Martyr

Martyr to the cause

I will speak what’s in my heart

In the name of love


Many people think of the word, martyr as meaning one who sacrifices himself or herself. Yet that concept was a later interpretation. The original meaning of the Greek word, martys, was of one who bears witness to what he knows or has seen. However, it also came to refer to the fact that someone who is truly committed to the truth would be prepared to die for the sake of truth; thus, a martyr.

Nervous

Nervous, she closed the door. She reached for the key, started the engine. She looked, expectantly, at the man sitting in the passenger seat.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Drive through the gate and turn left, please.”

She put the car in gear, revved the engine, and started her driving test.

Be careful what you wish for

Barbed Wire Sunset

Anger that cannot be expressed in words of single syllables

Spoken with such venom as to frighten e’en the brave

Words, frustration-born and vicious, defamation in their wake

To punish those whose motives are only true and just

Speech that tolerates no mercy with honour cast aside

Respect a mere illusion the upright to deride

Assassinate the character of those who came to help

Creating phantom sickness to cover true intent

Wild accusations flying ‘gainst those who came to rescue

Whose only “crime” is caring, who saved you from yourself

A soap box, neatly positioned to spout specious arguments

Before so-called friends, while victims stay publicly silent,

Protecting the integrity of those dishonouring them

And of those who would suffer most

And why?

Perhaps a need to justify a conscience seared with sin

Perhaps because of jealousy barely hidden deep within

Perhaps because of knowing the ignored advice was wise

Perhaps because the innocent are unable to defend themselves

Brazen conduct masquerades as indignation

Against the protectors of future generations

A challenge thrown down to those who turn the other cheek

Be careful what you wish for, oh would-be assassin

You might just get it

And who will you hide behind, then?

That journey into the self

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done when no one was watching?

Trecco Bay Sunset

I took that journey into myself, that “road less traveled”. And I came out the other side a better person.

It wasn’t a hobby to begin with

Share a hobby you’ve picked up recently — what got you into it?

I’ve written about this in another post but here’s an update.

Almost three years ago my children were using a language learning app, but the free version of the app only allowed so many mistakes in a day, which meant they were running out of ‘lives’ regularly. So, I bought the family version for the year.

Knowing how kids are with such things, I decided that, rather than waste the money, I would do something that I’d always wanted, and it would be just for me, to treat myself. I would learn Italian.

Early on in my journey a friend suggested that since I already spoke English and Welsh, maybe I have a flair for languages, which intrigued me.

I finished the Italian course and moved on to Spanish, then French. And now, almost three years later, I’m on Brazilian Portuguese. And it’s become a hobby.

Whether I’ll ever use these languages remains to be seen. I’m keeping them fresh by reading and watching videos in those languages. But for me, it’s a hobby, and it’s just for me.