Dionne Warwick I'll Never Fall In Love Again 1970 Top 10 Hit

You gotta have friends

God is full of surprises. I made a phone call to a complete stranger, at the recommendation of a friend of mine. I thought the conversation would be brief, but it turned into a marathon; I have never spent so much time in one phone conversation! We clicked, and I have a new friend, which is good because I need all the friends I can get. Of course, some friends are closer than others, and this friend has become very close in a very short amount of time.

I have said it over and over, the journey is not meant to be taken alone; we all need companions as we experience what God has for us. I'm thankful for the new friends I have made over the past two years, and for those who have been there for me in the years before that. Although I sometimes feel alone, when all is said and done, I never am alone; God is with me, and so are my friends here on earth, whom I can taste, touch, see and hear, and smell (but only on rare occasions.)

I truly am fortunate.

Peace,
Chuck

Flooded

It's flooding in Milford and schools are closing early today because of it; some of the streets are impassable -- you can't even go downtown! Sometimes I feel like I am flooded and shut down as well. Freedom comes at such a price, and before I am free, I will find the price is even higher. Right now the task before me looms large and seems bigger than I am able to cope with. But I draw strength from my God and my friends. And I am blessed to have made a new friend, at least by phone, last night. The journey to freedom is to be shared, and I hope to share my journey, my struggles and my joys with another human being and I pray God will give me that person soon, if God hasn't already done so.

it's too late - carole king

Carole King - Tapestry

Happy Cinco de Mayo

This is NOT the Independence Day of Mexico, but the day in which the Mexican army defeated the French in battle. It's a day for all oppressed people to celebrate standing up to their oppressors. Think of the American Revolution. Think of the Stonewall riots. We must fight our own personal battles as we struggle to be free. The journey to freedom is not easy, but it's not one to be taken alone, either. Together we can choose to live in freedom, refusing the shackles that others have placed upon us, and ridding ourselves of the chains we have put on ourselves. It's worth the price we pay. I am reminded of the slogan on New Hampshire license plates: Live free or die!
Beckett

Personally

As I consider my journey to freedom so close to the fortieth anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., I ask myself if I am working only for my own personal freedom or for the freedom of others as well. Those who know me, understand that I write things which can only be fully understood by knowing who I am in my totality. Disclosing myself completely is not something which I can do on this blog, but I can do it on a one to one basis with trusted friends; who indeed reveals of themselves in a forum such as this? I can help others break the chains of fundamentalism on this blog, but I seek a freedom that goes beyond that -- the freedom to speak my truth without fear of incurring the wrath of my superiors. The day may come when I dare to infuriate them with my own personal truth, but that day is not today; it is for a tomorrow which I hope will not take another forty years to come. I love my God, and my God loves me, but there are those who would deny that truth. And I am well aware that I must speak the truth in love; it is perhaps the most important thing I can do for those who agree with me, and for those who vehemently and violently disagree. I cannot be free so long as any of my sisters or brothers is imprisoned, not by chains, nor by iron bars in a cell, but imprisoned by the god of fundamentalism, the god of hate, I choose to serve the God of love, the God of freedom, the God of Jesus of Nazareth.