolescences. 
From teenage angst. To young adulthood. To well, yesterday. 
For me that dirt hair feel brings more of a memory than a photo can convey. 
It may be an odd way of thinking. 
But it truly brings memories and more of myself into the experience than any device could try to capture. No matter how public I could make it on social media.
That dirt all tangled into my mane is a symbol of rodeo heritage for me. 
The dirt in our manes is beauty wild.

And I'm bestowing it onto her.





Heaven's slice is tangible textures that make memories linger.





Monday, June 6, 2016

Why This Blog Makes No Money

...

and never will.



Well firstly, there is no ads on it. So there's that reason.

Secondly, I feel this blog has too much personal depth in between all the silliness, and I just can't justify any reason to capitalize on it. I was prompted and inspired by powers beyond my own to start this and a lot of posts were written without my hands touching the keyboard so to speak. Even if what I write touches one soul, one individual, and that lone individual is just myself, then all the efforts made are worth it.

This blog is designed to promote. Not advertise. To promote that which is good. Good in myself and the good in life.

And hopefully this gives light to the good in your life as well.



Heaven's slice isn't in it for fame nor money.