This past Saturday was Mystic Circle's Mabon Rite and the theme was Charity. We were asked to have an example of a charitble act that we had performed in the last 30 days and to share it with everyone as a part of the Ritual.

Now, initially I was stumped and joked with a friend of mine that I guess I'd have to say that as an act of Charity there were a couple of individuals walking the earth that truely deserved to be in the ground but I had forgone that urge. Truely that falls more under Mercy than Charity but hey......

Instead I made a contribution to the Childrens Burn Foundation for the 5 year old Iraqi boy whom had been doused in gasoline and ignited by gunmen in ski masks. He's undergoing a series of painful operations to remove terrible burn scars and scar tissue and to try and give him a semblance of normal life. Gods know he deserves it.

During the Rite I was reminded several times of little things that we do everyday that can be considered Charitible Acts. Remember helping that elderly lady who needed that heavy bag of flour in the supermarket? How about holding the door for the mother of three small children so she could get them all inside and out of the rain? Stopping to listen to someone who has had a bad day, not because you have to but because they really need to friendly ear. All of these are Charitable Acts. Too often we equate Charity with money and in that, we miss the point, we fail to be our best. Any random act of kindness is Charity so go forth and be Charitable.

Charity: Something given or done to help those in need, benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

Labels: Growth, Pagans, Spiritual

This song came out while I was in Iraq. When you are doing 2 combat patrols a day plus QRF, convoy escort and VIP escort as well as living on the most mortared FOB in the whole damned country you start thinking about 'today' and 'this moment' because there might not be another.

When I heard this song I sat down and felt tears in my eyes because it really hit me...how true these words are. I promised myself that I would Live like I was Dying ...live every day to the fullest if I made it home. I have long since broken that promise but still......its something to strive for because you never really know, do you?

Live like you were Dying by Tim McGraw

He said I was in my early 40's,
With a lot of life before me,
When a moment came and stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days,
Lookin' at the x-rays,
And talkin' 'bout the options and talkin' 'bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in,
This might really be the real end,
How's it hit you,
When you get that kinda news? Man whatcha do? He said.......

I went sky divin'
I went Rocky Mountain climbin'
I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To Live Like You Were Dying

He said I was finally the husband,
That most the time I wasn't.
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all a sudden goin' fishin',
Wasn't such an imposition,
And I went 3 times that year I lost my Dad.
Well I, I finally read the good book,
And I, took a good long hard look,
At what I'd do if I could do it all again
And then.............


I went sky divin'
I went Rocky Mountain climbin'
I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To Live Like You Were Dying

Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity
To think about what you'd do with it
What did you do with it?
What did I do with it?
What would I do with it?

I went sky divin'
I went Rocky Mountain climbin'
I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an Eagle as it was flying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To Live Like You Were Dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying

Aren't fun.....

Try riding on mine if you think they are.

Labels: feelings