Sick.

I feel lousy right now, kind of in that all encompassing way commonly referred to as the Flu.

On the rare occasion when I feel sick enough to climb into bed and stay there it occurs to me how profitable it is. I'm convinced that something happens spiritually to us when we're forced undercover. I believe God refines us. He works every so subtly, stripping away our "superman" complex, the one that runs automatically and unchecked most of the time, lubricated by hubris, with all the dashing sheen of a fake Rolex, to reveal us for who and what we really are: a run-of-the-mill Timex. If that.

In the grand scheme, illness is healing. It is God editing our back-code. Pulling and replacing wires. It helps to know this, because when we do we can mine these experiences for even greater growth, with the added appreciation of mercy and grace. We can look if we choose and and find meaning and open ourselves to the Lord's exploratory surgery with the knowledge that we need what He's doing, which He does for our sake, whether we want it or not.

Sickness brings the Healer.

Lily.

Middle of ... Nowhere?

Things are moving. And not.

The Lily project is stalled due to re-edits and the need for a firmer direction. Shooting the Matt Davis video this weekend. Stewart Financial, the presentation, went well; dynamic, powerful, fertile, smart ... expensive?

I think they loved my efforts to really wind them out, but I have a feeling they don't like the price. They move a lot of dough these guys, but one should never make the mistake or believe the presumption that this means that these companies like to spend money. Stated goal is to double their assets under management to $200-million in five years, but what I proposed (3% of 1% of their existing portfolio or less than the price of a brand new mid-sized car) may seem too steep for them.

The problem with all this is the same problem I face more or less continuously: lack of liquidity. I earn (modestly) and I spend (appropriately, for the most part), then I typically run out of money and have to scramble all over again (actually, scrambling never ceases). I can't afford to lose this op because I have no fallback. No savings. No new prospects. Nothing.

I have lived this way long enough to know not to beat myself up over my circumstances in life. I hate it but I won't allow myself to internalize this more or less constant sandblasting into cancer. The confusing part is always, "Where is God in all of this?" I don't understand why the Lord isn't overcoming for us the bludgeoning, real world penalty one pays for striving to be His and integral (in the world but not of it) at the same time.

I guess what St. Francis de Sales says (above) is true.

Drag.

Like as of Right Now

We have just about completed the video section of loveheals.TV

It's all good; my thanks to Dominika Dittwald for her tremendous gifts and to God for sending her my way. She frees me to dream.

Next up is the Website, which is like already 3-weeks behind. I am so careful, which is really just prudence now that I know how simple it is to make any type of the usually wrong assumption. Go slow and get there. Make the right first impression, not the fastest one.

Things are moving ahead with the Financial group in Oakville. Next meeting (early October) we will show them a marketing plan, logo samples, Ad samples, even a video storyboard.

Smuurk.TV was just handed a role to help rebrand Lily Frost a prominent Canadian Chanteuse with songs on Grey's Anatomy and various big car commercials. We are shooting her concerts at the Drake and Dakota this week (in the mist of TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival). Shooting video at 24 fps and Super-8 in both B&W and colour, so it should be great fun.

Thank-you God for being generous. Thank-you for Alf and his willingness to be used.

With love,

m1230

Pope Nails It.

Can't Give What You Don't Have, Pontiff Recalls
Urges Christians to Stay Close to Holy Spirit

BRESSANONE, Italy, AUG. 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that Christians have to stay close to the Holy Spirit if they want to be able to transmit him to others.

The Pope affirmed this Aug. 6 when he met with priests, deacons and seminarians of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone and answered six questions they asked him. The Holy Father was on vacation in the Dolomites, where he stayed at the major seminary of Bressanone.

The first question, posed by a seminarian, Michael Horrer, regarded living the gifts of the Holy Spirit in one's daily life.

Horrer recalled his experience at July's World Youth Day in Sydney, led by Benedict XVI, and dedicated to the theme of the Holy Spirit.

"Holy Father, how can we live the gifts of the Holy Spirit in practice, here in our country and in our daily lives, in such a way that our relatives, friends and acquaintances feel and experience his power, and how can we exercise our mission as Christ's witnesses?" the seminarian asked.

The Pope answered by recalling that participants and spectators at the Sydney event saw "that faith today is a force that is present, a force that can give people the right orientation. This is why there was a moment in which we truly felt the breath of the Holy Spirit who sweeps away prejudices, who makes people understand that yes, here we find what closely affects us; this is the direction in which we must go; and in this way we can live, in this way the future unfolds."

Benedict XVI acknowledged, however, that in daily life, "it is far more difficult in practice to perceive the action of the Holy Spirit."

"In the end, it is the Lord who helps us but we must be available as instruments," he continued. "I would say simply: No one can give what he does not personally possess; in other words we cannot pass on the Holy Spirit effectively or make him perceptible to others unless we ourselves are close to him."

The Holy Father went on to encourage his listeners to remain "within the radius of the Holy Spirit's breath, in contact with him. Only if we are continually touched within by the Holy Spirit, if he dwells in us, will it be possible for us to pass him on to others."

He said that the Holy Spirit can be considered the breath of Christ, and "we, in a certain sense, must ask Christ to breathe on us always, so that his breath will become alive and strong and work upon the world. This means that we must keep close to Christ."

Word of God

The Pontiff said the secret to staying close to Christ is meditating on his word. Recalling an expression he used in Sydney, the Pontiff proposed that speaking with God through his word is "as if we were to find ourselves strolling in the garden of the Holy Spirit; we talk to him and he talks to us."

"And then, naturally, this listening, walking in the environment of the word must be transformed into a response, a response in prayer, in contact with Christ," he added, recommending time spent with the Eucharist and the frequenting of the sacrament of penance.

The Bishop of Rome affirmed such a relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit would give shape to daily life, structuring it in such a way that "God has access to us all the time. […] We are in continuous contact with Christ and […] we are continuously receiving the breath of the Holy Spirit."

"If we do this, if we are not too lazy, undisciplined or sluggish, then something happens to us: The day acquires a form, and in it, our life itself acquires a form and this light will shine from us without us having to give it much thought," he said.

Human success

Benedict XVI then considered another consequence of faith: the rebuilding of man.

"Faith does not only involve a supernatural aspect," he said. "It rebuilds man, bringing him back to his humanity."

The Pope contended that "human virtues show that faith is truly present, that we are truly with Christ -- and I believe that we should pay great attention to this, also regarding ourselves: to develop an authentic humanity in ourselves because faith involves the complete fulfillment of the human being, of humanity."

"We should pay attention to carrying out human tasks well and correctly, also in our profession, in respect for our neighbor, in being concerned about our neighbor, which is the best way to be concerned about ourselves," he continued, "In fact, 'existing' for our neighbor is the best way of 'existing' for ourselves."

from zenit.org

"Big" Pending.

It's interesting how we moderate our expectations as we get older. Less is more, so to speak. How we learn to appreciate those golden moments when life stops being hard and just skates. Effortlessly. Not for long. Maybe just from here to there. Even for the tiniest while.

Tomorrow I meet with a financial services company to talk about "YouTube"-ing them. I hardly see a fit, but the money could pull us thru the current bungle. So I will go and do my best to sell them, although I have no idea what to say or how to try to steer the meeting. Financial types give me the willies; they deal (oddly enough considering the speculative world they live in) in chilly absolutes. We artist types on the other hand ...

Below are a couple of videos I picked up that are definitely worth seeing. The first belongs to a tremendous talent; the second, just a giddy-fying fun-fest in its own right by the band, "OK GO!"

We finished Alf's filming last Monday and I will see some editing Thursday. I pray that God does a miracle with it, for His sake; for their sake; and mine.

Bless our children Lord and wrap them in your protection. Give us hope.

Amen,

mark1230

Just Because.

VayKay?

Take heed not to meddle in things which do not concern you, nor even allow them to pass through your mind; for perhaps then you will be able to fulfil your own task.

-- St. John of the Cross

***

With Marilyn and the kids away I have time for time. What a luxury to be able to work on work with the knowledge that I don't have to rush. I will never take for granted again "free time." It is a blessing, a refreshing to have this moment and a responsibility to serve it well.

What St. John says I take to heart. My life is a full-time occupation and it requires focus on it and on God (well, reversed order) for me to live brightly, which I desire to do.

Taking my mind off of other things, and quieting my tongue, while challenging, brings me immediate benefits ... and the rest of the world, too, I assume. And this wisdom strikes to the heart of our age with its endless phantasmagoria of options; foolish, stupid, time-wasting choices that do nothing but rob us of our human dignity not to mention precious time.

I hope not just to accomplish what I am expected to do while the family is away, but more importantly to be accomplished by God in His plan for my life at this particular time, which is more needed.

I pray that you will fill me with love to love Lord and persevering strength, in Jesus' Name.

m1230