A Tribute to Archangel Michael

30 Sep 2014 2 Comments

by TK Lawyer in Uncategorized Tags: , , ,

Entrance/Walkway to Archangel Michael's shrine

Entrance/Walkway to Archangel Michael’s shrine

Archangel Michael's shrine

Archangel Michael’s shrine

Statue of Archangel Michael in front area of Shrine

Statue of Archangel Michael in front area of Shrine

Sitting area behind his statue

Sitting area behind his statue

What you see in front of you as you walk through the entrance doors of the shrine

What you see in front of you as you walk through the entrance doors of the shrine

To the right side of the entrance doors- a stained glass window with his image and an area where one can light candles

To the right side of the entrance doors- a stained glass window with his image and an area where one can light candles

Two pictures of Archangel Michael donated to the shrine

Two pictures of Archangel Michael donated to the shrine

Closer view of painting of Archangel Michael

Closer view of painting of Archangel Michael

Left side view of the inside of the Shrine

Left side view of the inside of the Shrine

Right side view of the inside of the Shrine

Right side view of the inside of the Shrine

One of the side areas of his shrine where one can light candles.

One of the side areas of his shrine where one can light candles.

This area is to the side of the candles and displays nicely one of the beautiful stained glass windows

This area is to the side of the candles and displays nicely one of the beautiful stained glass windows

{Please note:  I posted this blog today, Monday September 29th, but for some reason it notated the date as September 30th- which is not his feast day.  I apologize for this strange error}

 

Today, September 29th is Archangel Michael’s (aka Saint Michael) feast day. Well, one of them at least. This archangel is very well known. All one has to do is Google his name online and literally hundreds to thousands of different themed articles will pop up for either your enjoyment and/or your entertainment based on the information presented in the article. Archangel Michael is an amazing angel. He helps and supports everyone, regardless of your beliefs. And he has a shrine in Tarpon Springs, Florida, located at 113 Hope Street. If you’ve never seen his shrine and you are in the area, go visit it. It’s beautiful and peaceful. It is a place of rest, solitude and prayer. Tarpon Springs is known as a small, Greek village and his shrine matches this theme. You will see the Greek name for him, Taxiarchis around his shrine.  The name is synonymous with his better known identity, Saint Michael, the Archangel. The history behind the shrine is interesting- all resulting from a healing of a child. Flyers detailing the history of the shrine are located in the chapel as well as candles one can light with a small donation given to the shrine.
I have included some pictures of the shrine in this blog. It is a small, humble shrine until you step inside and find out how truly gorgeous it is.  The decorations surround you in beauty from the panoramic walls to the center of the ceiling.

So, on his Feast Day, I honor my favorite angel, Archangel Michael with this tribute to him.  Thank you Archangel Michael for all that you do and all that you are.

What is a hero?

24 Sep 2014 2 Comments

by TK Lawyer in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

I have been hearing the word, “hero” quite a lot in the last couple of weeks.  After going to several websites and even perusing the dictionary to find the true definition of this sometimes confusing and even daunting word, I found a few similarities.

A hero seems to be someone who:

  1. Is altruistic- helping someone in need without seeking to reap any type of benefit in return
  2. Is someone who helps someone whether that person requests it or not or even if that person doesn’t know they need help and is struggling to find their own solution
  3. Is an ‘act of generosity’ that does not have to be stellar in impact.  It can be a simple act of kindness to someone.
  4. Can be anyone.  The “hero” does not have to be a celebrity, anyone famous or even a human being.

I think everyone, at some point in their life, needs a hero.  A hero is a champion among people, someone you can look up to and respect and, reportedly, someone some try to emulate.  Everyone loves a hero and often, these types of characters are found in books but it’s not unusual to find them in life, too.

The experience of a ‘hero’ doesn’t have to occur just once in your life.  As life pushes you onward and the years pass by, one may find they have had several heroes in their life.  Some heroes pass through only once in your life, usually for a one-time reason, while others may linger around for a while.  Exceptional heroes last a lifetime.  A hero can be a relative, a stranger, a friend, a higher power and even an angel.  Sometimes, it can even be your pet.

Sadly, some heroes don’t receive our praise.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes but it’s a fact that we need them in our lives.  We need them to smooth out the rough road we travel and to make things a bit brighter and easier along the way.  So, for all the heroes- the known and the unknown- we thank you, deeply from our hearts, for all that you do and all that you are.  May you continue to be loved, blessed, and supported as you spread hope and encouragement throughout the world.  We need you!

Top 10 books that left an impression. What are your Top 10?

04 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

Books are an amazing, inexpensive and sometimes free (think of your local library or the countless free e-books available online) jaunt into adventure.  Books can also open up your mind, subtly, without you ever realizing it.  There’s a reason why they call several of our most timeless books- Great Books.  My parents encouraged me to read all throughout my school years and, as a result, I read many books in and outside of the classroom as I was growing up.  Amazingly, several of those books I remember to this day.  These are the books that lingered, impressed me, made me think, and resonated within me.  The following is my Top 10 of which I’m sure is just the beginning of a much longer list of books I have loved throughout the years.  The books are not listed in any particular order and each one is as dear to me as another:

1.  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (this book was among several titles by this author I avidly sought and read at the library of my Elementary School)

2.  The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

3.  Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (this was an amazing book!  The idea that books could be illegal was scary to say the least)

4.  Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  (who can forget lovable Lennie?)

5.  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

6.  The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri 

7. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell  (what an amazing book and scary concept for society)

8. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (I loved this children’s book so much, I bought it several years ago for my personal collection)

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (still love watching every re-make of this movie)

10.  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (what a sad, haunting story but one that remained with me to this day)

 

So, there’s my list… though there are many, many more books I read and loved that aren’t included in the list above. 

So now it’s your turn.  Tell me what’s on your list?  What books impressed you or stayed with you during your “growing up years?” 

Welcome

04 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Uncategorized

Hello and Welcome to my blog.  :0)  In the forthcoming weeks, I will be posting ideas, inspiration and updating you on the progress of my first book, Nightfall.  Currently, I am in the third round of edits with Nightfall.  You can always keep up to date with me on Twitter as well as Facebook and check out my book and stunning book cover at Luminosity Publishing.  Stay tuned.  There is more to come soon!