Breathing

When you can't breathe, it's all you think about.

What's like oxygen to you? What is it that you just gotta do? What is it that, if you don't do it, you feel like you're gonna just curl up in a corner and die a slow, painful death?

And the not doing it, kills you slowly but precisely.

Sometimes you have to drop what you're doing to do what you have to. Don't think, just do it.

Are you suffocating here?

At the first chance, no matter how small, BREATHE!


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Earth Hour Power, Baby!

Earth Hour, 8:30pm - 9:30pm. It's now 8:45pm, EST. So, how does Earth look from the window of an airplane right about now? I've been wondering about that. No pic of that yet from the TV stations I've been surfing. Ah well.

My lights are off - save for the tiny night light, for my cat. Really.

There have been a few pics of iconic landmarks that are hardly distinguishable at the moment - CN Tower, TO, Ontario; Times Square, NY, New York; Pyramids in Egypt...

Sooo, the significance of this move[ment]? Collectively, the world can save a mind-boggling amount of energy/power in an hour. (Figures will flow post-event, no doubt.) I'm pretty sure the question has been asked time and again. How about doing this more often?

Ah. A friend of mine had a saying, "Used to is a heck of a thing, eh?" That's just it, really. We've become used to using far more than we need.

But, no need to spell out all of that. Let's just do what we can on a personal and daily level to help save energy.

This just in from CBC: Toronto Hydro reporting that in 25 mins, 12.6% drop in energy use in TO alone. Last year, an 8% drop in the entire hour! Way to go, TO!!!

Well, lemme save even more energy by shutting down this computer. I'm not afraid of the dark :) As is written, even the darkness shall be light about me...

8:58PM EST


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

I paint my toenails blue

I don't have many vices. Well, from what I recall of Chaucer's The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale, the seven vices named were, like, huge, right?

There are a few things in which I like to indulge that may come as a surprise to very many. Still, at least a few people know of my penchant for, say, painting my toenails blue!!!

And, truth be told, it's not only my toenails, but my fingernails as well; and it's not just any blue. It's royal blue. So, there!

The other proclivities? Well, wouldn't you like to know?


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

I Need You Now

Oh, it's been so long since I've written a song. But, from the recesses of the heart came this one a few days ago.


I Need You Now

Verse 1
Oh God I don't even know where to begin
I could try from where I'm sitting
Beside this rubble of my broken dreams
It's the sum of my life and so many things are missing.
And whatever I say to You now
I've poured out ten times before
How will it be different? What is the point?
I'm not strong enough to do this anymore.

1st Cho
They tell me to keep trusting You
And I'm tryyyyying
But I feel that my faith is getting weak
How much longer do You want me to hold
Without seeing the promised change that I seek
My hands are slipping
My hope is fading
My heart is tearing up inside
I need You now
Only You and You alone
Can help me now.

Verse 2
Oh God my life is in Your loving hands
You are holding my heart and You care
In the core of my being I know better
Than to think that You are not here.
But, there are mornings when I awake Lord
And it still seems like the darkest hour
And I hold Your word to my bosom
You have given me the spirit of power.

Rept. 1st Cho

They tell me to keep trusting You
And I'm tryyyyying
But I feel that my faith is getting weak
How much longer do You want me to hold
Without seeing the promised change that I seek
My hands are slipping
My hope is fading
My heart is tearing up inside
I need You now
Only You and You alone
Can help me now.

Bridge
Oh God, You are my Strength
You are my Song and my Salvation
You will never put me to shame for trusting You
You will never, ever, ever leave nor forsake me
You use the things which are not
To bring to nought the things that are
That no flesh should glory in Your presence!!!!!!!!!!!

2nd Cho
They tell me to keep trusting You
And I'm tryyyyying
Now I feel my faith's no longer weak
It's not much longer that You want me to hold
I can see the change You promised me
My hands are in Your hands
My hope is rising
My heart is mending with Your peace (smiling with your peace)
You are here now
Only You and You alone
Could help me now.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

What is the question?

To spay or not to spay.

That is the question.

Trying to decide whether it's the ...right thing (no quotation marks) to do for my indoors-only cat.


Sigh...


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

When God wants a man

I heard this poem on Charles Price's program, Living Truth, on Sunday. My search of the net yielded the copy below. If you are, or know, the author, I'd be happy to give credit or remove it from my blog, as requested.

In the meantime, here goes something powerful.


WHEN GOD WANTS A MAN
(Anonymous)

"When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man...
When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall praise...
Watch His methods;
Watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects...
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into frail shapes of clay that only God understands. How his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands...
How he bends but never breaks when His good he undertakes.
How He uses whom He chooses...with every purpose fuses him;
By every art induces him to try His splendour out...
God knows what He's about!

When God wants to take a man and shake a man and wake a man...
When God wants to make a man to do the future’s will;
He tries with all His skill...
When He yearns with all His soul to create him large and whole...
With what cunning He prepares him...
How He goads and never spares him! How He whets him and He frets him and in poverty begets him...
How often He disappoints whom He sacredly anoints!
With what wisdom He will hide him;
Never minding what betide him...
Though his genius sob with slighting and his pride may not forget;
Bids him struggle harder yet!
Makes him lonely so that only God's high messages shall reach him...
So that He may surely teach him what the hierarchy planned;
And though he may not understand...
Gives him passions to command.
How remorselessly He spurs him...
With terrific ardour stirs him
When He poignantly prefers him.

When God wants to name a man and fame a man and tame a man...
When God wants to shame a man to do His Heavenly best;
When He tries the highest test that His reckoning may bring...
When He wants a [god] or king;
How He reins him and restrains him so his body scarce contains him...
While He fires him and inspires him…
Keeps him yearning, ever burning for that tantalizing goal.
Lures and lacerates his soul...
Sets a challenge for his spirit;
Draws it highest then he's near it!
Makes a jungle that he clear it;
Makes a desert that he fear it...and subdue it, if he can -
So doth God make a man!

Then
To test his spirit's wrath
Throw a mountain in his path;
Puts a bitter choice before him and relentlessly stands o'er him...
Climb or perish, so He says...
But, watch His purpose, watch His ways.
God's plan is wondrous kind - could we understand His mind?
Fools are they who call His blind!

When his feet are torn and bleeding;
Yet his spirit mounts unheeding...
Blazing newer paths and finds;
When the Force that is Divine leaps to challenge every failure,
And His ardour still is sweet -
And love and hope are burning in the presence of defeat!

Lo the crisis, Lo the shouts that would call the leader out...
When the people need salvation doth he rise to lead the nation;
Then doth God show His plan...
And the world has found a man!"

***



Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

AI auditions

I like watching the auditions of American Idol because of the intense yet effortless display of the beauty and warmth of the human spirit, as it celebrates and cheers in support of a loved one.

Mist up now and again, I do.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro