T'was Night Before Christmas in Nashville

Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a Nashvillian was stirring, not even Allison Kraus.

Titan jerseys were hung in closets with care

In hopes that Albert Hanesworth would soon find repair.

Musicians were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of #1 singles all danced in their heads.

Mrs. Dean in her dress, and Karl in his cap

Had just sped through Chief Serpas' speed trap.

When out of Centennial Park, there arose such a clatter

Karl sprang from the driver's seat to see what was the matter.

First to the Parthenon, he flew away quick

Then to Tootsies only stopping to steal a purple brick.

The moon shone across the Cumberland that night

Giving the light of midday even showing Exit/In within sight.

When, what to his tired eyes should appear,

But Bill Frist and eight tiny white-tailed deer.

And then an F-150 came crashing so quick

From the tailpipes thunder, he knew it was good ole St. Nick.

Faster than Chris Johnson, his elves they came

He whistled and hollered and called them by name,

Now Jeff! Now Martha! Now Joe and Martina!

On Howard! On Barry! On Trace and Jo Dee Messina!

To the top of the General Jackson! To the top of the boat!

Now row away! Row away! Row away all!

As Interstate 24 at 4:30

They all got in line looking so 'purty'.

So up, up the Cumberland all the friends they flew

With a boat full of toys, and St. Nicolas too.

And, then in a moment, he saw from a distance

The General Jackson flying with little resistance.

As Karl was yawning and turning around,

Down Broadway St. Nicholas came in a bound.

He was dressed in all camo from his head to toes,

His clothes were all messy from his earlier trip to Lowe's .

A bundle of toys he had flung over his shoulder

He looked like a man trying to carry a boulder.

In his eyes you could tell, a good year it had been

In his hand a Powerball ticket, he was lucky to win.

He carried trophies for the Titans and for the 'Dores,

Even brought for the Vols some off-season chores.

The stump of a cigarette he held tight in his teeth,

The smoke ring encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face, and a little beer belly,

That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was Southern as could be with a twang in his speech,

Then Karl noticed it wasn't really St. Nick, he let out a screech.

A wink of the eye and a drop of the jaw,

Soon let him know that he'd done nothing against the law.

He spoke not a word, and packed up his bag

But stop to fill up Karl's pockets with dixie swag.

And holding his finger way up above his head

He gave a last nod, and up Broadway he fled.

He sprang to his horse, to his friends gave a holler,

And away they all flew leaving Karl with a dollar.

But I heard him yell as they rode out of sight...

Merry Christmas to y'all, and to y'all a good night!

Cheerleaders vs. Warriors

This isn't the time to sit on the sidelines and cheer on your buddies.

This is the time to fight for your life.

No one else is going to do it for you, because no one else can.

This time it's up to you.

And if you are just sitting back hoping that the best will happen...

It won't.

You'll lose your family, your friends, your life.

This is your chance.

Take advantage of it.

Use your resources. Have your friends help you.

Listen to them and what has helped them.

Share with them what has helped you.

Don't just say what sounds good.

Tell the truth.

Because this is your chance.

And you don't always get second chances like these.

So get in the game

And fight.

Fight for your life, because that's what we're doing here.

There's a time and a place where cheerleaders are good.

Your friends, your family can be your cheerleaders

And it helps.

But you can't be a cheerleader in your own life.

You have to be a warrior.

In fewer words, this is what he said. So courageously.

And although I am not in his shoes. 

I kinda feel the same way. I am trying my best to understand.

Daily I watch others from the sidelines.

Listen to their heartaches. See their setbacks.

And, now, I want to get in there. 

I want to be a 'warrior' for myself. And for others.

Because someone said I was worth it.

And I do believe that he is worth it. That she is worth it.

That our neighbors. Our strangers. Our friends. Our acquaintances.

Are worth it.

Life in Too Many Words

Throwback to 2.26.08

Today I climbed a mountain. Tonight my whole body is sore. The kind of sore that makes you believe that you did something good. That makes you want to pass out because you are so exhausted. But still you lie awake, your back on the bed, thinking how great the day was.

 

There was something symbolic about the whole adventure. Nothing like conquering a mountain in life and having some pictures to show. Sure, they may not even touch an explanation of what was going on inside. But, everytime you see yourself in that place, you´ll know. That´s where you were when you were dying inside and then you climbed up out of your hole and saw the view from the top. Yes, others will never understand the true story behind the view from the top. But, that doesn't even matter, because you know what it´s like to be free.

 

Free from worry. Free from pain. Released it all into the sky while you were climbing by. Free from others. Free from yourself. Saw your soul all alone for the first time in years. Free from the future. Free from the past. Breathed in one breathe and nothing else.

 

Nothing else compares to the fullness of life. When you have it you forget about the bad things, the good things, the past things, the future things. You cannot handle more than the moment because you know how big it is. how small it is. There is no possible way to fathom more.

 

Just breathe in and out. And hold on. It´s going to be a ride that gives ups and downs, but mostly only twists and turns. Because you decide what this moment holds. Sometimes things will be brought to you. Sometimes things will be torn from you. But as long as you need it, you will have yourself. So, decide now how you will use yourself to have the best moments. To give the best moments to your friends. And family. And strangers. 

No Cloudy Days

The other day I was outside with the weather all dreary... and i was thinking, 'man, i really wish that it was sunny today.' But then I thought how this statement was funny, because the sun is just as bright today as it was during the sunniest days in July and every day in between. Just because the tilt of the earth changes and the dark clouds gather over Nashville, it doesn't mean that the sun is any less bright than the day before. 

When Peter walked on water, he started falling because He lost sight of God and he saw the wind. It's easy for me to see the dreary weather today, the tough economy, all the problems that world says we have. But for me, I have to remember that those better times are coming. There are things that are constant in this life. Hope. Faith. GOD. I have to keep my eyes on what is constant to keep from falling. If I focus on the wind, I will fall.

This hope makes bad days good for me. And it reminds me that just as the sun is always shining, my God is always loving. 'I AM' was and is and is to come.