planBreathe

If you are busy, suffering from A.D.D. or just looking for a quick FB browse, avoid this post. I don't exactly know what this is - but I feel like I have to wr...ite. I woke early Sunday morning and after a leisurely dog walk around Hollywood, I decided to just let the river of life take me where it will. To help speed up the journey, I jumped on my motorcycle, a sexy, loud bobber - (the kind that used to make me a little angry while I was having lunch at an outdoor cafe). The ride was epic. Iconic imagery only available in the City of Angels flowed in an out of my senses. Hollywood Hills, warm Los Angeles sunshine, the smells of Jasmine and those distinctive palm trees soaking up the sun after a very long season of June gloom. I decided to explore Silverlake a bit, rolling up and down the serpentine, hilly roads, so strangely quiet on an early Sunday. The city was finally resting after many frenzied years fighting to be center stage. After a few blissful hours I found a little cafe called, The Lyric. I'd never heard of it, so I thought I would grab some food. Suddenly drag queens were swarming me at the counter, and I realized I had landed in a drag brunch...what an unexpected surprise. I met some incredibly warm people - But then I made the mistake of picking up the NY Times. My Sunday funday was suddenly interrupted by an image of a joyous old soul -- a blind orangutan-- whose eyes had been shot out with a pellet gun from angry palm oil farmers who were upset that these glorious beasts were stealing some of their precious fruit. This gorgeous, ancient looking being was smiling broadly as it reached into the darkness, trusting that its new home would be safe, despite the 74 pellets that were lodged inside her. Months earlier, she had been found, clinging to life, clinging to an Indonesian tree -- slashed and bleeding, blinded by pellets and her months old baby had been ripped from her clutches. I sat, surrounded by drag queens who were chattering away, all of them oblivious to this horror. Suddenly, like an unexpected thunderstorm, I was unable to fight away the tears and gathering sadness. I had no idea this was happening in the Indonesian jungles. And now, I had NO idea why this was affecting me so much. It was then, in the middle of this moment of shock and horror, that another thought eclipsed it all. Every day I pass hundreds of people who have also been run out of their natural habitats, their homes, apartments and dwellings -- because the profits will be great for those with the resources to harvest the low hanging fruit. I don't really care. I act like I do. If the topic comes up, I weigh in. But there are no tears. I wonder what this is. Months ago I passed a very old homeless man who literally began wailing and sobbing after I passed him. It wasn't a metered cry - it was a soul jarring wail from a lifetime of pain and despair from unmet expectations and broken everything. I was startled. But I walked on. Sunday was different. I wanted to seek revenge on the pellet gun toting palm fruit farmers who needed to protect their prized possessions to make lipstick and chocolate--so that Instagram would not go extinct while the orangutan do. I was sure that blindly happy orangutan had a soul. It had to--it looked so very human. But I was speculating. The wailing homeless man, actually did. I learned that in Sunday school. What is it about us as a species? If anyone has actually read all of this, I have a question. Do you relate? Have you found yourself moved to near tears over the sad plight of animals, like the fact that 4100 dogs and cats are euthanized each day in America alone-- mostly my beloved pit bulls? And at the same time, you may walk casually by an actual person who is despondent, near death or severely disabled or diseased...and you may not really give it a second thought? I'm just curious to know if I am just a heartless beast - or if perhaps there are others out there who can relate. I want to care about all of God's creatures. I used to hate drag queens. I didn't "get it." But God does. And now, in my limited way, I do too. I know that I will never meet a blind orangutan from Indonesia. I have nothing in my power to make a real and lasting difference for that glorious beast that is being edged out of its natural home. Edged off the face of this earth. But I am surrounded by beautiful homeless souls -- and today I am wondering just what can I do to make even a tiny difference -- I'm asking God for that answer. And I am asking you, do you relate?

My debut as a writer, director, producer and cinematographer! Please tune in tomorrow on TBN -- share the love and the HOPE!!

Tell someone you love them because life is short. But scream it at them in German because life can be scary and confusing too!Tell someone you love them because life is short. But scream it at them in German because life can be scary and confusing too!

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44 out of 45 Presidents agree, Too many tweets can lead to Truth Decay!44 out of 45 Presidents agree, Too many tweets can lead to Truth Decay!