Heritage

"Happy Hill" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy Sez-  Often is heard talk about Heritage, the heritage of a family, a people, a nation or a culture and usually that talk is in grandiose terms, filled with platitudes and generalizations but what is Heritage, real Heritage?  It is a question we must ask and need to answer before we can really understand ourselves.  Heritage, it seems comes from two sources - one type of heritage we inherit from our past, from our family, our culture and our environment, the other we create ourselves and that is our legacy which with the heritage we inherit becomes part of the heritage we leave.

The heritage of a people or family can be expressed in terms of monetary wealth, the lands and special places, the silver of generations back and the potential for future wealth. These are all types of an inherited heritage, but heritage is much more that that - it is not just the lands, castle nor silver but it is the ideas, ideals and values that as a people or family we aspire to.

Now the question is what are these ideas, ideals and values we aspire to and more importantly - why.

Each person in every group of people, every culture is different giving them a unique perspective and reality, but it is the collection of similar experiences and inherited heritage that binds these different individuals together into a family, a culture and a nation. Not only does each individual have their own ideas, ideals and values but so does each culture and most of these are naturally guided by certain universal constants.   These constants, like the land we live on are a part of our environment, our inherited heritage and while not all people or cultures are influenced by these constants most are and that is why we for the most part as individuals or groups want to leave a positive legacy and a positive heritage.  A good name, present and future monetary wealth, icons and heirlooms are usually what most people and groups of people desire to receive and leave as a heritage rather than hate, death and despair.  Two examples of different heritages left by two different people and their organizations can be shown by Mother Theresa and the Missionaries of Charity and Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, one followed the moral constants of their inherited heritage, the other did not.  Both inherited a heritage completely different from each other except for one thing - the universal moral constants, both had them but only one choose to leave them as their heritage.

Now we know that the single most important part of our heritage as an individual or nation is the universal moral constants left to us.  It is from acknowledging and following these constants that no matter how dark the rest of your heritage may be, that darkness will be turned into light.  By following these constants that we all inherit we all inherit light, we all inherit the potential to leave a legacy of not just wealth but goodness. It is from these constants that the silver, lands and castle spring from, it is these constants that are the fountainhead for ideas, ideals and values, it is from these constants we find a purpose to our life and a reason for our heritage.

The only constant thing I know of is GOD.

The Cycle Continues

"Hidden Hill" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy Says- Winter in all its frigid relentlessness is at its peak in most of the nation.  Its unforgiving harshness will not stop, will not relent, but behind it all the days are getting longer slowly, bit by bit, bringing the vital warmth of summer.  The sun will shine and the days will be warm, the grass will be green and the birds will sing.  And so the cycle continues.

Silent Serenity - Again and Always

"The Lamp" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy Sez-  It has been a long time since my last post for which I am truly sorry and, in the spirit of the great P. G. Wodehouse I hope I have not caused my gentle readers any undue concern. Suffice it to say all is well on the old home front and the blessed busyness of life has kept this wretched writer at bay.   I would however like to take this time to re-post the following that I like to share at least once every year, usually during the Christmas season.

A lamp was lit over two thousand years ago that shines the light of heavenly love across the face of the earth and the soul of man and because of that light the silent serenity of God's peace and joy lights our hopes not just for the season, but for all eternity. 

Fear of God

"Mountain of Power" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez-  As I mentioned in an earlier post God is always there, it's up to you whether or not you are, indeed the times in my life when things do not go well, the times when I screw up are the times when I do things that I know in my heart, in my gut are not right but I somehow always justify it and go ahead and listen to my ego instead of listening to God, listening to my heart.  God is always there and God always loves you. When I was very young and innocent I would hear people talk about the "Fear of God" and I never understood, how can anyone be afraid of one that gives you total and unconditional love?  God is not mean nor vengeful, nor will He ever hurt you, so how could one be afraid?  It is only when one gets away from God, when YOU leave Him, when YOU lose sight of his love that fear can grip your heart, that indescribable loneliness of being without God.  That is the real fear, not the fear of God but the fear of not being with God.   God will always love you and care for you, He will put you where you belong and will bless you with the challenges and rewards you need.  They may not always be what you want but they will be what you should have, and these, no matter what they are you should accept with love as they were given with love.

Season of Rememberance

"Psychedelic Cabin" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez-  Now that the winter with it's cold and short days are here so it is a time to remember all the people and friends we know and have known, and all our family far and near.  Many of us are busy searching for a gift, writing card and making phone calls - but if none of that gets done the main purpose this season is remembering, remembering and thinking of each of them, of their personality and presence, their essence - but of course this is the season  most of all to remember God and Christ.

Blessed Forth of July

"The Point" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez-  Today we celebrate one of the happiest events ever to happen to the human race - America.
We are an extraordinary nation made by extraordinary people by, for and because of extraordinary beliefs.

Silent Serenity

"The Lamp" by D. J. Tankersley

A lamp was lit over two thousand years ago that shines the light of heavenly love across the face of the earth and the soul of man and because of that light the silent serenity of God's peace and joy lights our hopes not just for the season, but for all eternity.  Have a Blessed Christmas!

Clearing the Air

"Cindy's Afternoon Storm" by D. J. Tankersley

If you have ever taken a drive through the desert after a rainstorm you will usually notice that the air has a unique sharpness and clarity to it, you can see things way off in the distance that are usually a bit blurred but now seem sharp and clear, you can see things you could not see before and it is almost as though you were looking though some kind of magical spyglass.

Anger of the Season

"Anger" by Drew John Tankersley 

Happy sez- Anger is often about in this season of peace and joy, even with the news turned off there is still the increased worry and frustration of the season which of course, brings out the increased anger in this season of quiet reverent reflection.

Happy Thanksgiving

"Field of Diamonds" by Drew John Tankersley

Give thanks to your Creator and know Gratitude for that which He has given you! - Happy Thanksgiving !

The Day Quickly Approaching

"Surprise" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- If your like me holidays, especially Christmas always arrives on time and with a shock.  I know it's coming, I even know the date, it's the same every year and every year I promise myself I'll be ready early, and every year my family and friends know to expect my gift or card sometime mid January.  One year I

The Cycle of Shadows

"Electric Blue" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez-  If you have spent a lot of time through the years driving in the Mojave Desert then you have probably noticed two things about the play of light in that great vastness:  the shadows of the early morning and late afternoon, and the silhouettes along the ridges of the desert hills and mountains.  Drawn by the fine

Black Friday's Season

"Anxiety" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez - The time has come again in this nation to celebrate the glories of Christmas and celebrate  we do in many different ways.  We have many parties, visits with  friends and family, parades, we decorate our homes and towns and have all kinds of special events, but most of all I think our biggest way to celebrate Christmas is giving gifts.  All these celebrations are a great thing and bring many people much joy and

The Flow of the River

"Water Over a Cliff" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- People, including myself, often think of time and life as water or more precisely as the flow of water and I think in many ways that makes a pretty good analogy.  Time or really life ( time is not money but it is life) can be

Flow of the Seasons

"Lively Ice" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- Winter came this year, as it often does, with a sudden fury that lets you know your never quite ready.  The winter clothes may be out, the pipes wrapped, and pumpkin pie glittering in your eye and you

Wonders and Innocence

"Desert Nights - Vegas Valley" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- This painting I am told is an impression of the Las Vegas Valley circa 1992.  If you are familiar with that area you can see from the different colors of the city that light up the surrounding valley about what year it is and you can tell by the hues that it is in the fall or winter.  If you step back from the human side of

Halloween Fears

"Fear" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- Well Halloween is here and it tis the peak of the beginning - of the fall and winter season, and Happy has a short and  happy ( and CORNY) poem  on the subject - Fall has fallen and winters on the way - and after that another bright and sunny day -  which brings me to the topic of today's Halloween post:  May the only fears you have are just those made of Halloween fun!  This is in a way the one day of the year when we get to poke fun at the real fears of the world, of which there are always plenty, and the chance to realize that in spite of the troubles and tears of life the world will keep on spinning, spring will keep on coming and hope will keep on blooming.  May your Halloween be Blessed.

Cindy's Mountain

"Cindy's Mountain" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- A mountain has often been used to symbolize many things of  endurance and strength, but the two true lasting and solid strengths are that of God and love, which is not just a gift from God but of God. 

Happy Life

"Jungle Temple" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- As we travel the path though our lives we go though many different stages with many different wants, thinking at the time that the fulfillment of those wants would somehow make us happy or fulfill a desire within us for a good life.  While a good life can mean a lot to a lot of different people, and much has been said by many on this topic, for what it's worth I decided to throw my two cents in from a bit older perspective, after the shiny has been rubbed off life.  I will list some of the "rules " I've learned though the years for a good life.  You might call these Happy's rules for a Happy life!  I do not think so much of these as rules but more as just following the natural laws of nature.

Landmarks of Life

"Jungle River" by Drew John Tankersley

Happy sez- The other day I had to run some errands which took me by an old residence of mine where I spent many happy years and I got to thinking about the landmarks in the neighborhood that showed me where I was, where my old place was and also gave me my bearings so I could navigate where I wanted.