You don't have to be a cowboy, or even love horses...

this movie will move you!

Buck Brannaman, the inspiration for the "Horse Whisperer",

tames horses with extraordinary skill and compassion

while dispensing profound wisdom, simply, to all who will listen.

I've heard it said that "One can grow bitter, or grow better!"

Buck Brannaman has difinitely grown better...

and I am the better for knowing some of his story!

You will be too!

God-Shaped Hole

I tried to fix you with forgiveness
I tried to heal your heart with love
I tried to sweeten up your bitterness
But I could never do enough
The place inside of you that's broken
Goes all the way down to your soul
And I'm a fool for ever hopin'
That I could fill a God-shaped hole

I can't roll the stone away
And this ain't no resurrection day
I'm not a saint and life ain't fair
But this just ain't my cross to bear
And I can see, it's time for me
To set a slightly lower goal
'Cause I can't fill a God-shaped hole.

And I've been tryin'to be your savior
And I've been feelin'crucified
I did not ever want to wait
Or cry these tears that I have cried
I need a better way to love you
I need to play a different role
'Cause after all, I'm only human
And I can't fill a God-shaped hole

And I can't roll the stone away
And this ain't no resurrection day
I'm not a saint, I don't have a prayer
But that just ain't my cross to bear
So I can see, it's time for me
To set a slightly lower goal
'Cause I can't fill a God-sized hole.
No, I can't fill a God-shaped hole
-chuck cannon

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/1488382

From time to time, music aficionado and friend, Tim, cooks up a "new artist" for me to give a "taste and see". His tastes are eclectic (me too!) and well-tuned, so I am grateful to know what the soup du' jour is on his current menu.

Chuck Cannon and this song, "God-Shaped Hole" is his latest flavor and it is really quite tasty! The aromas are tantalizing, the presentation first-rate, and the aftertaste lingers long after the first spoonful, satisfying, yet leaving one hungry for more.

I was taken with music and lyrics immediately and heard it as a "break-up" song; a guy lamenting that he's not enough, nor will he ever be enough to full-fill this woman. (Pay attention diners, for there's more to this soup than meets the eye!) How much better would life taste if we all had partaken of that Truth? None of us have "enough" to fill the God-shaped hole in any other!

Ah, but there's something more in the soup. As I spooned deeper in the bowl, the deeper Truth was there to consider: none of us have "enough" to fill the God-shaped hole within ourselves (let alone, anyone else), so this is a "breakup with yourself" song!

Sounds crazy, doesn't it?! But somewhere in your heart and soul, don't you sense that something's missing; sense there's something more? In your relationships, don't you sense some
incompleteness; like there's more, but you just can't put your finger on whatever it is?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I serve up for your consideration the soup du' jour...
GOD-SHAPED HOLE!!
GRIZ

Dreams Don't Die Easy

Dreams don't die easy
They cling to each hope
Cherish good memories
Manage somehow to cope
With pain and misfortune
And contrary minds
Some dreams stand the tests of time

My first dream was baseball
When I was a boy
My passion was winning
Pitching, my toy
So my rise through the big leagues
Would be so fast and so fine
You know, I still have that dream sometimes

And I dreamed of adventure
And I charted her course
Climbed in her mountains
Hiked through her forests
And I rode her wild rivers
On down to the sea
And that dream still carries me

Dreams don't die easy
They cling to each hope
Cherish good memories
Manage somehow to cope
With pain and misfortune
And contrary minds
Some dreams just never die

Now I'm a dreamer, a drifter,
A writer of rhyme
A very well-kept secret
A rumor in my own time
But I still wish on stars
And chase adventurous schemes
O yes, I still have my dreams

Dreams don't die easy
They cling to each hope
Cherish good memories
Manage somehow to cope
With pain and misfortune
And contrary minds
Some dreams stand the tests of time
They're those dreams that never die
And did you know
You're still a dream of mine
daleach

The Chronicles of Narnia

by C.S. Lewis

"Those are just children's books! I don't waste time on children's books!"

Thus growled my crusty old friend, Bob Hull. An avid reader and scholar, most especially of the Bible, we had talked about "books worth reading" and I had recommended The Chronciles of Narnia as being well worth his while. My set of the seven books changed hands one Sunday and I looked forward to hearing my opinionated friend's opinions soon on the same.

The following Sunday, as was his custom, Bob wasted no time offering! "Children's books! They're just children's books!" He was indignant that I would recommend such a thing for a grown man's consideration. I asked if he'd read any of them and he blustered anew, "NO! I don't waste my time on children's books!" End of subject; end of discussion!

To the best of my knowledge and given Bob's general obstinance, it is likely he never "wasted his time" on these books. Alas, that was a shame, for Bob missed out on a treasure trove of biblical imagery that doubtless would have captivated and even amazed him for these are more than just children's books!

Having recently completed another foray into Narnia (and I've gone often), I leave again with spirits uplifted and new truth discerned by spending time in "children's books". And despite Bob's reaction, I continue to recommend that you consider doing the same.

If you have children or grandchildren, read them these stories; everyone will be better for it. And if you don't, or the children in your life have moved on, take some time to indulge the child in you. I think you will be pleased and amazed to find that Lewis is telling the story you can live with.

STRONGHOLDS

Strongholds can be blessing or curse.

It all depends on who is holding whom.

Blessed is he who abides in the strong hold of God's presence and power.

Cursed is he who surrenders to the strong hold of Satan's perverse power.

Again, it's all a question of who's holding whom.

One is a place of ultimate protection and security.

The other is a place of ultimate exposure and peril.

So...

Who are you holding onto?

Who's holding on to you?

daleach 51511

WHO'S TO SAY?

Who's to say? And who's to know?...
What secrets hide inside another man's soul.
What brings him joy...what brings him pain...
What thing can touch his soul until he'll never be the same.

And what of hope? What becomes of the dream?...
That can light the darkest night...the bleakest day redeem.
Is it lost, or somehow just misplaced?
Is there life without it? Is it something I could face?...
Well, I just don't know.

No, I don't have the answers...don't even have a clue.
Jim and me were just sittin' here, when conversation turned to you.
And we spoke of your life, your laughter...tried to put that down in this song...
The bittersweet emotions we've been feelin', since you've gone.

So, what of our lives then, are we each to blame?
Or are we just some nameless players in some cosmic game?
Are these secrets only death reveals?
And will I ever have the words to describe these things I feel?

Well, I sure don't have the answers...I just do what I can do...
I face the dawn, try to carry on, try to see each day as new.
Yeah, I do my best to accept it, but there's so much I don't understand.
I guess some constant state of confusion just seems to be the plight of a man.

So, I may never understand it "Bull", no matter how I try.
I guess, on the face, it will always seem a waste, such a good man chose to die.
But, I'll do my best to accept it, 'cause that's all that I can do...
I'll face the dawn, try to carry on...try to see each day as new.

Yeah, I'll say so long now "Bull" and carry on...
But sometimes I'll have to stop...and think of you.

daleach

My dear friend Jim called me unexpectedly late one night. There was an edge to his voice. It wasn't a casual call to shoot the breeze. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Griz. are you all right?" "Yeah," I answered, "I'm alright. How about you?" Jim went on to tell me that our mutual friend "Bull" had taken his own life earlier that day. He said that "Bull" and I were similar, in many ways, and that if "Bull" could kill himself, he was worried that I might be able to do the same thing. I was saddened by the news and touched by the love and concern Jim was showing.

Later, on several occasions, we talked about "Bull" and Jim encouraged me to write a song about his death. I worked harder and longer on this song than on any other piece I have ever written. "Epitaph", which appears earlier on this blog page, was also a product of this creative stream. In the end, I was pleased with what came out in tribute and remembrance of "Bull". I believe it is one of the best that I have written and I am blessed to have and have had good friends that elicit my best. DAL

AMEN and BOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY