Tag: quote

Grief, Stories, Writing

Grief and Loss Changes Us, How Could it Not?

Mark Wayne

The following is taken from the draft introduction to my upcoming memoir ‘Cowboys Are Not Supposed To Cry’ to be published in Spring of 2021.

Reconciling the Past

Embracing the Present

 Redeeming the Future

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

~Matthew 5:4

“When we suffer loss, when it finds us in one form or another we must first reconcile our past. Second, we must embrace the present, our circumstances and play the cards life has dealt us. Thirdly, we must redeem our future, a vision with new dreams for a new life where there is no finish line. Forever changed we must move forward, a different person with a different trajectory we carry the past with us every step of the way.” ©Mark W. Schutter

Grief and loss changes us, how could it not?

Grief and loss changes us, how could it not? #Memoir #UpcomingBook #TrueStory

What are your thoughts? How do you move forward following loss and what helps you?

Leave me a comment below and have a great day. Remember, you are the hero of your story, who else could be?

#LiveYourDreams

God, Life, Writing

A Reckoning, We All Got it Coming

Mark Wayne

We can read the following scripture in Galatians 3:6 –

Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness ~Galatians 3:6

What are we to make of this? I reckon whether it is righteousness, mercy, justice or punishment we all have it coming. In the film Gladiator, Maximus played by Russell Crowe makes the following statement at the beginning of the film before a big battle scene.

“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.”

Whether this is true or not, whether you believe it or not, I do believe there are things we do in this life that will echo in eternity. The biggest of these is the decision where we will spend eternity after we die. Yes, I believe that decision is left to us, via our own God granted free will.

That is the reckoning we all have coming and it is based on our ultimate choice. And each little choice we make each day and each hour can lead us towards this final choice. Either towards blessings or curses, heaven or hell.

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” ~C.S. Lewis ‘The Great Divorce’ #Quote #Choices #HeavenOrHell

What is your choice?

God, Life

Do Not Fear…

Mark Wayne

The phrase “Do not fear” in one form or another occurs in the bible hundreds of times from Genesis to Revelation and Jesus says “Do not fear” fourteen times. If I may be so bold as to paraphrase Jesus in the vernacular of today and in relation to our current situation.

“CHILL OUT!”

“I have this all under control.”

There is a peace beyond understanding and I pray this for all who are reading this now in the days to come. It is a crazy, mixed up, shook up world right now and we all need strength to face what this way comes. Treating each other as fellow brothers and sisters, not as political ideologies and social agendas. As C.S Lewis said,

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. ~C.S. Lewis #Quote

Life, Stories, Writing

What Is It to Have Succeeded?

Mark Wayne

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – that is to have succeeded.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson #Quote #Success #Life

As I look back over my life, the questions haunt me, ‘have I succeeded?’ and ‘how do you define a successful life?’

Success by the worlds standards might include the following:

  • He who has the most toys wins!
  • Building wealth and showing it off!
  • Amassing a large social media following!
  • Having a perfect relationship and a trophy companion!
  • Launching a billion-dollar business that changes the world!

I am sure you can think of many others things that might apply as well.

If you don’t define success for your life, someone else will define it for you.

  • What mountain are you climbing?
  • How do you know if it is the right one at the right time?
  • When you reach the summit will you see your mountain off in the distance?

For me the idea of a successful life has shrunk over the years. Not in terms of impact but in terms of grandiosity and self-serving vanity. The Emerson quote has been a favorite of mine since the first time I read it.

To laugh often and much to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others to leave the world a little better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.

I have stood at the bedside as a last breath was taken and I have no doubt my presence made that breath a little easier. You can read about this in my memoir to be published in 2021 and an update in a previous post here. I pray that I have also helped others breathe a little easier in times of trouble, strife and pain. For what good is a life that offers nothing of value to other human beings, living things and the world around us?

It’s probably not surprising to paraphrase Emerson this is my definition of success >

Now tell me, what is your definition of success?

Life, Poetry, Writing

Do You Believe in Fairy Tales?

Mark Wayne

Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. ~G.K. Chesterton #Quote #MotivationMonday #MondayBlogs

Dragons do not only exist in fairy tales.

Dragons are real and they exist.

Dragons can be beaten.

It is time to believe in fairy tales again, for the dragon is at our door. He is real, he exists, we must believe and fight with the faith of a child, always believing he can be beaten. ~M #WarriorPoets #Quote #MotivationMonday

#LiveYourDreams

Dragons do not only exist in fairy tales > Dragons are real and they exist > Dragons can be beaten. #Motivation #Encouragement

I am currently slaying some of my own dragons having writen my memoir which is to be published in Spring of 2021. You can read the announcement from last Saturday here or by clicking on the image below. 😉

#YouGotThis #NeverGiveUpYourDreams

Adventure, Life, Writing

Let Them Deal With It – Motivation Monday

Mark Wayne

There are days my friend when it is all you can do to stand, but stand you must and this is your reminder that if today is one of those days, well…

Sometimes, you just have to let them feel the weight of who you are. And let them deal with it! #Quote #MotivationMonday #MondayBlogs

I believe in you, believe in yourself and believe in the God of the universe for He believes in you. #Encouragement #MondayMotivation #MondayBlogs

You are stronger than you know!

#JustBelieve #LiveYourDreams #GraceChangesPeople

Life, Photograph

Every Ending is a New Beginning – Monday Motivation

Mark Wayne
“What do you believe in?”

To paraphrase Soren Kierkegaard, life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards. Thus, does it not suggest that our lives are in front of us?

We live, we love, we laugh, we cry, we suffer and we grieve, and only afterwards can we understand the meaning behind the moments.

Go forth today may friends and live, each ending can be a new beginning, it is within our power to chose how we will live this day!

#JustBelieve #HopeLives #LiveYourDreams #CommitIntentionalActsOfKindness

P.S. – August is my birthday month and I plan on celebrating and living it to the fullest! 😉

Adventure, Life, Photograph, Writing

From Here to There – Motivation Monday

Mark Wayne
“From here to there”

They say each journey begins with that first step, followed by another until we are on our way. To paraphrase Bilbo Baggins (J.R.R. Tolkien) it is a dangerous business going out your front door for there is no telling where you might be swept off to.

Doesn’t the true adventure lie in the unknown? In not knowing what might lie just up ahead, as our nervousness rises our yearning for adventure drives us forward!

Doesn’t the true adventure lie in not knowing what comes next?

My friends, what is stopping you from taking that first step on your own great adventure? #LiveYourDreams #MotivationMonday #MondayBlogs

#LiveYourDreams