Month: January 2025

There is thought of change

Because you resist the conventional

Others may be disappointed in you

Unable to fully understand

There are different strokes

As the old saying goes

We all learn our own ways

Being true to your self can be good

No one has any idea of

Who they influence and inspire

Changing when you are fine

Is not the thing to desire

Your truth in action, in being

Is more than what it seems, to

Those who may doubt you

You cannot worry or be in a hurry

To try to change so as to please

It is they who have to seize

The chance to tell you to carry on

The way you do because it suits you

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 9, 2025 ^

We should give up all things

of inconsequence in exchange

for eternal joy.  At first it seems

like so much, but eternity is forever.

Our sacrifice does not compare to

that of Christ on the cross. 

We are all to return to dust and

it is good to remember, especially

when we seem shortchanged.

Being given the gift of life supersedes

any hardships we may endure.

Being born in this country is like

winning the lotto.  The least of us

have more than most of the world.

We have cravings and must keep

things in perspective.  Naysayers

are quick to condemn those

proposing solutions which will

improve conditions in the whole world. 

We are shortsighted and use arguments

to defeat or advance based on our own views.

We must pray if we desire joy.  Amen

By Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 8, 2025 ^

We should give up all things

of inconsequence in exchange

for eternal joy.  At first it seems

like so much, but eternity is forever.

Our sacrifice does not compare to

that of Christ on the cross. 

We are all to return to dust and

it is good to remember, especially

when we seem shortchanged.

Being given the gift of life supersedes

any hardships we may endure.

Being born in this country is like

winning the lotto.  The least of us

have more than most of the world.

We have cravings and must keep

things in perspective.  Naysayers

are quick to condemn those

proposing solutions which will

improve condition in the whole world. 

We are shortsighted and use arguments

to defeat or advance based on our own views.

We must pray if we desire joy.  Amen

By Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 8, 2025 ^

I sit, wondering what life is all about

Death is certainly a part of life

It is the end and leaves those behind empty

There is so much involved in life and the living

Good and evil coexist and the resolution of this

Is a complex equation that no mathematician or

Scientist can put a pencil or experiment to and

Come up with and definite explanation

One we knew as gentle and vivacious in the

Summer past is lost forever in the cold of winter

It is for those left who wrestle with the whys and wherefores

The taken one is in the hands of angels and higher spirituals

We mourn because we do not understand and

We mourn because we do not realize that the deceased

Condition is now most likely far superior to our own

It is we who are left behind who have to continue to

Deal with the complexities of life which leave us a

State of conflict, where it is difficult to come together

Because we all think so differently and what is good for one

Is not acceptable to another and a minor battle rages

It is a situation where one who was carefree and lived life

As if there was no tomorrow passes, is praised for his

Approach and honored with accolades and soon forgotten

It is, this life, a situation where sanitation does not exist,

In many places around the globe and we cannot understand,

Nor is there enough food or water to prevent malnutrition

And those who try to fix the situation are stymied by

Those in charge and dictators who want fees and control

The givers are frustrated, dictators are indifferent and

Organizations who can do nothing are pleading for money

Life does not equate with peace as much as death does

In life we must make our peace by following precepts

Given by those who know and have experienced the way. 

This may not be easy but it is one way and we can be proud

And happy for our success and help others who have not

Attached themselves to the concept and find it difficult to do so

The sun casts a golden-bronze on pine trees in the woods right

Next to similar trees covered with snow.  There is beauty.

The sun reflects light off of the ice-mountains formed in the lake.

This is beauty.  Beauty we can attempt to understand while often

Ignoring the beauty in our fellow man because we are so busy

We should take a deep breath and think about these things and

Try to make changes that make condition better for everyone

Our understanding and behavior will improve along with happiness

Steve Haarman aka Stanaki on January 7, 2025 ^

Tolerance is a funny word. It can mean

that you are humble in putting up wilt

a condition that you do not agree with.

You don’t like it but you will go along

with it if it will bring peace to a situation.

In life we tolerate many things and to list

them all one would run out of paper.

To be a leader you move forward with

agendas that everyone doesn’t like but

are for the common good. When you

are tired there is no desire to get about

your business and that is when guilt

sets in which may lead to depression

and anger. It would be better to think

things through before making a stance.

Your first impression may dissolve as

you encompass the full meaning of

what you are denying. Few people

can do this because they are crowd

led or have pride that will not be

overcome. People have other reasons.

They do not wish to be exposed as

trying to be what they are not. They

have made claims which are not true

and try to keep them undercover.

The country is divided politically,

but we progress, mostly because

egos are reigned in in favor of respect.

We have many religions, but the same

God Almighty. We respect rather than

tolerate this situation. We are sometimes

victims of anger and we have no idea

what caused it and had to tolerate it

until the time when the truth of the

matter is exposed. Returning the anger

does no good so we endure and respond

with kindness. If we cannot tolerate

condition then we should do what

we can in an effort to change it.

Little things can mean a lot in

this upside-down world we live in.

Stanski

January 6, 2025, ^

It is very bright today. Yesterday there was no snow on

the tree branches and today they bow down from the

snow’s weight as though trying to show their respect.

The bare ground has eight inches of fresh snow, and

we are locked in until the roads are cleared. The

brightness is blinding and I do not feel bad for myself

because I am content. There are many civil servants,

merchants, medical personal, and administrators who

must be out in this to perform their duties. I feel for

them. Schools are closed and I worry for the parents

as children are restless these days after the Covid-19

incident with all its complexities. It would be a good

time to grasp all the realities and settle down. Maybe

begin anew with regulations of value which would

bring everyone together with the feeling of contentment.

At our worst we have it better than most. There is

hunger in our community for orderly progress without

all the bickering by those who want control and whose

egos are too large in comparison to their abilities.

There is also real hunger in families where drugs and

gambling have taken over sensibilities. There are jobs

but some prefer not to work and live from others tax

dollars. There is no contentment when there is hunger,

abuse, and depression. When blame is brought up

conflicts begin and do not end well. The men behind

the pulpits on Sundays could address this, and do

to some extent, but the congregations keep diminishing

due to death and people walking away from the Word.

For contentment we need love, honor, and respect

and what is so bad about love, peace, and understanding.

Adopting them will bring a great deal of what we are looking for.

Stanski

January 5, 2025 ^

Some people have the blues.

I have the grays. A gray porch,

shoreline, lake water, sky, and shirt.

I long for some sunshine and an

early spring. I know that this is selfish,

but I can’t help it. All my grays are

luxury compared to what some people

are going through especially in eastern

Europe, eastern Africa, the Caribbean,

and the flooded and hurricane struck

states in our own country. I am not really

complaining about my situation but would

be happy to see some change. The snow

from the blizzard is gone so I see brown green

grass, covered in part by leaves. The evergreen

trees have shaken all the snow from their

branches. There is some snow laying on the

forest ground. It contrasts with the bark on

the trees. The image knocks on the door of

creativity. We all long for that talent.

The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season

is over and the advertising goes on as if we really

needed more stuff. Some are depressed because

they didn’t get what they wanted, and others

are happy because they, by nature, are givers.

The storm kept many churches closed and

services were delayed for a week. They took

place then, but it wasn’t the same feeling.

I get the idea that the spirituality of the season

is lost to a pagan world which rears its selfish

head this time of the year. I just saw eleven

Cormorants flying low over the gray, wavy lake

and thought of the wise men arriving late at the

stable where Christ was born. At least they

showed up, the wise men that is.

Stanski

January 4, 2025, ^

I think about life this day and what

it means and how much it is worth. 

Priceless seems to be the answer

and not to be wasted or put off

because at some time it will end

and if we could look back we would

most likely see gaps where not much

was accomplished and in effect, wasted. 

I am sure that most do not intend to

misuse their time, but the attribute

comes with being human.  Much more

is done by us then what we realize and

there are people about who are grateful

that we are around because of something

we did for them.  This gives good meaning

to our existence.  We may and should make

plans, while remembering that

we only have this day and it has to be lived first. 

I try to remember that we should make each day

count without regard for situations that may be present. 

A good attitude and joyful spirit helps, along with

the realization that our heavenly father is in charge. 

He has a purpose for us and I believe that

we should open ourselves up to that purpose. 

It gives us depth and confidence that we have worth

as we put our lives to the best use possible.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 3, 2025 ^

MEDITATION FOR JANUARY 2, 2025

I thank God for His love as He allows words

to flow through me that are significant and

have the meaning that He conveys through

the words of the scriptures.  Today’s times

are different in many ways just as they are

the same in others.  The Four Horses of the

Apocalypse existed and still exist.  We wait

but must be patient for the return of

the Lord.  All events are done in his time. 

We are anxious as we witness a corrupt world. 

We pray for intervention for the sake of the

abused.  Innocent people are turned into slaves. 

Christians are being killed in many countries. 

We cry for justice and are unjust ourselves. 

We must prepare to receive His grace.  He

is ultimately the one we turn to and the

one we should follow.  We should focus on

this day as the past is over and tomorrow will be new.

Stanski

January 2, 2025  ^

There is nothing I can show you that you have not seen,

nothing I can do that has not been done before. 

With Your help I can improve condition and assist,

in my way, in bringing food and water to the hungry and thirsty. 

I have a free will and may choose to walk away or

I may pick up the cross and help you carry it. 

There are many excuses, but very few hold up. 

I must quietly be an angel doing your work and

sing out songs of joy and thanksgiving. 

It is upon me to deliver for myself, to those in need

not letting it go for others to do my work. 

I have resolved to be the quiet giver and search out for

those in need and also assist others doing the same thing. 

I am a follower of the Man who died for us and not just a fan.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 1, 2025 ^