Excuse Me While I Kiss The Sky
65
Last Friday (June 24, 2011) I chaired an Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) meeting in the Detoxification-Psychiatric ward of the Manhattan Veterans Hospital. Seventeen patients attended the meeing and it ran from 7 p.m. to just a little after 8 p.m.
When I left the huge towering building that houses the medical facility, I caught the First Avenue bus and rode on it up to my neighborhood which is in northern Manhattan. When I got off the bus, I went into my local Dunkin’ Donuts store, bought a large Coffee Coolata and headed for my apartment.
When I got home, I fed Xena the Warrior Kitty, changed into something more comfortable, plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. First, I tuned into the Yankees baseball game, which had been underway for about two hours, and watched it until 10 o’clock. At that time, I switched channels to watch the Lifetime movie that was about to start (Yes, I am into Lifetime movies. In fact, watching Lifetime movies is one of my favorite pastimes).
At about 11:15, when I was really into the movie, the telephone rang. It was my sister calling from Los Angeles.
The first thing she said was, “Well, I see it passed”.
What passed? I asked, wondering what she was talking about.
“You haven’t heard?” she came back.
What in the hell is this? I quipped. A quiz?
She said, “They passed that same-sex marriage thing”.
You’re kidding, I blurted, picking up the remote to switch to the news channel.
“I can’t believe that you haven’t heard about it,” she went on.
I told her that I did not know because I had not gotten around to watching the news. Then, we went on to discuss that “revolting situation” and the conversation reached the point where the two of us were nearly predicting that the world was going to end. My sister was very upset over the whole thing, even though she does not even live in New York, and I was very upset, too.
The call ended and I focused on the news. I learned that a few hours before, the state legislature had voted 33-29 to legalize same-sex marriage in New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo was going to sign the bill at midnight which was just a few minutes away.
I was really ticked off, to say the least, and very angry with the Republican legislators who had made the “victory” possible by caving in. As a matter of fact, I was nearly fit to be tied. To calm myself down, I had to drink four cups of reinforced chamomile tea.
When I woke up the following morning, it came to mind that the last times I felt as mad and disappointed as I did was each of the times Bill Clinton was elected president and when Barack Obama was voted into that office.
Then, all of a sudden, I was struck by a strong bolt of lightning that appeared from out of nowhere. Immediately, I was told by Jesus Himself to chant the first line of the Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity Prayer, over and over again.
Following The Lord’s instruction, I closed my eyes and calmly and slowly recited, GOD, GRANT ME THE SERENTIY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE -- about 20 or 30 times in a row.
When I came out of my trance, “I was feeling like a million dollars”. Every bit of the anger and disappointment had dissolved and I was looking forward to having one more lovely and productive day.
No longer was I upset over the “revolting situation” that had occurred on the night before. I made the decision to take it all in stride and not to allow it to steer me away from constantly giving thanks to Jesus for all the things I have to be grateful for.
Later that morning when I left my apartment building, I looked up at the blue and thought about that old-school song by Jimi Hendrix, “Purple Haze.” While walking over to the park near my home, I sang that song to myself, including the part in which Hendrix shouted, “Excuse me while I kiss the sky”.
Because I am rolling with Jesus, all of the “revolting situations” that are taking place in this world will never get me down or cause me to give up. And I will be kissing the sky until the day I depart from this realm.
I urge you to go to the profile page listed below and to select and read at least one of that hubber’s posts -- and remember to leave an encouraging comment on each one you read.
Hubber: jtyler
http://hubpages.com/profile/jtyler
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justamber,
Why thank you very much for your kind and understanding comment. And HE does always know what we need, doesn't He.
Yup...turn it over to God, and let it go.
Did you know that every time it was put up to a vote by the people, it failed?
All six states that have legalized the sham of homosexual 'marriage' have done it without the consent of the people!
Thank you for your Hub Feenix, thanks for the reminder to stay calm and rely on the Lord.
HI Feenix! Yep, it is a shame. But man plans and God plans. And God is the best planner. Voted up, up and away!
Feenix, I was wondering when I'd see an article about this, even wondering if I should write something. The Lord assured me that it was not I who should but He used you instead. I'm so happy to see that my husband and I aren't the only ones who are against it. As far as anger goes, I don't let anything get to me anymore...just keep looking to the sky! Or sit at His knee...or have tea! Blessed Jesus Hold OUR Hand!!!
feenix: Isn't it amazing how insignificant things become when we turn to God in prayer and we are reminded of His vastness in all of the aspects of our daily lives.
I knew I was missing something yesterday - I hadn't consumed my proper dosage of feenix!
I'm basically more of what most would describe as "a liberal," but man, you should see how they jump all over me when I try to say that there is a definite pro homosexual agenda in the Western World.
While I'm definitely not ANTI homosexual, I don't feel the need for there to be a homosexual couple in virtually every single television show on tv, etc, etc, etc.
While I'm totally as fine as I can be with homosexuals, and have actually lived with several in various ministries through the years (yes, Christian ministries) - I'm very warry of any PRO homosexual agendas, and I KNOW that such agendas exist on the national level.
We are literally having the homosexual agenda shoved down our throats by the left and their media dupes. As Wesman Todd Shaw pointed out, there's a homosexual on virtually every TV show these days, while in reality, they make up only around 2% of the population.
As far as who and what they really are, all we have to do is watch a disgusting 'gay pride' parade to see for ourselves! A bunch of prancing, dancing sexual perverts, groping each other as they pass in front of the children stupid parents bring to these events!
Perverted sex on mainstreet in broad daylight! That's the 'progress' of the progressives!
Now that my day is good and underway, Gentlemen and Ladies, I've come back to hear some Hendrix. I've ignored radio, even classic rock radio, for so long that I can actually enjoy that song again.
Well, feenix, just like many of us on the left, the conservative gets his or her share of disappointment from time to time. Such is life. Nice touch with the Jimi Hendrix ditty. Most strange, Xena is also the name of our white cat. Xena, the Warrior Princess. Have a nice day
Guanta,
I can hardly ever get it into my thick skull that I should not expend my energies on sweating the small stuff.
Hello, Will,
Yes, I am well aware that the only way the pols can get that "thing" passed is to make an end run around the people.
Hi, Dexter,
Thank you very much for the vote -- and you are so right. One of the reasons why we are having so many problems down here is we are always trying to out-plan The Lord.
SusieQ42,
Your husband and you certainly are not alone. Actually, there are millions of us out here. It is just that most have not found their voices yet ... but they will. I am confident of that.
And so far as me and my "anger problem", I am a real work in progress -- but, and with all gratitude to God, I have come a long way during the past couple of years.
Credence2,
And you didn't think we conservative are hip ;-)
Back in the late '60s, I was a real "flower child". It was just that instead of being in San Francisco with a flower in my hair, I was in Vietnam with a "steel pot" on my head.
And my Xena is the "Warrior Kitty" because she is a tough NYC alley cat who makes life miserable for rodents who make the mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time ;-)
Dave,
It truly is amazing just how insignificant "wordly things" become when we focus our attention on Jesus and His love for us.
Hello Feenix, Just remember what happened to every civilization that catered to this ideology. Either total destruction of total collapse. Deuteronomy, and I loosely quote, "any man/woman who lies down with another man is condemned to death.
They say the old testament is prophecy and the new testament is fulfillment of that same prophecy. and which cities were destroyed because of sodomy. People are not bibically attentive enough. If you look at Germany during a certain period it will mirror the United States now. Adolf was afraid they would take over. So he asked a question that lead to millions being murdered. the questions were If I had to? How would I eliminate a large number of people. This one of the places that had chemical warfare. The people on his staff had PhD's in technology.
platinumOwl4,
It is in Revelation. The end times will be ushered in by "men lying with men ... "
Also, when I was in the Army, I was stationed in Germany (only about 20 years after end of WWII) and while I was there, I learned a lot of things that are unknown by the general public.
For one thing, the NAZIs were able to take over that country because a great many average Germans believed that "certain types" were transforming their nation into a present-day Sodom and Gomorrah.
Wesman,
I'm glad you like the entertainment I'm providing here.
And, by the way, when I was an infantry soldier in Vietnam, "Purple Haze" was our anthem.
Amen Feenix!
The serenity prayer is simple but so powerful. It has been proven prayer works even for those who are non believers.
"I choose peace over this" is what I say when I get myself in a state over something.
Sueswan,
I just read Dr. Dyer's blog and I am very grateful to you for referring me to it. It is a powerful message that certainly does provide a wretch-like-me with the "spiritual food" that I so deeply need.
And you are so right -- PEACE is the way to go.
I like that you express your feelings so well. Great writing.
Feenix,
Great Hub. I love Lifetime too!
I wrote a barrage of emails to NY Congressmen about the Cuomo marriage bill, but ultimately to no avail. The thing that is so horrible here is that NY is a large and very influential state. Other northeastern states could copy his action. This point apparently had no impact on all the people I emailed.
Will go and post to a jtyler Hub as you requested.
Stu
roshall,
Thank you very much for reading this hub and for the compliment.
Stu,
I am sure that the primary reason why that bill passed is the Dem and GOP legislators made a whole truckload of deals behind closed doors.
I am not really familiar with how it works here NY but I am going to look into what it will take to get the same-sex marriage issue on the state ballot in 2012.
Perhaps that bill can be thrown out by the state's voters.
Hi Feenix,
Does NY allow citizen referendums?
Stu
Hi, Stu,
I don't know. That is why I have to look into it.
Feenix, The masses are in a weird state of mind.
platinumOwl14,
You're telling me? ;-)
I do disagree with your view on ss marriage, however, I do agree with the point this hub is making. Don't sweat the small stuff. Too many people sweat the small stuff so much, they don't even see the big stuff they should be sweating about. Good article.
Hello, jtyler,
Thank you for the compliment.
And, yeah, sweating the small stuff only causes one to feel "stressed out" all the time and to be on the road to suffering a massive heart attack or stroke.
justamber 10 months ago
LOL at the part where you had to drink 4 cups of tea to calm down, I do that too! But better than tea, I love how the Holy Spirit calms us down. You listened and obeyed by chanting the prayer and it worked. He knows what we need. Voted up and beautiful.