Friday, February 3, 2017

Troubling Times



I enjoy using Facebook and I’m on it quite a bit. My daughters poke fun at me by reminding me that Facebook is for old folks, but I don’t care. It’s fun keeping up with family and friends. I’ve even reconnected with friends from high school, with former students and with former players.

I enjoy seeing pictures of their family. I enjoy catching up on their lives as they live it. There are also several gifted photographers and artists I follow because I enjoy their work. So creative, so beautiful. There are several columnists I follow, mostly inspirational. I call it mind food, soul food, and heart food.

Lately, Facebook has been inundated with the Troubling Times of politics, both in our country and abroad. I have taken part since I see it as part of my civic duty to do so. I have strong, passionate beliefs and I express them. I know that perhaps I’ve hurt some feelings. I realize that folks have unfollowed me, and that’s okay, too. Each of us has to do what we think is best.

It’s never easy taking a stand. It causes us to first question our beliefs and causes us to question what would be the best course of action. Again, it’s never easy taking a stand.

But that’s not really what I want to focus on today.

You see, there is really only so much we can do. There is only so much we can control.

We can lobby. We can protest. We can petition. We can make phone calls and send email. But even then, in the end, there is only so much we can do and control.

Mostly, we can control ourselves.

I’ve written several posts: Light Behind The Clouds and Storms come to mind that talk about the importance maintaining inner peace, that talk about no matter how the winds, the turmoil, the strife there is around us, what we can control . . . what we should control . . . is our heart and our soul.

I’m not saying that one shouldn’t protest or write email. Not saying that at all.

But what I am saying is that once the protest is over, once the phone call is made, once the email is sent, fall back into yourself and find your peace. Steady yourself.

Winds will rage around you. There will be darkness. There will be crashing waves. Guaranteed that will happen as much as we don’t want it to happen.

But there will be light. There will be calm waters. There will be times of rest and there should be.

We can only control so much. Don’t let it bring you down. Don’t let it take your peace. Don’t let it hurt your heart. Don’t let it ruin your soul. Something to think about . . .

For My Readers:
Please feel free to connect with me at:

Twitter at @jrlewisauthor

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author                


If you like Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what other readers have said about my novels.
Stolen Lives, Book One of the Lives Trilogy
“Joseph Lewis has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!”  “I am really glad I happened to see this Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters, especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Started Taking Lives and immediately turned the pages to get to Stolen Lives.”

Two thirteen year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis            

Shattered Lives, Book Two of the Lives Trilogy
“I couldn’t put it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly for the final installment Splintered Lives."

Six men escaped and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them.  http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis            

Splintered Lives, Book Three of the Lives Trilogy
“Engaging characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”

A 14 year old boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis        

Taking Lives, Prequel to the Lives Trilogy – only .99 cents on Amazon
“Great book by Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.”  “Couldn’t put the book down.”  “Great story can't wait to read the next one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is developed thoroughly, igniting the reader's interest and stirring emotions. The frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are endearing.”

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis

2 comments:

  1. So true In a lot of what you say, Joseph. It's hard, sometimes, to know how to respond. Bottom line, only we can be responsible for that quiet place and what lies in our heart. I wrote a post on my reflections of this, too, called "Trust". Was something that came to me for the New Year in light of all the latest events. Take care and thank you for sharing. :-)

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    1. Thank you for your feedback and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate it.

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Thank you for your comment. I welcome your thought. Joe