Many of us have made it through another year. Even with the Chinese Virus still causing havoc. Our Government has turned things upside down, opening the border, shutting down oil, gas and coal production making us dependent on OPEC and now Europe on Russia. We have neglected our armed service people and many are depressed and committing suicide. 22 on average die each day. In the general public it is 130 each day. From every perspective it is too many. 100,000 have died from Fentanyl overdoses. It flows from China to Mexico where it is contaminated and shipped to us. We have illegals committing crimes, released and then committing more crimes. And so on. It is a sad, sad situation that is going to need the hand of intercession by our Heavenly Father. The last two years seem lost except for our personal efforts in taking care of that which is before us. I have been lucky to have had my daughter, Chris and her son, Oliver live with me and then near me. It has been a gift to have them about. It was especially wonderful to have them both helping me move from my beautiful home on Michibay Drive to one on the same drive four miles to the west which was just a little smaller. It is located on a beautiful bay area of Lake Michigan. There are great views from the house. The two, plus Ollie’s girlfriend helped me immensely from the middle of June until recently, now that we have things mostly under control. It was a big task but we did it. I hope we can have our first cousins reunion here in 2022. My health is above moderate, but no one needs the litany. I like many, because of Covid, have neglected to my dismay many that I didn’t wish to. I go to daily mass four days a week, pray for everyone, and skip the weekends just to try and be safe. I will make some snowmen to honor my relatives and friends. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and an improved Happy New Year for 2022. We all have lost some loved ones this year. It is the way of life and we will see them again or for the first time down the road. God bless you all, my friends and be at peace. Be at peace. Steve Haarman aka Stanski Blog: stevehaarman.com 906-291-3228 land 906-286-0446 cell
Day: December 25, 2021
MY THOUGHTS AND STATEMENT
Days go by. I sit, write about desires
and miracles while waiting patiently.
What do I know? Are expectations real?
Am I bold enough? I move on, never stopping,
always taking steps. Where will they lead?
I have a purpose. I try to improve condition.
My life is full. I have fallen. Know what
getting up means. Have released my sins.
Sought forgiveness. Released and forgiven those
offending me. Where is the glory?
Dancing with clowns is disheartening.
Getting approval from idiots, who claim
to be sacred administrators of justice.
What do they know? They have forsaken the many,
chased after false idols. Do not know mountains or
the thrill of victory after having been beaten back,
too many times to count. That I am alive is a miracle;
am able to function, a miracle; the desire to improve and help others,
a miracle. Still, I wait patiently for more. I am not sullen.
There are prospects and time for me to act boldly.
Find happiness, which may be temporary, but so is life.
The hereafter will speak for itself. For now, I will flap my wings,
angel wings, put them to human use. Vow not to hurt anyone,
stifle my pride, and celebrate loud and silent joy. Participate at all levels.
Look for the Master in others. Refrain from judging, stay strong,
and sing my songs of love. No one needs to know, but
they will see my glow and acknowledge it in their own way.
How great is that? Life is wonderful.
Angelic manifestation is the only thing
I have experienced that supersedes it.
Stanski
Christmas 2021
MEDITATION FOR DECEMBER 25
Today is a celebration of your birth and
there is reason to celebrate if we can
for you are the key to the reality of
goodness in our lives and without you
we would be lost and abandoned.
We need you in our lives and pray that
we can keep that thought foremost in our minds.
Everything we do is by your grace.
Without you, nothing will be done
of any consequence in respect to our salvation.
We have much to learn about your prophets and
the miracles you performed through them.
Those teaching us have much to learn and
they can only base their knowledge on
what they have learned about you from
the notes we have on your brief period
of life on this earth. We pray that you will
deepen our faith in you by the delivery of
your words and works by men who have
studied them and who remain in awe of you
and humble in the knowledge that you are
the one and no one of us is as important as you.
Our records look sad for the most part
in a world that we have cluttered with
our selfish needs to have more and more
at the expense of your loved ones who
must endure with less. We need constant
reminders of why we are here and must be in prayer,
thanking you for the gift of life and asking for
forgiveness for our evil ways which caused
you to give up your life for us and our sins.
You are the only gift that really matters to this day.
Steve Haarman, December 25, 2021 ^.
THE NEW SEASON
We are in the winter season and
really don’t know what this means.
Each season is independent but has
a connection with the other seasons.
One cannot exist in reality without the others.
It is a concept that makes us think of each other.
We are all independent beings, but alone
means very little as opposed to what
we are when connected to each other.
There are transformations that take place
when we are involved with others.
Without a certain being who influences us
we may stumble through life with failures
but with Him, we are turned toward success
and remain, thusly, connected to him forever.
The seasons do not just start and end but
the gradual build-up and the fading away while
the next is just beginning connects them and
leads them to give us the unexpected,
the beauty, the violence, and the unpredictability
which creates the excitement of living.
Our relationships with others fall along this same pathway.
Certain acts affect us in ways we never knew possible
and often save us from a life of sadness.
Jesus is the gift given to us this season and
when we listen to the stories of His life
we are lifted and encouraged to follow in His footsteps.
We are not required to do this but many are
inspired to do so and in doing so live a life
that is fulfilling and happy even through periods of distress.
Just as seasons change we are vulnerable to change and
do change but the underlining connection with Jesus
makes the steps we have to take bearable although
we do not seek an easy way through life. It is with Him
that we are able to endure and often able
to help carry the cross that He bore for us.
The seasons are far from certain in how they will be.
Some are great and others are difficult, but
years go by and we look at them all as average.
In life we see similarities, but by His grace, we adjust
and take the good with the bad and try to be thankful.
We know we have much to be thankful for and in return
we have the obligation to give back,
similar to winter giving way to spring.
It is a wonderful life when we have the right attitude.
Stanski on December 25, 2021 ^