Majestic Messengers

I do not take much for granted these days and my faith leads me to believe that everything happens for a reason- hot and cold. Everyone that comes onto my path, into my life is here for a reason; to teach or learn from me. I first became aware of this idea after reading M. Scott Peck's writings.

"All human interactions are opportunities to learn or to teach and when you neither learn nor teach you are passing up an opportunity."

"Further Along the Road Less Traveled" M. Scott Peck

When I was a child there was a woman who rivaled my mother for my love and affection. Largely because she almost spent as much time with me. I knew her as "Aunt Betty". Her name was Elizabeth McDowell and she was actually my mother Jeanne's aunt. While growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania my mother Jeanne thought Betty was actually her sister as she did her own mother. That is a story for another time.  Aunt Betty was my Godmother literally and figuratively.  She was gone before I was fourteen years old; brain aneurysm. I have always felt a void inside although it is smaller and smaller by day.

I always take pause when I meet a new person named Betty.  If you are named Betty you will always get from me what one might call the - benefit of the doubt.  I am likely to be more attentive to the learning and or teaching aspect of the interaction.  Now there is a part of me that looks for an added signal or message from my Creator simply as part the residue of my Aunt Betty's expansive Love.

In the past two years another Betty has come into my life. Most every Sunday (when I'm there) at the early worship service at our Smyrna First UMC she sits in the pew just ahead of me.  I look forward to seeing her. She is Holy Spirit filled!  A year and a half ago after noticing in Church my Harley-Davidson wear, she told me she had on her  "bucket list" to take a ride on a Harley.  I knew immediately that I would be the one to take her.  Just in the past week she took that ride and I was at the controls.  It was a great day.  There was a lot of learning and teaching going on.  I was able in some way that only God could comprehend to express love for my precious and long ago departed (from this world) Aunt Betty.

Amen Sisters

Bradford Bosworth
November, 2015

  

Angels of Angola

" Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers......."

Hebrews 13:2

Just this past week I was driving four young German men to the airport after they had been on a two week Harley-Davidson ride around our south land. They had rented their bikes from our EagleRider rental business as many from around the world do. As is my practice, I make a point of asking our customers - after their ride - what was their favorite place or experience. I have become accustomed to hearing New Orleans or The Tail of the Dragon mentioned along with the Smokey Mountains.  On this occasion however, these men could not hide their enthusiasm as they started to tell of a place quite different from the popular riding destinations.

At first I thought I was having hearing difficulties. Their English was broken, but what they were trying to tell me, well it did not make sense.  I asked, "A prison?"  Peter, the one with the best command of the English language said something like "Inglo Prison Rodeo".  It took me a few more queries before I realized they were trying to name a prison north of New Orleans.  So Peter began to describe about this festival atmosphere that included an arts and crafts exposition and a full blown rodeo. I made them spell the name for me -ANGOLA.

I am thinking to myself- how in the world did you learn about this place half way around the world in Germany? Before I could ask they said that back home they saw a television story about this prison and decided that they should go see it.  Then they began to tell me about the crafts show and the amazing wood creations put forth by the inmates.   

These German men could not hide their astonishment about what they had experienced at this the largest maximum security prison in the United States.  The Louisiana State Prison had opened it's doors to the public who had mingled with the inmate population who had welcomed them in with gracious hospitality.  The prisoners were the stars of the rodeo.  They were the artist vendors displaying their crafts for the buying public.  Our Harley renters were glad they bought advanced tickets to the rodeo because the tickets were sold out on site!

Looking at the history of this penitentiary can cause one to shudder. The name Angola designates the African territory the original slaves of this southern state were transported from. It is a secluded place for only the most hardened criminals.  An Arts and Crafts fair at a maximum security prison seems an extreme juxtaposition and even more so when the vendors are wearing stripes!  Then I started seeing the expressions on these men's faces.  My German friends said that the gates of Angola were open for this event and the inmates as well as their guests were free to roam and mingle together.  These men for a day were free. They were free to live life to the brim.  I cannot help but believe that for one day - in this unique celebratory environment - these artists and rough rider men were guests not hosts.  It was these four young German men and attending public showing the hospitality to angels.

Amen Brothers

Bradford Bosworth
October, 2015

American Treasure

Come Forth O' Common Spark

Lately in my job I have had ample opportunities to converse with folks from foreign countries. It is peak season for motorcycle riding and our rental business here in Marietta, Georgia is booming. We have customers from around the world come through our Harley-Davidson dealership who want to experience the spectacular scenery in the Appalachian Mountains just a few hours north. Atlanta is home to a modern and highly accessible international airport and our South is home to some great cultural cities. There are some enterprising travel agencies and tour operators that have fashioned tours around the unique musical genres of our adjacent geography: Nashville/ Country Music; Memphis/Blues/ and New Orleans/Jazz.



On occassion I am shuttling these travelors back and forth to the airport and during these periods I have learned that the world knows full well what is happening with our country. Just recently I had a German gentleman tell me that Boubon Street did not live up to it's heritage and the origins of the jazz culture which helped make it world famous. Instead,  he said that it was nothing more than a bunch of drunk kids and off-beat urban rock music. I could not avoid telling him that indeed our country is losing a hold on the historic culture of our American Exceptionalism that is the cornerstone of this democratic republic.



I have a great affection for the music of a man who I consider an American Treasure, Aaron Copland. There is a great debate occuring now in our country about immigration. Not sure how important the topic? Take a look into the lineage of Mr. Copland -who is arguably the original and most quintessential American classical composer- and you will certainly have a clearer view of how critcal the subject of this debate is!  Do you want to find support for the argument that Judeo-Christian principals are the foundation for our country and culture? Look to Mr. Copland's music. It is the Spirit of America embodied in his music "Fanfare for the Common Man":

Click here for "Fanfare"



If you want to find some truth about our exceptional American journey, take a few minutes to learn about this man and his musical accomplishments. Better yet, have a seat, put the head phones on, sit back, meditate, pray....listen to the divinity within the notes of his "Appalachian Spring" - full of grace and glory.





 Amen Brother Copland

Bradford Bosworth

October 2015



 







Bright Morning Star

The Certainty of Emmanuel

 

 

In the early morning hours when quiet and stillness are at the peak capacity in the world I seek my connection with the Source.  Often it is my only time of the day where I can find my center, the Peace in me at the core.  I have various tools for which I use routinely to help me gain perspective on the Truth. I am often reminded of who Brad is.

 

My morning spiritual tool box includes three different translations of the "Word of God" (Bible/Good Book), "Alcoholics Anonymous" (Big Book), "The Upper Room" and "Disciplines" daily devotionals. Nine out of ten days this is how I start.  I have learned that if I begin my day this way I will  have a better chance of being the person my Creator wants me to be; of being more aligned with what his will is for me.

 

One of my morning meditational practices is walking outside at dawn to look around and experience the world as it's activities begin to fill the ears with sounds and eyes with movement.  I will always look to the eastern horizon to fix my eyes on a bright star. It is the brightest in the morning of all the stars! There is no missing it on a clear morning. This beacon shines so that as the sun begins to rise and it's light washes out all the others in the sky, there is only One remaining!

 

 

 

 

Through the course of a year this bright light appears in different positions on the eastern horizon. With our time changes here on the east coast, you know - spring forward and fall back - I have to search longer to find it. Sometimes I cannot find it all. This past week we have been covered with a consistent cloud layer and much rain and I have not been able to put my eyes on this constant companion of ours. As a matter of fact I have not gone out in the morning much for the past week.

 

 

 

 

The world calls this star a planet and has named it Venus. I do not believe it is a coincidence that Venus was the Greek goddess of Love.  So I will be grateful that Love is with us always and constantly. Lord knows the world needs it!

 

 

"I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

Revelation 22:16 (nkjv)



 

Amen

 

Bradford Bosworth

September, 2015







Our Vital Spirit

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from, or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit."

John 3:8

My simple soul longs for a simpler time. Every time I sign up for a new service or software application I have to create a new password. I need a password to find my password list. My electronic devices have shorter and shorter lifespans. The update pop-up pops-up with increased frequency.

I watch "American Pickers" because it leads me to glimpses of those simpler times. I am drawn to life's antiquities for they are where the treasure of my simple memories lie in a warm soft place. The basic truths contained in these memories still connects deep down and touches the Spirit within.

Recently I was strolling through the toiletries aisle at my local grocery store. A product on the shelf caught my eye and gave me pause. At first I thought that this particular shelf had been overlooked in restocking efforts. This seemingly forgotten section of display real estate must have been caught in a time warp. There rested a single bottle of Vitalis men's hair tonic. This should have been a facing that included Dapper Dan and Butch Wax adjacent to this relic of men's grooming!


Why would this isolated relic from the past grab me to the point of taking a picture with my cell phone? Perhaps I did not believe my eyes. Why - if I had a picture to show- people would actually believe me when I told them what I had recently discovered in a Publix of all places. How is it that this simple chance encounter with an inanimate object would have me gathered up in the mystique of my memory?



The first thing I did when I decided to share the picture was to look for some kind of sign, a message in the name itself, Vitalis. Of course, when beginning this search on my antiquated laptop, I received the message that my browser needed updating...go figure. When googled, the word Vitalis brought up the word Vitalism. What I found was that "Vitalism" is an obsolete scientific doctrine. I was not aware that a scientific doctrine could become obsolete? Then again I am not an academic either. I will let the reader see for themselves:

Vitalism is an obsolete scientific doctrine that "living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living entities because they contain some non-physical element or are governed by different principles than are inanimate things".^[1] a Where vitalism explicitly invokes a vital principle, that element is often referred to as the "vital spark", "energy" or "élan vital", which some equate with the soul.

When I further looked for clarification of that phrase: obsolete scientific doctrine, I found the descriptors: scientific consensus and mainstream scientific acceptance. Can anyone say global warming? Then it occurred to me that what we are talking about here is the same thing as conventional wisdom!  God forbid, that the belief in the concept of the soul travel the same road as the idea of vitalism!  All right, so I will remove the letter -m- and voila...we are back to our original word topic VITALIS... whew!  I think I will try to avoid wikipedia for awhile.

One thing I am sure of is the existence of the soul. I have a soul. It is my vital spirit within and when I connect best with fellow humans it is at the level of our souls. That spirit is what we all have in exact and absolute common.  What is different about us is how we are packaged; how our souls are manifest in this material world.

Last evening my friend Donna and I were enjoying a meal outside one of our favorite eateries here in Smyrna, Georgia. I saw her look up and behind me recognizing a familiar face. She immediately arose and went to this passerby calling him by name, "Michael"!  This was, I could sense, a connection on the level of the soul. Michael is a close friend with Donna's daughter. They were high school classmates many years earlier.  I could clearly see that "vital spark" of this young man as I got up to introduce myself and shake his hand.  I had never known of or heard his story. Here it is:

 



I had started writing this piece a couple days earlier and I got stuck. I was not sure where it was going. After hearing about this young man from my fiend Donna I knew it was not a coincidence that our paths crossed last night. There are no coincidences.  It is my conviction that one of the reasons Christ came into the world was to facilitate mankind's awakening to it's collective soul.  The Holy Spirit allows us to comprehend who we are.

 

 



I believe there is a time in our youth where we are more in touch with our spirit.  Then the world began telling me who I should be and I started listening. Conventional wisdom pointed me to how I should act and painted for me what my picture of success should look like. These relics of the past sometimes help connect me to those moments when I could more clearly hear that still small voice within.

 

" 'The Spirit of Truth' the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he lives with you and will be in you."

John 14:17

 



Thanks brother Michael.
Amen

Bradford Bosworth
September 2015