LJWorld Reader blogs

(http://i33.tinypic.com/aea71f.jpg)

In terms of how ‘things’ have been, our lives either have, or soon will be, changed forever. We had a pretty good run with it but, to quote lyrics that just became the theme song for our present generation, “the times they are a changing”.

To be painfully honest, change has been the mantra of the ages; however, control over the change seemed somehow within our grasp. Not so much these days.

(http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/)

Preachers are once again calling down judgement from God; even the famed Minister of Times Square and Teen Challenge founder, David Wilkerson, posted an apocalyptic blog on his website this weekend, “...For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.”

When asked what Dakotah thought of the current global financial crisis, his reply was standard ‘Dakotah’ “...what!” (Although to type it the way he says it won’t get past my automatic spelling checker, “whaaaaat!” ) Then Dakotah went on to say, “...you don’t get it Chuckie boy, so let me spell it out for you. I see life different than most people. I have that luxury by traveling at 3 miles and hour, so I get to think about things a lot longer. I watch a lot of cowboy TV and it helps me see things more clearly.”

I was more puzzled by the Cowboy TV than our economy, so I asked Dakotah what in the world he meant, “...the fire in my stove! I sit in the solitude of my camp [wagon] and get a chance to reflect on the lives I touch and the lives that touch me. I get to think of my worth in the world and how I am called, [by my lifestyle] to be of service to mankind as a whole, it’s easy when you realize your place in the scheme of things.”

Suddenly the interviewee became the interviewer, “Do you believe you’ll live forever?” he asked. “Sure I do; if you count heaven (which I do hope I make!)” “Then why don’t you live like it?” he responded. “On earth, we’re only in kindergarten. It is okay to make mistakes; hopefully we'll learn by them so we make our life better. This ain’t all there is, so I don’t fret about what I have or don’t have. I learned to live within my means and accept help when it is offered; and then return the favor to others when the opportunity is presented.”

“...If all of us worried less about ourselves, and put all that energy into being more concerned about others, then life here on earth would be great!" Dakotah went on to say, "...I had a thought last night about a couple of things we all deal with; fear and pride. Fear is the great enslaver and pride our greatest weakness. Ever notice how people hang on to what they have so tightly that it drains the life out of them with the grip? They must believe that ‘this is it, this is all I’ll ever have!’. I’m just moving through”

It was then I realized that Dakotah was indeed living what he believed, both physically and metaphorically. He is on his way to somewhere else; yet, the destination is not currently known or completely under his control. (given some of the local police departments who were unaware that California Vehicle Codes permit wagon, horse, or “animial” travel)

Dakotah is currently in Maxwell, California and has decided to lay-over for the next couple of days. Two of his new friends, (a married couple, one of whom works for a National beer manufacturer) have been coming by for a visit these last few days as Dakotah inches his way up and out of the California map. The company is good, and stands representative of travel taken at the speed of life in the slow lane. Where the future lays within the view of the horizon and there is time to course-correct before it is too late.

Drive on, Dakotah