My Wonderous Journey Has Begun


On 1 August 2007, I made a great decision and initiated my retirement application after working ten years. Some of you already know that I am a retired Army Non Commissioned Officer. I received my teaching license, with an English as a Second Language endorsement about a month ago. I have been interviewed for teaching positions. I decided that since I will have ten years of employment on 11 November 2007, that I must put in my application for retirement ninety days or more prior to 11 November 2007. This is an incentive towards reaching certain goals, though I have not received a job offer yet for teaching. I have challenged myself---get another job before my retirement date. I am never one to put all of my eggs in one basket, so I have also applied for high wage and incentive jobs in the criminal justice field where I hold a degree and merit awards. Of course, since I am an author, I have put into motion plans for complete self employment with time for public speaking and lucrative writing and publishing opportunities. In short, I have stacked the tables to encourage my success, but perhaps I need to concentrate on my personal faith. Let me tell you what happened to me today.

Today, 2 August 2007, I decided to spend some of the money that my wife had given me for my birthday and father's day. Both events occurred in June 2007. My wife told me to get a pedicure with some of my gift money. With toe nails that had the sharpness of Godzilla's, I visited the pedicure and nail shop. With my girth and appearance, like a NFL linebacker, who was going to snicker. One lady commented upon seeing me that she was trying to get her husband in for an appointment. Of course, I should have suspected that my sudden decision to visit the pedicure shop and my sudden decision to retire would be relevant somehow. I then saw the sad scenes from the bridge collaspe at Minneapolis. No doubt, some people perished. I then made a remark about the television coverage. The lady sitting to my left stated that she crossed that bridge about one hour before it collasped and that her 78 year old mother, who lives at New York City was thankful that she had crossed the bridge prior to its collaspe. I asked the lady if she was on schedule, on time travelling to the airport for her return trip, because she was at Minneapolis attending a doctor's covention. She commented that she was on time because the bridge collasped after she crossed it. She stated that her timing, crossing the bridge, was right on tine under the circumstances. I gave her a free book, The Winds of Destiny, which I often do when I meet people who were spared by destiny or a higher calling. I advised her that she could purchase my second book after she read my first book.

The lady's story, about crossing the bridge early and surviving, is relative to my decision to retire from my job. For months now, I have worked in a section that has been severely reduced in manpower by the departure of some co workers. No replacements personnel have been hired, therefore my work situation is now unbearable, though I have exerted the utmost strength and faith to complete my assignments. In short, my job (village) is on the brink of destruction. I can stay on this Titanic of a job or cross the bridge to safety, but the bridge can stand only for a short time longer, before it will perish along with the job (village). Since I could see that the bridge was weakening critically, I began my journey---crossing my bridge-- on 1 August 2007---by initiating retirement papers. To stay on my job would have been disasterous. No...The Heavenly Father, did not give me a talent to waste by staying on a job replete with punishing winds and hellish destruction...The wind only going to blow harder and harder..Move away (leave) and stand where the winds are calmer...

My meeting with this lady, who crossed that bridge early at Minneapolis, has invigorated my faith. Then today, I was reading emails from my fellow students who completed the teacher's certification course with me. I learned that a human resource office was eager to fill a vacancy. I called the phone number but the mail box was full. I hung the phone up. As I walked away, the phone started ringing. I picked up the phone and a recording said hold on, I am transferring you. I spoke with a live person and was then transferred to another full mail box. I hung up the phone again and walked away. The phone started ringing for the second time. I walked back, picked up the phone, and a recording said hold on, I am transferring you. Then I got another full mail box, but before I could hang up, I was transferred to a live person who took my phone number. Blessed was the telephone.

Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith and move on from bad situations and do not look back or go back. Keep riding on into the sunset or sunrise.

I am going to write some more. About... the two or more terminal ill patients that were accompanied to my book signings by close friends or companions. These patients looked in the best of health from the outside but they were ill on the inside. These patients did not come to me with sad faces, though ther knew that their time left here on this earth was measured in two digits relative to their last days and not months. Therefore, they had 99 days or less to live. Then days later, 99 days or less, I saw only one person, from the previous parties of two people, and this one person was smiling brightly. They then approached my autographing table and announced that their friends enjoyed my book immensely and it made them happy. I then asked about the whereabouts of their friend and alas, I was told that the persons had passed into eternity. I then learned that those persons were terminally ill when others purchased my book for them. These scenarios have happened on three or more occasions. I was glad, though shocked that the dearly departed had enjoyed my book before their departures into eternity.

I am going to give credit for the contents of my book that has given some terminally ill patients joy, hope and inspiration. I must always give the credit to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. My book is not about dying, but about how to die. It is about remembering that we all will die. My book is about remembering those who have passed on into eternity and to give tribute to them. My book is about having faith and believing the promise of eternal life. I do not intend to insult those of my readers who may not be of the faith, but regardless of one's faith, know and believe that death will summon us all one day. Be prepared and ready for that journey.

Three or more years ago, I was at Baltimore, Maryland and saw the word, "Believe" on signs throughout the city. I asked many people, who could not explain the signs. I believe that the signs mean.....

Believe in our Lord and his son, Jesus Christ.

Believe that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb.

Believe that we will see the dearly departed again one day.

Believe in yourself and that you can achieve great things, because Our Heavenly Father giave us the skills (talents) to be successful.


I see a bridge... A bridge of success...I am crossing it and marching on my journey towards success and destiny. I ask that you look closely and see your own bridges of success.