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                                                         CHECK-MATE

Today I thought I would break the mold a little bit and write about emotions.  The glue, the spark that never goes out.  That thing we love to hate.  The power behind the words.  Nasty, sultry, even careless, thought-less juxsta-positions dripping with a life-time of dreaded remorse for all those moments formed in the twilight of a black moon rising.  Beyond the reality of life's merry-go-round dreary routine - we find ourselves in the groove like a DJ called Mix-a-Lot, perfecting our craft with twinges of guilt-ridden lighting flashing rivers of emotion pouring over our thoughts and words with the wit of a thousand goblins lurking in the shadows ready to pounce on the first misunderstood idea spoken from the lips of a mere mortal who dared to offend us in all their sincerity.

Emotions so strong they move mountains - and crush dreams.  A power so intoxicating we struggle to reel in its fury.  In a moment, in a blink of an eye - even the most sincere Puritan amongst us - can shatter the dreams of a child with the emotionally strewn rendition cooked up from the do-gooders pot of "better than thou" - stew.  And for what cause?


If we could only harness our feelings.  Let our hearts beat to the beat of a different drummer.  If we could just look before we leap - into tangled briers of  emotional chaos that never knows how to heal.  Just now we need to find our inner soul and see the light which beckons us home.  We can hold out our hand and let go of the self-inflicted pain of years of trying to be good.  Just now, we can close our eyes and shed a tear for all the times we never gave a damn.  Release...  Set ourselves free.  Free from the pain of shattered dreams and dashed hopes - surrounded by our fears of the future.  Let it all go. 

In an instant we can have the light which brings in its train all the good we know life to hold.  Emotional integrity. The spark which fires up the imagination and gives us a reason to step up to a new dawn.  It's no good to try and be good...  We must feel goodness in our hearts and let it fill us up so that it begins to overflow into the hearts and lives of other people.  People who have hurt us deeply.  People we love.  People near and far....  The world is waiting to taste the goodness of a life emotionally charged with truth and love.  Aware of its imperfections, and yet willing to be vulnerable and alive with a passion that ignites us to pursue perfection.  Nothing short of deep-seated, emotional heart-throbbing loving concern for all God's children will win the day and help us find our way back to that place we call home.  Check-mate.