For those who disrespect our nation's symbol, who think that because we are a flawed people, that it is acceptable to behave as ignorant adults before our innocent children who watch, and wonder; a few thoughts:

More Than Stars and Stripes

We are people
Standing for freedom
And we are more than stars
Beneath a blue sky
More than flesh
Red blooded Americans
Scanning a hopeful horizon
Principled, disciplined by hard work
Tempered in fire.

We bare our stripes
Inspired by hope
Through fire and smoke
We have overcome
To see more clearly
A shining city on a hill
A white canvass
On which purity holds us bound
To higher moral ground
Than any nation ever found
On earth.

We kneel before no man
And bow before one God
Under heaven
Where all life is precious
And justice for all
Leads us from oppression's call
To serve a greater cause
Than mere mortal man can fathom
In pursuit of vain glory.

And so we remain united
One nation
Under God
Indivisible
For as long as mercy
And love
Can endure
And we are more
Than stars and stripes
To be disregarded
Like second hand garb
For we are all one people
Firm on shores of freedom.
Amen

D.A. Wittler 16'

Night Rain

Last evening a storm passed through in the wee hours of the morning. I found myeslf closing windows and quietly listening as a gentle breeze gave a first hint of rain. My thoughts were turned to  high school friends who lost parents quite recently. Now, perhaps it is my compasionate side that takes over at times like these, or maybe it is the spirit within which calls me to share some kind of solice for those who experience such loss in their lives. Whatever the case may be, I offer you a glimpse of my world at Witt's Den.   

And now, a first draft perhaps...for those who grieve. For all who still remember 9/11 as well.

 God Bless

Witt

Night Rain

Like comfort food

It calms me

Gentle as a touch

A respite from my labors

Whispers in the night

Soothing parched lips

Like a kiss from a lover

A call to slumber

Tears of joy from heaven

Washes away all sorrow

As I dream of tomorrow

Embraced by dawn

We are together once again

Savior and sinner

Cleansed in splendor

Longing of men

Like thunder rolling

Fog of morning undone

Our freedom he has won

As tears from heaven fall

In answer to this call

Forgiveness comes.

D.A. Wittler 16'

Carousel Horses

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

My Mother rides

Round and round

Upon her ivory steed

Never stopping

A distant memory recounted

But if you ask her

Where she's gone

She cannot remember

It was some time ago

When pages turned

And stories told

Were all the rage

A child could know

Now cobwebs form

And dust settles from a storm

Like snowflakes on the lawn.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

Sleeping, sleeping

Another world awakens

carousel horses sing

Their whinnying pronounces

A holiday from the king

"Go and roam

No pasture fences

To keep us in

Freedom, freedom

From within!"

And Mother's face cringes

Her curiosity turned to confusion

A ticking clock announces

Hours with a chime

Without reason.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

D.A. Wittler 16'

From: My Summer of 81

I came across an old journal from the summer after I graduated from high school in 1981. It expresses many hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Some have been fulfilled while others were never meant to be. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt:

A man sat down upon the cold grey steps that led to sorrow, and pain; his heart lay heavy within his chest, and nothing could possibly reach him in the abysss of grief he had fallen into. A tear had formed in the corner of his eye, and ran slowly down his cheek, and fell to the steps with a silent patter. He looked up, and I could tell that he was staring at me through the dark black circles around his eyes, and somehow I knew he was grieving for me. I walked over to him, helped him to his feet, brushed off his clothing, and gave him some money for a bite to eat. He said, "Thank you," and disapeared as if he had never been there at all.

I wonder today if this was all just a dream from a past as uncertain then as the future is now. I really had no clue at the time where I was headed except that I gave the power of my future over to Uncle Sam to decide for the next four years. It still haunts me to imagine how things would have been different if I had not decided to procrastinate, and go out into the world under my own power. Was this man a future projection of the man I am today? Could it be that my insight then was as keen as it is today, or was I merely mired in self doubt as any young high school graduate about to be faced with the reality of self determination, and adult responsiblity?
For whatever it is worth, pay attention to your dreams, but do not get too caught up in meaning as some things are just reflections, or impresssions, while others give but a glimpse of what might be headed your way. For me today, it is quite prophetic to know the gift of insight is inborn, and who can afford not to take a moment to consider the possibilities? If I could go back to that time thirty five years ago, and be that man, I would have plenty to say... but that is for another day.

God Bless

Witt

From The Heart of the Storm

Words to make your day:
I was down at my folk's house today checking things out since we are planning to sell it or rent it out, and I came across a book my cousin Tina Calvelage Searcy wrote before she passed away some years ago. The irony of the situation is that her brother Rick popped up on my fb page with a friend request yesterday.

Now I know my faith is being strengthened and reaffirmed by the struggles and storms that have plagued my life these past three years. From the Heart of the Storm is a chronical of Tina's battle with cancer while pregnant with her third child. Having lost one child prior to this, and the realization of how God works so mysteriously in our lives, she was able to endure and make the ultimate sacrifice.

Needless to say, as I read the introduction, and read her conclusion, I was moved in such a way that brought me to one knee and tears to my eyes. If there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that God does not place obstacles in our path, we do that to ourselves by limiting our vision of what we can and cannot do in life. We all have choices to make that either keep us enveloped in the heart of the storm or leads us out into the sunshine where a rainbow greets us with a reassurance that God will always be there to show us the way.

With that being said, let not your hearts be troubled, as Christ taught us to trust in his cross, and to never be afraid to take up our burdens daily, and follow in his footsteps. There is always hope amidst the tribulation, and such joy in knowing we do not live in vain. Now, there is work to be done... God bless!

To My Long Lost June

I left June in a cloud of summer dust not knowing when I would return to continue the quest of this blog; to entertain, educate, and inspire those who follow. With July now upon us and the dog days of August waiting for an opportunity to reveal  what it has in store, let us journey some more together. And so, here's to my long lost June.To faded glory of relationship. To dreams of happier days ahead, and to our heroes who save us from falling into the flames of our self destruction; whether it be a significant other,  friendship, or the love of God.

God Bless
Witt

For Paula:

Falling In The Fire

Lying there in darkness

Holding on to something

Left behind long ago

It's a lonely feeling

Leaves a coldness

Deep down in your soul

Wondering if you'll be

Saved by a hero

Or

Left falling in the fire.

Once upon a time

Is all you've ever known

But life isn't like that

When rain muddies your path

And you wonder where's your hero

There to catch you

When

When you're falling in the fire

Or just dreaming of tomorrow.

So in silence you go

Bitter with a wounded heart

And no one seems to know how you're feeling

Falling in the fire

But your soul yearns to rise

Out of ashes

Burning embers of hope

For tomorrow.

But tomorrow never comes

And today only lingers

Like a mythical creature

Waiting to carry you home

And God only knows

Who will save you

A hero

From falling in the fire

Or a sunrise renewed with hope.

D.A Wittler 16'