If you’ve spent any time looking at the photos I post, you know I enjoy cooking, and that what I cook isn’t always the healthiest choice. (See example one, hamburger wrapped in bacon… dang, that was tasty!) It used to be that this wasn’t a problem. I had the metabolism and exercise to counteract any negative effects. Now, at 60, apparently not so much. I got my annual blood work done last week. High cholesterol and pre-diabetes. I’m already on blood pressure medicine. (I’m sure most of you just had to look at me and knew this without the blood test.) Folks, I want at least another 25 good years, so it’s time to make some changes. I’m going to keep cooking and keep eating, but I’m on a mission to learn how to make the very best healthy foods. (The picture below was the first attempt: quinoa instead of rice, cornstarch instead of flour, a tablespoon of olive oil instead of deep frying, honey instead of sugar, broccoli instead of no vegetables at all.) I’ve ordered a new cookbook and will be exploring various spices to elevate my cooking. If you’ve got recipes, please share them. I’d love to add them to my repertoire. If you invite me over or bring me food, please, make it healthy. If you see me reaching for the donut, slap my hand. Thanks.
The streets were filled And the bodies lay for three and a half days
The celebration continued And the woman screamed
We try to forget Somewhere behind the gold rivers And the truth bleeds all around us
The looking glass hides in the dim mirror And we take another sip
I’ll watch this side of Eden
I’ll watch this side of the Promised Land
I’ll watch and the lies unfold and the hate breathes and you are no more and the paints dried and the skin peeled and the left hand watched as the right hand withered
and
and
I was on my way home from work. Driving down Randolph. A squirrel… a damn squirrel ran in front of me. I thought I missed it. Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw it… there… on the curb. Damn.
Today, it was still there. It was beginning to bloat. I’m sorry.
The article defines the issue: “This is ‘purpose anxiety’ — the gnawing sense that one’s life should have an overarching purpose, but it’s unclear how to discover it.” It then goes on to further explore the issue and point to possible solutions. However, in my opinion, the article clearly identifies the root cause, without noting any correlation to the problem.
Religion, for instance, often offered purpose and meaning to believers. But those who identify as religious has dropped significantly over the years (although that appears to be leveling off recently according to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center).
What do the numbers show?
I am smart enough to know that anxiety and depression have other causes and that there are multiple variables involved. That said, I think it would be quite interesting to see the anxiety/depression numbers for those who have found their purpose in God.
Vision is entirely a creative faculty: it uses the body and the mind as the navigator uses his instruments. Open and alert, it matters little whether one finds a supposed short cut to the Indies-or discovers a new world. Everything is begging to be discovered, not accidentally, but intuitively. Seeking intuitively, one’s destination is never in a beyond of time or space but always here and now. If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. Which is to say that there are no limits to vision. Similarly, there are no limits to paradise. Any paradise worth the name can sustain all the flaws in creation and remain undiminished, untarnished.
Henry Miller / Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch
The list: USA, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, Japan. Not an extensive list, but respectable. I still hope to add at least India to it.
Now, don’t think I’m slipping over the edge here. Just having a think is all…
In the places I’ve visited and the resources required to experience them, have any of them made me happier/a better person/more wise/etc/etc/etc, than 2426 Sherwood Drive with The Queen in my lap and a good book in my hands? The short answer: no.
To see the beauty of God’s creation and those things created by His creation is a gift and a delight. To have walked through the halls of the Sistine Chapel, to have gazed out over the Grand Canyon, to have been a total tourist and ridden the elevator to the top of Tokyo Tower—I know that I am blessed (and spoiled) to have had these opportunities. I would not trade the experiences, but to write sermons and preach the Gospel, sit with friends and play Uno, write silly blog posts, are (I was going to say “equally” as enjoyable, but..) far more enjoyable and life giving/experiencing.
My friend, Mr. Miller, said, One’s destination is never in a beyond of time or space but always here and now. If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.
In this life, your destination is where you are at this very moment. You can choose the place where you will experience those moments, but the place is not your life. The place is the backdrop.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
For those who prefer to listen to their books, Springhill is now available on Audible through Amazon.com. I used KDP’s virtual voice (AI) to create it. For the most part, it does a really good job. There are instances when the inflections are incorrect, and some training is required for unfamiliar words. For example, to pronounce Coushatta, I had to enter it as Kshatta. The total runtime is just over 3.5 hours, so it’s definitely not a long listen. A five-minute sample is available for those who have read the book and don’t wish to purchase it but want to hear the audio version.
Please be sure to leave a review on Amazon if you listen to or have already read it. Those definitely help!
I’m delighted to announce the release of my fourth book, Springhill.
From the back cover:
There’s a difference between being lost and being lost in Louisiana. Being lost means that, given enough time, you’ll sort it out. Being lost in Louisiana means you can’t find your butt to scratch it. Bill Montgomery is the latter. After arriving in Springhill, his only hope is to get out. In one blistering hot afternoon, he discovered that it wasn’t so bad, but first, he had to learn its secrets and the people that lived them.
Toles sweeps the reader away, lost in the story from page one, swimming with ease in the current. Sprinkled with humor and small-town charm, the author conveys deep affection for his characters…. a sublime reflection on Americana. When the final sentence arrives and our time in Springhill must come to an end, the reader should not be surprised to think, “Oh, hell… / want more.” – Faith Phillips
An enjoyable ode to small-town America and the wonderful people who call it home… a timely reminder lof the beauty – and importance – of sitting down and listening to people’s story… so grab an ice-cold Coke and jump in with this great cast of characters. – Chloe Fuksa/Putnam Six Bookstore
You can preorder the Kindle version here. The paperback will also be available on November 8th.
If you happen to be in Enid on Friday, November 8th, please stop by the book release party.
If you can’t make it Friday, there will also be a book signing at Putnam Six Bookstore on Saturday, November 9th. Friend and fellow author Paula Benge will also be there with copies of her new book.
Before the first day, you were known. On the last day, you will be judged.
There are swords made to slay the dragon. There are swords to pierce your heart.
An angel guards your path. A fallen one seeks your soul for his own.
There are seven days in a week. There are three hundred sixty-five days in a year. There are only so many days in your life. Live them wisely.
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
You’re going to die.
Have a little whiskey. Not too much. It can be good for the soul. It can bring you to hell.
Pause. Let the angels go before.
Pause. Say a prayer for you and for me.
This is not the time to speak your mind. This is not the time to allow others to rule your heart. This is not the place to falter or fade. This is the place to stand.
Question. Who is going to live your life for you?
I saw the sun rise. You were there. We shall live. For ever and ever . Amen.
I’m a firm believer in Israel’s right to defend. If what happened to them happened to us, we would have dusted off the nukes. I know that we will send billions to help rebuild when it is over. I know that this is not the only aid that will be sent. I know… I know… I know… but…
The tug boat is towing a barge of food to Gaza, which I also firmly believe we should be doing. However, I could only imagine those on the Virgin cruise looking down on it and thinking, “Aren’t we good people for helping out.”
I can’t help but think that this is how we support the world when we could do so much more. We live in The Hunger Games, and we are The Capitol.
This from the hypocrite who is going to Spain to take a walk.
Candle in a Cave 