Author: stevehaarman

People ask me what I am doing.

I am here, just standing and in

wonder of the conditions in this

country that we are experiencing

under the leadership of the man

who put “Corn Pop”, a playground

character in his place. This happened

a long time ago, but it is apparently

foremost in his mind. That is what I

am doing. I am bewildered by the

open border, where illegals are crossing

into our country by the thousands.

Fentanyl, enough to kill every citizen,

is coming from China through Mexico.

The cartels are engaged in sex trafficking

and human slavery. I am amazed that

fossil fuels are not being explored for

and the drilling for them is off-limits.

I cannot believe that our service people

are committing suicide at alarming rates

and service to them is being denied. Who

would think that safe pipelines which

transport fuel for refining would be closed

down and the delivery of such is left to trucks

and railroad cars. This occupant does not

enthusiastically support Israel, and does not fight

for law and order in cities. He doesn’t believe

in reducing taxes. Did not support states’ rights

during the pandemic. I am stunned that he has

no intention of reducing the national debt but

only adding to it. I am alarmed at how we are

racing to socialism, and everything done and

not done are aiding this movement. I am here

wondering how so many people have abandoned

critical thinking. We are undergoing shortages

on many essentials and inflation is increasing

every month. I am standing here amazed at

how this occupant will declare that we are

doing well and that he and his administration

have accomplished so much. He is confused

on so many things and has made grave mistakes

,such as Afghanistan and the Chinese balloon.

He and his family appear to be on the Chinese

payroll. He vacations almost every week. To

witness this is amazing and I hope we wake up soon.

Stanski

February 8, 2023, ^

The world is full of questions. The Syrians and Turkish people

just suffered a terrible earthquake that killed many hundreds

of people. The Turkish people have twice tried to annihilate

the Armenians Thee two events took place close to 100 years apart.

The Armenians were neighbors to the Turks and did no harm to the

Syrians. We have gang wars in our country. Members of these gangs

die in territorial fights. They are buried and forgotten. The Turks and

the Romans before them attempted to conquer the world and govern it.

Many lives were lost in the warfare. People were displaced and separated.

They began new lives, although with heavy hearts, as they would never

see their loved ones again. As the Ottoman empire eventually collapsed,

the English, Germans, and Spanish began their attempt to conquer their

neighbors. In some areas, they were successful, and in others, they lost in

their effort. Some of the Africans enslaved other Africans and sold them

to other countries, using them as a commodity. In our country over a

period of years, we ended many Indian cultures and took over the land

as we moved westward. Slaves, however, were purchased and put to

work in the fields or whatever chore their masters needed done. The

Indians, in a way, are receiving reparations through their casinos. The

Africans were liberated and made their way and contributed in many

ways to our success. Five and six generations later, their people who

were never slaves are seeking reparations for what their ancestors,

who they never knew, went through. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese

perished at the hands of the Japanese in the 1930’s. Over six million

Jews at the hands of the Germans. Many other events of annihilation

took place throughout history. Jesus said to help our neighbors. It would

be hard to help and kill at the same time. We still have war victims and

ordinary times give us plenty of people to help as a result of flooding,

hurricanes, and tornados. We cannot forget the misery caused by

dictators. We also have people needing help because they are out

of work, out of resources and have many needs. These are the people

we are trying to help. It is an awesome responsibility, but must be

addressed and if not by us, then who? Now is the time to imitate the

good Samaritan.

Stanski

February 7, 2023

Our cherry outlook was dimmed by the dark

gray clouds. They appeared to the eye as you

looked up over the snow mountains, which had

been around just a bit too long. We were praying

for warmer weather, but none was promised by

the Channel Seven weatherman. So we resolved

to take it as it comes. There were plenty of things

to do before spring was upon us. We were thankful

for how good we had it, especially when we thought

of the many who were suffering in the world. Even

in our own town, there were children who were hungry

and unhappy. Their folks spent money for alcohol or

at the casino, Always wishing for the big payout. The

more they lost, the meaner they became, and they

lost their sense of perspective. To put it mildly, they

were miserable, angry at themselves, and thought

nothing of taking it out on their children. The school was

an afterthought. Whether their children did well or

failed was of no concern. Most of these children fell

behind, and some dropped out of school and became

addicts. Some suffered from depression and had no

place to turn. The counselors and the ministers had

no answers and could not refer the children

to someone who could help. The life and spirit of the

town seemed to be on the decline, and no one took

a deep interest in the welfare of the community.

Hope was a forgotten word. Still, there were citizens

and leaders who thought we could do better, but their

enthusiasm was short-lived, and they gave up. The do

nothings and the let the cards lay where they fell did

not relish victory and were reluctant to try anything

new. It is a sad story and not unique to our community.

There are successful cities and we should try to follow

their lead but, sorry, it looks hopeless. New leaders

may be the only hope.

Stanski

Feebruary 6, 2023, ^

The birds are quiet today

Tree limbs are still and

The temperature is cold

No animals are roaming

Evidence of the sun along

The horizon as brightness

Is prevalent in multi-shades

There is no doubt that this

Is the middle of winter

We acknowledge that

Spring is getting closer

This fact lightens our burden

And makes us feel like

We have accomplished

Something. We have a means

Of keeping warm, but at

The great expense as the bills

For energy keep increasing

As does the tab for food

Flurries are dropping to

The ground, ever so slowly

We do not need more snow

Mountains of it are everywhere

And snow-machine enthusiasm

Is at a peak as they travel

Hundreds of miles to take

Advantage of the well-groomed

Trails in the U.P., spending

A week here before returning

To their families and work

Down below. They are trolls

And their bravado is not

Appreciated as much as their

Money is. We know what we

Have and don’t need to be told

By them or anyone. Meanwhile

The lake is very calm and the

Sky is gray. So it goes.

Stanski

February 5, 2023, ^

I AM HERE

I see sunshine in the woods. it has an orange-yellow tint.

It lifts me. Everything is possible. Along the shoreline,

the small mountains of snow reflect the sun. The whole

of the lake looks frozen, and the sun shines brightly off of it

almost looking like a cloud. There are clouds above, which

are different shades of gray all the way to white. Winter

is amazing in beauty. All the trees have snow on their

limbs. It is eight above zero at the present time.

We are halfway through winter, and most are eager

for spring. The sun has been scarce, and we have had

cold and snow throughout the season up until now.

It will warm up. It always does, and we will be able

to resume our usual outdoor activities. That fact

makes us happy, but when the warm weather

comes, we will find something to complain about.

Our time is right now, and we have to make use of it.

People want to know what you are going to do

next and my answer is I am here, that is all that

matters. What I do I am doing now. Let us pray.

We prayed and asked and answered a few

questions. Everyone seemed to be at peace.

This was my first time joining them. I came

uninvited and was received well because we

were acquainted and they liked me for the

many things I had done for them. We have

now, regardless of the sun and weather. We

should not be idle but have some agenda that

we gladly carry out. We have the moment and

nothing else matters with respect to ourselves.

We pray, give thanks, and move on to the

next thing. This may frustrate those who

have no plan, but it is satisfactory to us.

Stanski

February 4, 2023, ^

You are who you are. If that

makes you unhappy, then

it is up to you to do something

about it. A champion golfer,

if he wants to stay sharp,

hits a thousand golf balls per day.

A runner must keep running.

A six-week layoff and he is back

to square one and has to start all

over, building slowly back to what

he once was. We make mistakes.

We make corrections. If we want

to be happy, we must do things to

make others happy. We start to do

little things and keep building up to

the point of doing things we never

thought of doing when we were

unhappy. Our growth, if we keep at it,

can be phenomenal, and we surprise

ourselves and those around us.

These sorts of things are the miracles

of life. If we did not take the initial step,

we would still be forlorn. We learn to act

when things are not right. We have been

given all of the instructions necessary and

have bee promised that there would be

someone with us to help us. It is now up

to us to find food and water for those in

need. We may begin small, but keep

increasing our efforts until they become

second nature to us. We begin to like

who we are and begin to bring others

together to assist us as the problems

increase and are discovered. At this point

to ignore what we know we must do

would bring us back to unhappiness.

If others fail or find that the effort is

too much, then we find new people

who will carry on with the opportunity.

We are finding our place in the promised

land and in reality, that is what life is all about.

Stanski

February 3, 2023, ^

The loss of a loved one is real and grief,

though modified by temperance, remains forever. 

Rough edges are smoothed

allowing us as bearers to

be calmer and more serene.

Our human frailty

does not allow us to give up a bond

that seemingly anchored us

in our identity and was part of our self-worth. 

Life is a precious gift and

we do not stop living without purpose. 

We become a monument of sorts for

the one lost, a proof that someone mattered. 

We will not and do not forget. 

Scrapbooks, picture albums and

conversations often become sidewinders

that bite us with reality,

bringing tears and wounded hearts which

again will need time for healing. 

This is the story about

what love does when absolute. 

It is a treasure of gold

that we will not spend for ourselves,

but will sometimes share with others. 

Nothing new in our life will alter what was

because the new is something different and unrelated. 

We, in a sense, have a new story. 

It, too, will end and

we hope it is not us

who has to write the final chapter.

But if it is we will write the story

With grace and dignity.

Stanski

February 2, 2023, ^

God is always wanting to come closer to us,

and in his eyes the whole of our span of

mortal life is meant to make us accustomed

to his nearness. God love us and love is always

humble and respectful; it will not force itself

upon the beloved. God cannot love us to the

full, that is, give full scope to his love, be as

lavish with us as he wishes unless we let him.

If, from his side, our lives in this world are an

opportunity for him gradually to hive himself

until we are capable of receiving him fully,

from our side they must be seen as a response

to his loving advances, allowing him to train

and fit us. There is never any question of the

initiative lying with us or of our having to get

on the good side of God in order to win his

favors. All that has gone before is and attempt

to show how, in our ordinary daily lives we

should respond to God, surrendering self.

It is not a part-time time thing; it covers

and must cover the life in heaven. It is prayer:

God incessantly giving himself, man opening

himself to this gift. Ruth Burrows presented by:

Stanski

January 31, 2023,  ^

Sunday was filled with sunshine.

It seemed brighter than usual as it was

reflecting off the frozen inland sea and

the snow which had drifted all over the

place. It was so bright that I had to wear

sunglasses to use my computer. It was also

very cold, with the windchill taking it to the

double digits below zero. If you had to go

out, you found that the cold would penetrate

you to the bone. Still, with all this it was

beautiful, and pictures would never reveal

the true beauty of it all. A few birds were

flying to somewhere and a couple of deer

showed up on the lakeside of the house.

They were having a tough time working

their way through the drifts. They no doubt

were hungry, and the pickings were slim.

Somehow, they make it through these

winters and for the most part, the severity

of the season is not always this bad. They

have two layers of fur. One is close to the

body and the other over that. The top layer

has hollow hairs which insulate them One

thinks of the hundreds of thousands of animals

and critters and somehow then all seem to

survive. Their species lives on forever.

It is interesting to think that God has a

Divine plan for all of His creatures, and

we are so indifferent even about our

fellow man. Their suffering is not ours

so it is easy to forget, but if we are ailing

we cry out as though we were the only ones.

Somehow this will balance out, and the

forgotten ones will be the prized people,

and the rest can share the embarrassment.

It would be better to tune ourselves up to

the needs of all creatures, especially man

as we proceed through this life. If you are

looking for a room in the Father’s house,

then the time to act is now.

Stanski

January 30, 2023, ^

We move along in life and now and then

come into a potentially confrontational situation

that we may not be able to handle successfully.

We are representing not only ourselves but

many around the world who have the same feeling;

along with those who went before us, who fought for

the same goals. With a feeling of trepidation

we proceed, carrying with us the goals that

they could not accomplish. When I am gone, the

younger ones will do the same for me. We do

not ty change the will of God to make things easier.

We try to align everyone with the greater purpose.

Whatever the results, whether minor success

or utter disaster, we hope to bear it well.

A book might burn, the steeple might fall, but

the light will endure at the end of it all.

So, we carry on with our task and take the journey

not knowing where it will take us, but we follow

the path and our intuition and instincts will prevail if

we do not forget Who we are working for.

You get encouraged by those who know what

you are up to and why you are doing it and at

the same time lied to by those who wish to

interfere with what you are doing because

they have a different agenda. We keep

prodding without knowing how successful

we have been. It will never be ours to know.

We can look at pictures and listen to the news

and surmise to some extent, but in reality we,

because we are growing old, have to pass

the work on to those younger who have

the same ideals. Now we sit in our chairs

or rockers and ponder. We did our best work

and may now be crying out for that distant

home knowing that our light may have been

too dim and worth nothing at all. But we

planted a grain and others have the privilege

of watching it grow. He will provide a brighter light.

Stanski

January 29, 2023, ^