PAPER LANTERNS 9


PAGE 1

THERE IS A STAIRWAY
OF STATUS, IN LIFE'S WORK, AND
ALL STEPS ARE NEEDED.

THE "UNDERDOG" IS
NOT RIGHT OR WRONG, JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE "UNDERDOG".

IT CAN BE LONELY
AT THE TOP, AND THOSE THERE NEED
A GOOD SUPPORT BASE.

PAGE 2

TRICKSTERS HAVE A BAG
OF TRICKS, AND FLATTERY IS
HOW THEY DISARM US.

GOSSIP VIRUS CAN
BE DEADLY TO A CAREER,
WHEN RUMOR FAKES FACTS.

OUR LIFE'S TRUE PURPOSE
IS THE LONG UNFOLDING OF
OUR SPIRITUAL SEED.

PAGE 3

SOME HAVE THE GREAT LOVE:
COMPASSIONATE WISDOM, LEARNED
THROUGH EXPERIENCE.

SOME HAVE THE COURAGE
OF DURABLE FAITH, LEARNED
IN MANY BATTLES.

SOME HAVE LEARNED DEEP JOY
FOUND IN PROVEN FAITH, THROUGH TIMES
OF TRIAL AND SORROW.

PAGE 4

WHEN SOMEONE STANDS UP
FOR MORALITY, THE FOE
LOADS UP HIS MUD-GUN.

READINESS IS A
DAILY THING; A LIFESTYLE OF
WATCHFULNESS WE NEED.

FAITH IS PORTABLE.
WE CAN CARRY IT WITH US,
STEP-BY-STEP, DAILY.

PAGE 5

HOW DOES THE SOWN SEED
OVERCOME THE WEIGHT OF EARTH,
WITH ITS FRAGILE SPROUT ?

FOR LONG DISTANCE GOALS.
A STEADY PACE WORKS BETTER
THAN WHIMS, HASTE, AND LEAPS.

PRAYER, PATIENCE, AND
PERSISTENCE, ARE TOOLS THAT BUILD
OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

PAGE 6

BUILDING CHARACTER
IS NOT DONE WITH A PRE-FAB
KIT WE ASSEMBLE.

WE SHARE ADVENTURES
IN GROWING, BY WORKING WITH
LIFE'S LESSONS, TO LEARN.

VIEWING A SUNRISE
LINKS US WITH ALL LIFE ON EARTH.
THROUGH AGES OF TIME.

PAGE 7

RITUAL IS NOT
ALWAYS SPIRITUAL; IT CAN
BE USED IN WRONG WAYS.

ENOUGH TROUBLE CAN
MAKE FRIENDS OF ENEMIES, IF
TOGETHERNESS SAVES.

DESPITE DIFFERENCES,
WE SHARE A SPECIES LINK THAT
OUTLASTS OUR DISPUTES.

PAGE 8

WE ALL CAN USE OUR
EXPERIENCE, INSTEAD OF
BEING USED BY IT.

NOTHING SEASONS LIKE
EXPERIENCE. THE SEASONED
SOUL IS A TREASURE.

NO TAPESTRY CAN
BE WOVEN USING THREADS OF
ONLY ONE COLOR.

PAGE 9

IF GOD SETS LIMITS,
HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE WAYS
OF COMPENSATION.

POWERS OF LIGHT COME
BY INVITATION; THAT IS
WHY WE NEED TO PRAY.

LAWLESS POWERS WILL
MANIPULATE, WITHOUT OUR
KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT.

PAGE 10

BIG CONGLOMERATES
ARE LIKE TRYING TO SHAKE HANDS
WITH AN OCTOPUS.

ANXIETY IS
NOT EASY TO TAME, BUT CALM
CAN GET MUCH MORE DONE.

IT'S AMAZING HOW
SINGING TO OURSELVES CAN SEND
GOOD VIBES TO THE SOUL.

PAGE 11

CRIMINALS CAN'T MAKE
THEMSELVES BETTER BY MAKING
OTHERS CRIMINALS.

PATIENCE FINDS A WAY,
WHEN ANXIETY GETS LOST.
LIFE DEMANDS PATIENCE.

HUMILITY IS
A QUIET PLACE OF SIMPLE
ACCEPTANCE OF LIFE.

PAGE 12

BULLEYS WILL EVEN
ALIENATE ALLIES, BY
ABUSE OF POWER.

IF WE SPEND OUR LIFE
ENTERTAINING OURSELVES, THEN
TOYS WILL RULE OUR LIFE.

PEOPLE WHO RUN IN
PACKS, WILL HOWL WITH THE LEADER,
WITHOUT KNOWING WHY.

PAGE 13

LIKE SWISS CHEESE, AGEING
MEMORY HAS LOTS OF HOLES,
AND A MILD FLAVOR.

WHEN PEOPLE LOOK FOR
A SCAPEGOAT, THEY NEVER FIND
ONE IN THE MIRROR.

WE CAN ACCEPT MUCH
IN THEORY, LONG BEFORE
WE CAN LIVE BY IT.

PAGE 14

NOBODY LIKES IT,
BUT WE OFTEN LEARN MORE FROM
AFFLICTION, THAN EASE.

OVERCOMING IS
FIRST, INNER CHANGE, THAT REFLECTS
AS AN OUTER CHANGE.

PERSONA IS A
PAINTED, OUTER FACADE, AND
OFTEN A FALSE FRONT.

PAGE 15

"EASY STREET" IS THE
DEVIL'S ADDRESS. IT LOOKS NICE,
BUT IT HAS ITS PRICE.

SOMETIMES CONSCIENCE WILL
WHISPER; SOMETIMES IT LECTURES;
SOMETIMES IT DEMANDS.

THE ONE PERSON IN
THIS WORLD WE MUST FACE DAILY,
IS CALLED BY OUR NAME.

PAGE 16

WITHOUT PROBLEMS, WE
WON'T GROW STRONG; WITHOUT PRAYER,
WE WON'T LEARN RIGHT USE.

REJECTION IS A
TEST, TO HELP US ASSESS OUR
RESOLVE FOR THE TASK.

WHEN COMPROMISE LEADS
TO SURRENDER OF OUR FAITH,
THE SOUL CANNOT GROW.

PAGE 17

THE TRUE PILGRIM KNOWS
THAT, IN LIFE'S JOURNEY, HAVENS
AREN'T DESTINATIONS.

GOD PROVIDES COMICS,
TO KEEP US AWARE THAT WE
ARE WORKS-IN-PROGRESS.

IT'S WISE TO LISTEN
TO "NANNY-BAAS" TO AVOID
HEADLONG COLLISIONS.

PAGE 18

PARENTS TELL CHILDREN:
"DON'T TOUCH THE STOVE, IT WILL BURN."
THAT'S NOT OPINION.

THE FIRST EVIDENCE
OF POSITIVE THINKING IS
FACING THE ISSUES.

WITNESS THE POWER
OF SPIRIT, IN THE FRAGILE
SPROUT, RISING FROM SEED.

PAGE 19

ANY SHIP WITHOUT
NAVIGATION, IS A TOY
OF SEA-TIDES AND STORMS.

LOVE HAS GIVEN US
THREADS OF WISDOM, SO WE CAN
WEAVE GOOD CHARACTER.

HOW MANY EYES HAVE
WATCHED SUNRISE AND SUNSET FROM
EARTH'S ROUND HORIZON ?

PAGE 20

FROM THE DUSTY TRAIL,
TO THE PAVED HIGHWAY,WE ARE
ALL LIFE'S TRAVELERS.

THERE ARE SHEPHERDS OF
TRUTH, WHO FAITHFULLY WAIT TILL
THE FLOCK HEARS THEIR CALL.

NO MATTER THE YEARS
WE'VE TRAVELED, THE OLD SCHOOL- BELL
STILL RINGS - IF WE HEAR.

via/bjc
2006

Paper Lanterns 10

Roadsong

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