Happy Birthday to @TheJackB

 

Happy Birthday to @TheJackB

by Stan Faryna

Stan Faryna

Daft Punk, Get Lucky

 

God bless you

You may know him by another name. Or several. Some call him Jack. Others, Mr. Steiner. And yet others, Josh. I have always thought of him as Ajax – the giant from Homer’s Iliad. It’s his birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Ajax.

Wishing Ajax a happy birthday reminds me of all those whose birthdays for which I did not offer a shout out. I regret my failure. I repent of it and I wholeheartedly apologize if you who ever wondered if my silence signaled a lack of affection. I do not have a good track record for remembering birthdays but I can say boldly and earnestly that my memory does not speak for the treasury and intentions of my heart.

Although I have little to offer as a way of gift to Ajax or you, I can start by mentioning some blog posts that I’ve enjoyed. Here’s just a sample of the blogging of Jack Steiner:

What Do Father’s Fear?

What Does The Reflection In The Mirror Look Like

Time Travel and Terms Of Service

 

Do your words need healing?

In a recent post, Jack bemoans the quiet and unenthusiastic state of bloggery – lackluster traffic, dwindling comments and, ultimately, the quixotic and unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment and, sometimes, despair. Jack is not mistaken in his perceptions of the death rattles of the blogosphere. Podcasting is where it’s act.

But Jack also once said, “just write.”

And that’s what we bloggers should and must do – write. Oh – not with a sense of a cavalier and professional schedule and punctuality. Not with undaunted, rash words! Not with the wrong words!

What shall we write? Let us not write evil or incite it by our writing. And let us not tell lies.

The Book of Proverbs offers some insight in this regard.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 21:23

He who guards his lips guards his soul, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Proverbs 13:3

 

Words without limits

Words without limits can be like unsheathed daggers as much as they can be dandelion spores carrying our wishes to the eager and benevolent ears of God. Like a flashing red strobe light on the dashboard of a missile launch station as often as they may remind us of the sweet, clovey fragrance of a field of blooming dianthus.

Therefore, we must wield our words, gently, joyfully and with care and good will – equal to the enthusiasm with which we want to speak and share. Our words must be written and spoken with love.

It’s not easy. Because our words speak our heart. And, sometimes, there is much darkness in our hearts.

Fortunately for us, our hearts can be healed by our own words. It begins when we bless each other. This is where love begins.

 

Luna Moth 3 Faryna May 2014

Stan Faryna

9 May 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

3 Responses to Happy Birthday to @TheJackB

  1. Betsy Cross says:

    Happy Birthday, Jack, Josh.

  2. billdorman says:

    How did I miss Josh’s bday? Great shout out though.

  3. TheJackB says:

    That old guy meant to show up to say thank you all weekend long but failed to be prompt. Old man memory…Anyhoo, here I am and I am grateful and thankful for this.

Speak from your heart!