Steve Haarman

 I saw the sign
 Below the lighten EXIT
 “Born to make an impact”
 A proclamation?
 A challenge?
 Something to think about
 Who are we?
 What are we here for?
 Our purpose
 Our dreams
 Our goals
 Do we have them?

 What is important to us?
 Are we aware of needs?
 Do they affect us?
 Drive us to act in a positive way?
 Can we just walk away,
 as if nothing was there?
 What are your cravings?
 Do they include betterment of others?
 Do they pertain to yourself?
 Does this fulfill you?
 Do you feel empty?

 Think about the impact
 for which you were born to make
 Is it time for action?
 Better decide now
 or else take the exit
  
 Stanski
 October 13, 2019 ^
   

.
 A friend asked if she could talk with me
 Sure, I said; what’s up?
 I want to know your politics
 She thought we wouldn’t agree
 and wanted to know where I stood
  
 To me it all starts with love
 The basic:  Love God above all;
 Love neighbor as thyself
 Do good works; be humble
  
 I am conservative
 I believe in a small government
 Strong military
 Low taxes
 Important regulations
 Following the Constitution
  
 I believe in helping others when help is needed
 Run a balanced budget
 Stay out of debt
 Do not have promised, unfunded benefits
 I would choose term limitations and when
 the politician’s run is over, 
 so are all the fringe benefits
 No lobbying for five years after leaving office
  
 If running for an office while in another office
 you give up your present office.  When you lose
 you go home and get a job, (probably your first)
 Keep government out of health insurance and education
 States are capable and better suited for this
 Use vouchers for the safety net when needed
  
 End the Federal Reserve Bank
 Establish workfare to replace welfare
 Provide for veterans 
 Stop funding superfluous research that continues
 To need more money to complete its objective
  
 Build the fence.  Improve legal immigration laws
 Drain the swamp
  
 Stanski
 October 12, 2019 ^ 

.
 A day is planned,
 but you over sleep
 Think all is lost,
 but then remember
 Columbus Day Celebration
 Nothing is open
 where you had business

 Officially on Saturday
 but moved to Monday
 Another free day
 One Bank closed
 Because of this celebration

 Another closed because of
 Employee Training Day -
 so they can serve us better
 Apparently afraid to
 call it what it was

 Political correctness
 the downfall of a nation
 Can’t do what is right
 It may be offensive
 What are we teaching?
 Who are we teaching?
 As we violate our own principles

 A saddened nation
 A vulnerable nation
 Let it be said,
 It is time to wake up
  
 Stanski
 October 14, 2019 ^ 

.
 We pray for eventide
 but to no avail
 Our world is not that simple
 Volcanoes erupt
 Tsunamis wipe our land
 Fire and floods destroy
 life and property
 Hurricanes cause 
 destruction and death
 and we want eventide 
  
 In a simpler world that
 would be a peaceful request,
 but we are living in the 
 midst of violence, war and genocide
 Farmlands have flooded
 Countries are starving their people
 Terrorists are preventing progress
 They destroy valuable assets,
 including infrastructure
 We have crooked politicians
  
 We pray for eventide
 Because we desire peace
 A world with no problems
 But that is not to be
 History has shown us that
 we must pray for courage,
 for grace to recognize duty,
 solutions that are sustainable
 Pray that waters recede
 and graciousness rises up
  
 There is no eventide
 unless we look inside ourselves
 There we make our decisions 
 We calm our storms
 We create our problems
 Begin personal revolutions 
 Discover our strengths,
 our inadequacies, 
 our resolutions
 our eventide
  
 Stanski
 October 17, 2019 ^  
 
 
 
 
 
.

.
 One thing we have in common 
 with all the churches and synagogues 
 around the country is that 
 we need money.  
 Money, the root of all evil, 
 is the underlying commonality, 
 other than the Creator, 
 that we have with all others
  
 Commonality is a good thing
 in many areas of our lives
 Without this we could be 
 isolated and lonely
 No man is an island
 We need each other
 even if just to bloviate
  
 Mostly, though
 we need others to
 work with and share goals,
 rejoice in accomplishments
 We need others, 
 if we are generous,
 to serve and provide for
  
 Thusly, we empty ourselves,
 so that we may be filled again
  
 Beautiful buildings cost many dollars 
 to build and maintain
 God wanted His church 
 to be built with love,
 men bring stones,
 magnificent stones,
 golden stones
 All of which, remain stones
  
 He wants us to worship on 
 the fringes, helping others
 When will we learn?
 Now is the time
  
 Stanski
 October 15, 2019 ^ 

.
 He liked that word
 “Doctor”
 It was legitimate 
 He had a PhD
 “Piled high and deep”
 But a useful tool
  
 Was a Nurse Practitioner 
 Had a talent
 Woeful, like mine
 No competition, though
  
 Cold bedside manner
 Hard to talk to
 Could not look you in the eye
  
 Also, had a nurse assistant
 Who showed understanding
 In a “What can I do?” sort of way
  
 She was a jewel
 Displayed professionalism
  
 Yes, doctor
 You are a valuable person, but
 Get over yourself
 You are just one of us
  
 Stanski
 October 14, 2019 ^ 

 It doesn’t matter
 Some think it does
 Then they punish you
 Because you out hustled them
 There is one life
 Have to live it well
 It is not a 40 hour week
 Get up early; you get the prize
 Nothing new there
 Still condemned
 By sleepy heads
 The alley is dangerous
 But it’s a short cut
 You learn to navigate
 Attend to you wounds
 Help others with theirs
 Then move on
 Get your job done
 Listen to the word
 Hear it on the go
 Never stop for applause
 Color blind and apolitical
 Hard work was the answer
 I kept going
 Even uphill
 It all paid off
 Here I am
  
 Stanski
 10/14/2019 

.
 Light of early morning greets me
 I am alert and give thanksgiving
 Looking out I witness calmness,
 a very light breeze and quiet lake
  
 Sunshine falls through the trees
 There is beauty to behold
 How lucky are we who live in
 this enchantment?
  
 What did we do to deserve this?
 I think about the news of yesterday
 There is trouble, hunger and anguish
 Many are in despair; no place to go
  
 Homeless and living on the street
 with rats, fleas, feces, drugs and needles
 Tomorrow will be a repeat of today for them
  
 Dictators suppress their citizens
 Citizens are hungry and dying
 We look for the light
 Leadership that seems to be lost
 A press that is very quiet
  
 There will be a day of reckoning
 We have been taught
 The answers are know
 Neglect in never acceptable
 How long will we wait
  
 Stanski
 August 25, 2019 ^ 

.
 When beauty overwhelms you
 the tendency is to settle on
 a simpler form of life
 which in a way is
 a sad, sad situation
  
 Beauty should be humbling
 Appreciation should not stagger us
 but we are very human
 No self-confrontation on
 improvement possibilities
 We may walk away frustrated
 instead of challenging ourselves
  
 We all have talents
 By nature they are different
 We must hone and develop,
 become the best we can be
 Let our own beauty break out
 to be seen and admired
  
 It is not pride or ego
 We are teachers
 trying to show the way
 Let others witness our code of living
 Be an inspiration to them
 Let them set us free
  
 Stanski
 October 1, 2019 ^ 

 
 The complexities of life
 So hard to understand
 Software invaded
 Computer security at risk
 But trying to access
 Your own information
 Is a nightmare 
  
 Frustrated by passwords
 And secret codes
 Personal questions
 Answers you have forgot
 Going berserk is around the corner
  
 You call for help
 Cannot understand
 Your assistant whose
 Second language is English
 Is not successful in helping
 The phone goes dead
  
 You are on your own
 Is ignorance bliss
 There was a day
 When a party line 
 Was a luxury
  
 Now phones are updated
 On a yearly basis at
 A great deal of cost
 Some have no problems
 Their lives must be dull
  
 We feed on anxiety
 No problems – an off day
 Make a connection
 Progress is made
 Close to solving
  
 The line goes dead again
 Like Grandpa goes fishing
 The local Verizon or ATT 
 Stores almost help
 Instead of getting you on line
  
 They give you clues and
 Suggestions and send you home
 Grandpa is home, too, with the fish
 Have a nice day
  
 Stanski 
 October 1, 2019 ^