Author: stevehaarman

Life can be an uphill climb

Nothing seems to come easy

We may run short of stamina

Perseverance is our ally

It feels like things are stacked against us

But only because we didn’t prepare

We believed in the hustlers

It is easy; put your money down

We follow stray advice until

We find ourselves in a hole

Then cry out that life is unfair

It is us who have been unfair

Always looking for the easy way

Until someday when we realize

The hardest way is the easiest way

Because it has substance and teaches

We get a grip on the realities

Realize how well off we are

Imagine the difference between

A large automatic tractor

And a plow behind two horses

There are some who have one horse

Somehow they make it do

Advancements in technology

Limit this to just a few

Life levels off; responsibility remains

Our former cries are now of thanks

We have learned what is important

Are impervious to nasty taunts

We found the way; put away

The tools of play and got our rush

From the accomplishment

As life grows we take on more

A bride, a family and more land

We become teachers; share what

We have learned and stress the

Discomfort of letting others down

So positive and now respected

Stanski

January 11, 2022 ^

Life can be an uphill climb

Nothing seems to come easy

We may run short of stamina

Perseverance is our ally

It feels like things are stacked against us

But only because we didn’t prepare

We believed in the hustlers

It is easy; put your money down

We follow stray advice until

We find ourselves in a hole

Then cry out that life is unfair

It is us who have been unfair

Always looking for the easy way

Until someday when we realize

The hardest way is the easiest way

Because it has substance and teaches

We get a grip on the realities

Realize how well off we are

Imagine the difference between

A large automatic tractor

And a plow behind two horses

There are some who have one horse

Somehow they make it do

Advancements in technology

Limit this to just a few

Life levels off; responsibility remains

Our former cries are now of thanks

We have learned what is important

Are impervious to nasty taunts

We found a way; put away

The tools of play and got our rush

From the accomplishment

As life grows we take on more

A bride, a family, and more land

We become teachers; share what

We have learned and stressed

The discomfort of letting others down

So positive and now respected

Stanski

January 11, 2022 ^

The man lay in bed in discomfort

He was at home; knew the end was near

Pain was endured, graciously

He was aware of the cross, the agony

In the garden, scourging, and crown of thorns

His pain was accepted with courage

Life had been fair to him

No free ride; he worked hard

He did the overtime; took time

To play with and teach his children

They had deep love and appreciation for him

Their hearts were already breaking

He was cognizant; patient with his demise

His friends cherished him; were

Thankful for having him in their lives

They would carry on his wisdom

Share it as a valued asset

This would make him proud

It had never been about him

He lived openly for others

Silently accomplished what others only dream of

Gave of himself to worthy causes

Will be missed most all agree

But leaving behind an amazing legacy

Stanski

January 10, 2022

The word enters my mind. 

I think about it and what it really means. 

Something like humility, honor and

respect for those amongst us. 

Avoiding darkness and sin. 

To be pious is to be Christ-like.

 Jesus roamed the land of Israel. 

He walked almost exclusively and

when he attracted crowds he

may have suffered suffocation

and claustrophobia.  He prevailed

and changed the world.  Today

we are on the upside of our reality. 

There is little true resemblance of order

even in the Vatican where the Pope

follows human instincts rather than

the word of God revealed in the scripture. 

We seem to be believers when it is convenient. 

Otherwise follow the moon, the stars or rivers. 

We are fans but not true followers. 

We must take on the cloak of piety

and follow the truth and be

willing to bear the cross.  Amen

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January10, 2022

A broken heart does not heal overnight

The hole in that heart must have time to wait

The firstborn taken away from you for

Reasons you cannot ascertain

A child with special qualities, who

Attracted the uncertain and lame

And treated them with kindness and understanding

Made them feel like family without question

Never thought she was being taken advantage of

And if she did it did not diminish her love

She got herself into a relationship of abuse

The abuser took credit for her success

She found her peace training animals

This finally led to her distress, which

Led to the disease of depression

What turns the switch no one know

But medications and hunches do not help

Life goes on in a complicated way

Doctors who were helpful leave

New ones have egos that will not quit

When she was their match they abandoned her

Left her scrambling for some other relief

No one knew just what to do

The advice was rejected; that is not something new

Time goes by and her denial remained

Her loveliness though was never abandoned

Kindness to others was a natural

Love for everyone who crossed her life

She was a lovely person who just got caught up

In the ugliness that life has to give to some

Always thankful for the normal things that

People of stout hearts would offer her

She could not grip the necessity of

Grabbing on to the essentials of life

Now she is gone, this sincere one

We question what could we have done

God needed another angel

He came to us and found one

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 8, 2022 ^

I write almost every day and I jot

Down lines of Jesus and thanks for His gift of “The cross”

For us.  I pray to Him and ask that His love for me

Fills me with words to write that may have some

Influence over those who hold doubt in their hearts

Everything is in God’s time and although we are

In a rush for the results, we want we must be

Patient and accept the arrival of His wishes. 

May our frustrations be taken away as we learn

To know that this is the way it is.  We may pray

And do good works and remember that our

Sacrifice is minimal when compared to the

Significance of His gift of salvation to us.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 8, 2022 ^

              

It is the end or the beginning or just the present. 

What are the incentives we must have to do

what is right?  We are full of excuses that

make sense to us for the moment but

melt into nothingness just as a candle

which when extinguished has no meaning. 

We will resolve to do what we should be

doing every day.  Serving others is a myriad

of ways.  We then stay filled with the true joy

we seek.  Let us continue and keep ourselves

aware of why we are here and what our

mission is:  Past, present, and always.  Amen

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 7, 2022 ^

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

Scientists 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.

Life 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 may 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 that 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.  The 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 the condition better for everyone

Our understanding and behavior will improve along with our happiness

Steve Haarman aka Stanaki on January 7, 2022 ^

I think about life and death and know 
that it comes and then finally goes and 
it is the way.  Life is a miracle and a precious gift.  
It should be used as God intended:  
To know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life 
and be happy with Him forever in eternity.  
Somewhere along the path we forget 
these things and are led astray by 
the false gods of this world. 
 I think about where joy is found and 
conclude it is in the giving of ourselves 
to others; to empty ourselves 
only to be filled up again.  
It should be a beautiful story for everyone, 
but history tells us that many and most lives 
have been filled with hopelessness and misery 
and controlled by other humans who 
have power over us.  I think of all the 
food and water we have and how it is wasted 
or blocked from getting to those who need it 
because powerful men will not allow it 
because it threatens their control.  
One nation’s soldiers are ordered to 
commit genocide on neighboring countries.  
People can only stand by and watch torment 
and murder on different factions of 
their own countrymen.  The bells toll for us all 
and the healing never takes place completely.  
We become frustrated but can only do those 
things in front of us which will improve condition.  
When we focus on this discipline and carry it out 
to the best of our ability we will be better able to 
endure the knowledge of all of this misery and hatred.
We all have one life to live and have been instructed
to go to the fringes to help those in need and then
move on to the next place and do the same.  It is not 
an easy assignment, but the only one which has merit.  
We should proceed, knowing that it is God’s will.
Everything else will fall into place and we will find peace.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski
January 6, 2022 ^

Jesus gives us gifts every day

A winter sunset reflecting

across the lake leaves one in awe

He gives us many opportunities

We may help others in need

Often we ignore the situation

because we are too busy

looking after our own interests

There could easily be a time

when we are in the position

of needing help and always expect

what we need will be met

What if they are not there?

What do we do?  Cry out to

the creator who could easily

say where were you when

help was needed.  We must

learn to be generous and give of

ourselves and our gifts will empty us

so that we may be filled again.  It is

gratifying like the sunsets, the stars

at night, the moon rises and sunrises

We will live with no regrets

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

January 6, 2022 ^