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It’s hard to separate the colors. To see them I have to look hard. I have to study. I need to be awake and aware. Apathy cannot win. If it does, everything turns gray - or even black. Patience must carry me. On his back I can explore. I will see with open eyes. I will feel with sensation and smile at the sky. When regret temps, response incites. The ability to respond holds me a willing captive to life as I know it - as I love it. But, not always. I love life: when I care, when I love, when I act. I begin to hate life when I must beg for it to love me back. It’s hard to separate the colors. To see them I must be willing. I have to accept. When I see them they speak to me. Explanation is useless unless they speak to someone else as well. It’s hard to separate the colors. No one will listen. No one wants to see beyond the imagination. Reality awaits if perception can be silenced…

THE PROBLEM OF REALITY

Reality (apparently) is not a constant. “Perception is reality”. Could I please correct this statement? Perception is only a false reality unless you discern and accept what is true. One could argue that “what is” might not matter as much as “what appears”. This argument makes sense when you consider reaction. We react to what we see and feel. Therefore, since our response is real the cause must be also. Example: Ed is driving home late one night. He is growing tired and his vision is getting weak. As he nods he thinks he sees an animal run in front of his vehicle. Ed swerves to miss and ends up in the ditch. Ed’s truck stuck in the ditch…reality. Ed’s walk to get help… reality. Ed’s tow truck bill and repair bill… reality. The animal Ed saw… the moon flickering through the treeline. One could say that Ed’s perception was reality, but that would not be true. His false reality merely led to a harsh reality…

THE IMAGE ILLUSION

Do you remember Andre Agassi’s Rebel commercial? “Image is everything”. Agassi is one of my favorite tennis players, however, I just never agreed with him on this one. Image is at best a representation of what is real and at worst a deceptive ploy to gain unmerited favor…

“With new revelation comes new extremes”. -me. I discovered this about 4 or 5 years ago. First let me define a little bit. I told this to someone a while back and they began to tell me how there is no “new” revelation (Biblically speaking). To agree or disagree with that is really not my point. This is not a Biblical discourse, although this very much applies to what I believe the Bible may say. Maybe enlightenment or realization would be better words.

“New revelation” for our purposes will simply mean to discover a new belief or idea. It could be personal, spiritual, scientific, or whatever. Anything is game. Let me clarify that the belief or idea is new to you, someone else may have discovered it a long time ago. Here’s a couple examples: 1) I didn’t eat boudin until I was 17 or 18. I’m a picky eater and didn’t think I would like. Like it!? I love it! Many of my meals over the years have been 2 pounds of Abe’s boudin and an A&W rootbeer. Man, I was missing out. 2) Drinking alcohol (please don’t send hate mail one way or the other) - For the record I don’t drink hardly ever, but don’t mind people that do. I grew up with the whole one drop is two too many mentality. I think the whole drinking game can be destructive, but when I look at Biblical evidence, I have to acknowledge that God’s intent was not “be careful that it doesn’t touch your skin”.

“Extremes” may not need an explanation, but just in case. We like to test our limits. It’s one of the first things we learn. If you don’t believe that, go hang with a family that has children in the 1-18ish age range. You ever wonder why your kids are always breaking things? No, it’s not because they desire discipline. It’s because we like to push limits and to find those limits you have to exceed them. One definition of extreme could be “reaching the limit”, but I also like one of Dictionary.com’s definitions, “exceeding the bounds of moderation”. That’s closer to the thought here. Considering my two previous examples, here’s the extremes: 1) I’ve discovered I love boudin so let’s say I begin to eat it everyday. Now, maybe you are different, but at some point I think I’ll begin to hate it. With moderation, I can keep loving it. 2) Drinking (again - hold all comments until the end please). If your a Bible person (like me), you may be familiar with a verse that says, “Don’t get drunk (my paraphrase).” For me, I can draw a line in the sand. Drinking - OK. Drinking too much - not OK.

So, what does that have to do with “jack squat” (I can hear Matt Foley saying that). Well, for me I have started being more careful when I “discover” something new. If I think something is OK that I used to think was not, I have to make sure and not run with it. It’s easy to get caught up in a new insight and cross a line without even knowing it. We also have to be careful how we express what we learn. When we are “enlightened”, we really feel like enlightening everyone else we know. Instead, how about just starting to live out the new insight. When people begin to notice on their own, you end up with a lot more credibility and can actually make a difference.

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I’m writing book about life’s hidden colors and how we all relate to each other. Please, comment and give me your thoughts and insights.

I’m glad you don’t really know me

If you did, my tricks wouldn’t work anymore

I’m glad you think I’m transparent

It helps to pull the shade

You think you see light reflected

But you can’t see the source

I’m glad you don’t really listen

If you did, you could see the truth

I watch with your mouth moving

It helps me hear the lies

I think you mean it

But you don’t know what you’re saying

I’m glad you don’t really get me

If you did, I wouldn’t be alone

My words would make sense

My thoughts could be heard

I think I understand

But I am probably just as wrong

I’m glad you didn’t really read this

If you did, you would know too much

You would see my tricks

They’re not that clever anyway

I’m not going to California

But it sure sounds fun

Tis but one leaf that I should see
Yet so many on that tree
Without this one the tree still grows
With what effect no one knows
At last it fails and falls to ground
This hidden gem I now have found
What cause to be should I see the final lasting fate
With no regard or knowledge so to join in that debate
This one time does beckon me and brings a cause to stare
I know not what this life has lived but I know that it was there