15 May 2026 Lead or Follow

Are you a leader or a follower?

Good evening. It’s almost bed time as I write to you. It’s hard to believe another week is coming to a close! For some reason my neighbors are shooting off fireworks- thank goodness Link doesn’t get bothered by them!

The prompt for today makes me look back to when I was Active Duty in the Air Force for 16 years. During my time in service I was both a leader and a follower depending on the circumstances I was in. In the military there is a long chain of command leading all the way to the President. You have a supervisor who has a supervisor who has a supervisor and so on all the way up. I can remember having difficulty following orders – I never just blindly followed. When you are a low ranking individual you really don’t have much of a say. As an airmen I got in trouble on more than one occasion of breaking the rules! I had come from a strict home life so you would think following orders in the military would come easily but it didn’t. To be an effective leader you need a pretty thick skin which I haven’t always had. As a young person I was extremely empathetic and had trouble regulating my emotions. Nowadays I have a much thicker skin- almost too much so!

Dear Jesus thank you for this day and all the blessings in it. I love you Lord. I pray that your presence and love flow to all those who are lost in this world. I pray you bless the sick, those on a healing journey like my cousin Heidi, the poor, the unhoused, the addicted, the abused, the neglected to include all animals. Amen.

https://youtu.be/XNjcqx4sW44?si=xA3pp6tf3rbRWRWC – 10 minute Tai Chi

21 Apr 2026 Amen

Hello to you today. I wanted to share this special song and video by one of my all time favorite musical groups – Enigma:

https://youtu.be/ZYlNjQ5TTF4?si=9gzMTzxZc1r4TaeJ – Enigma – Amen

Amen

Song by Enigma ‧ 2016

OverviewLyrics

I’m out on a new road in search for a land with no name
And I never looked back, ’cause I’m walking through sunshine and rain
I’m a man who has lived in the tombs and who’s broken the chain

Amen
Amen

I was blind, but now I see
What if God is not for me
And I know, it’s time to go

I’ve been used and I’ve been played
I’ve been spied on and betrayed
And I know, it’s time to go

I defeat the pain
(Watch out) I’m alive again
The past is gone for good, it’s time to say

Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen

At last, I believe I will be found
In the silence of my nights
I can hear a distant voice
Someone out there is calling my name

I’m not afraid
(Watch out) I’m beyond the dread
It’s time to turn the page and love again

Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen

I defeat the pain
(Watch out) and I cry again
I’m leaving all my shadows behind

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Michael Kunze / Michael Cretu

Amen lyrics © Edition 1-2-3 Music, 1-2-3 Music Edition

Enigma is a group that is timeless – never gets old!

This is another song and video by them that is one of my favorites and gets me teary:

https://youtu.be/Rk_sAHh9s08?si=nEN_mhz9mkdMYfDp – Enigma- Return To Innocence

Return to Innocence

Song by Enigma ‧ 1993

OverviewLyrics

Love
Devotion
Feeling
Emotion

Don’t be afraid to be weak
Don’t be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself
The return to innocence

The return to innocence

And if you want, then start to laugh
If you must, then start to cry
Be yourself don’t hide
Just believe in destiny

Don’t care what people say
Just follow your own way
Don’t give up and use the chance
To return to innocence

That’s not the beginning of the end
That’s the return to yourself
The return to innocence

That’s return to innocence

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: M.C. Curly

Return to Innocence lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Prayer I found that resonated with me:

Lord, I commit this day to You. Please give me strength for the challenges, wisdom for decisions, and peace in my heart. Guide my steps, help me to love well, and use me to bring light to those around me. I trust You with every moment, Amen.