Inspiration for my poems and stories come from a variety of places.  Sometimes it is a comment heard or read, or I may hear a song that calms or stirs my emotions.  Many of the ideas come from looking at a picture or viewing a piece of art.  There are few moments that go by through may day when I don't imagine how something I see or hear might be inspirational enough to be a poem or a story.

        Today was no exception.  I woke up late this morning, my wife had already left for work, and seconds after I opened my eyes I thought about how much I would miss her if she never came home again.  I know that is a thought that happens often to many people around the world, but somehow it felt that I was the only person thinking it at that moment in time.  This led me to imagine what we might do and where we would go if we won the lottery.  An odd way of thinking, first I miss her then I think about what I would do if I was still with her and we had unlimited funds.

        Lucky for me my wife is healthy and will make it home safely tonight as she always does.  As far as the lottery goes, I have yet to hit the jackpot, but one can dream!

        So, the day went on and I had a few other thoughts of what to write about.  It was just about three o'clock when I was reading some of my Facebook friends posts, and there it was.  A woman named Kathy (I won't tell you her last name for her privacy) wrote a post and I noticed that she changed her icon.  Immediately I sent her a message asking if she knew who the artist was who painted the piece she had used as her icon.  Soon, with help of another person who read my question on her post, and Kathy herself, I had my answer.

        The artist and I are not followers of the same religion, but it is clear that he, an artist using paint, and I, an artist with the written word, do share a similar love of country and of God.  We both use our talents to praise God and to emphasize our political beliefs as well.  He and I equally share in the opinion that we are shackled with the chains of oppression, but among us are those who have the keys to rise and shed the chains for us all.  We can wallow in the misery or together rise to our feet and demand our rights and freedoms be returned to us and our posterity.

        Both of us have people who love what we have to offer, but we also have those who choose to disagree with us in not so uncertain terms.  We welcome the compliments of many and even though we disagree with them, we respect the freedom of those who choose to argue with our opinions and beliefs.

This is America, the land of the free and the brave, and the talented.  My evaluation of Jon McNaughton's website and his comments on his Facebook page were all I had to determine who this man is.  As I allowed my eyes to wander from one beautiful piece of artwork to the next and by reading his comments, I determined that we are the same in so many ways which brought me to write this entry.

        Please take a moment to visit Jon's website.  Look at the work he is doing.  He is a very talented and spiritual man who, through his art, tells a story that is touching and powerful.        

What are we to think following any tragedy, is it anger or  forgiveness?
Here is what I  think…
 
We should have an awareness of humanity, that we are all created equal.  That within each of us we have the ability to hurt, the compassion to care, and the power to forgive one another.
 
Will discussions of Gun Control, finger pointing toward the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement, and Political Gamesmanship arise in the aftermath of yet another high profile crime? 
Absolutely, but as freedom loving Americans, we must hold true to the fact that we are all equal in Gods eyes.

We know not who may be the next victim, or the next perpetrator.
We know not if a simple, "Hello, can I give you a hug", said to a stranger, will be the key to saving another persons’ life.
What we do as individuals today, tomorrow, next week or on Election Day will not change what we know to be true.

The color of our skin, the life we choose to live or any other differences we have does not change the fact that we are all human.

We all live, we all die, and we all bleed red; all of us are collectively humanity; humanity is equal!