Month: September 2016

Don’t Turn Out the Lights

J. Rogue3 Comments

The way it works when people meet:
At first you don’t like each other; a stranger becomes a brother
The way it works when people meet:
Iron sharpens iron; you give advice and then it’s my turn

We’ve come so far together, haven’t we? Side by side, brothers-in-arms. Some otherworldly force brought us together, and now we part with heavy hearts.

You’re moving on. The force calls you to another mission. Though we hurt for losing you, we’ll keep on believing and keep on helping. We’ll heal the brokenhearted and mend their wounds. We’ll look after the orphans and widows.

Don’t turn out the lights when you go on. Keep your fire burning and we’ll keep our torches lit. We’ll be reunited once again, and hold on to every willing heart.

This goodbye’s a tough one. Let none go missing when the final count is made.

dont-turn-out-the-lights

Don’t Turn Out the Lights

From Jacob, With Love

J. Rogue1 Comment

Dearest Rachel,

I’m beset by thoughts of a distant you. Your rich almond eyes speak deep and mysterious soul-truths. Your visage grips me. You are the fuel that feeds my fire and yet you consume me. My heart aches with longing for the next time I’ll see you.

I wait with the patience of a thousand ancient hills, and no hope is too distant. But these hills tremble with a deep, groaning shudder. My whole earth shakes under the burden of this heavy, hungry heart.

Be with me soon, my love.

One of the oldest love stories in written history. See Genesis 29:18-20 for context. 

ill-wait

From Jacob, With Love

On the Road: Day One

J. Rogue1 Comment

At first, maybe unimpressive. Just some guy singing part of some unknown song in front of a Joshua Tree. A few mistakes, some hesitant vocals, and the sound of birds and wind in the microphone at the end. So what’s the big deal?

This is a snapshot of change.

Something happened out there in the desert. I took that long, slow trip across the Mojave with no agenda but to eventually arrive in the mountains. Guitar in trunk, and having no idea how it would sound and look, I sang just to see what it would feel like. And it felt great.

Wishing I’d put more into it, I kept the video and started a fun new hobby: playing live music on the internet. Within weeks, this eclectic exercise in performance art showed me things about living that I would never let go. And I’m still learning.

But the big secret of this all, the one that would take me months to share with anyone, is that I knew I was facing the greatest challenge of my life. The physical pain and other effects of an accident nearly three years earlier was growing heavier and harder to bear. This was the day I started to understand the strength within myself just wouldn’t be enough.

And I started to see differently the many others who are lost and forgotten by the wayside.

I learned something new about what that felt like.

We can’t get through this alone.

We all need others.

#Others

On the Road: Day One