When I was 10 years old, my Uncle Aaron (“Uncle A”) introduced me to the rock band KISS, and my life was never the same. Many people enjoy music, but then you have people like me: SUPER FREAKS. I have music playing in the car on the way to work, all day while I’m working, … Continue reading No Pain is Wasted
Heavy Metal
Shut Up & Let Your Light Shine
"Christians are hard to tolerate, I don't know how Jesus does it...I'm one of them." Bono, of the rock band U2 My cousin Kathy is one of the most joyful people I’ve ever met. Her smile lights up a room, and her laugh is contagious. She’s just one month younger than me, so she's really … Continue reading Shut Up & Let Your Light Shine
Heavy Metal Poetry
While not exactly a genre, I wrote a few poems for my and my son's poetry book, published in 2012. Not everyone's cup of tea, I get that, but fun for those like my son and me. I'll be back at the helm next week. Until then...adieu. “Heavy Metal” By Rob Weddle To those in … Continue reading Heavy Metal Poetry
Keep Reaching For The Stars
If you can feel your spirit slowly dying, I implore you to make a change. A change of scenery, a change of friends, a change of music, whatever. Whether it’s online or in your community, seek out crazy, like-minded individuals who lift you up and not tear you down. Whatever it takes for you to keep chasing your dream, do it. Never give in, never give up, never surrender.
Don’t Embrace Misery – Rage Against It!
There are days my pain is so relentless I don’t even want to get outta bed. For many of us, there’s no escaping our prison of pain. So what do we do? The answers to that are many-fold, but one thing I DO know: We cannot EMBRACE our misery; we must rage against it!
Bloody Warcry of an Angry Soldier
One dark day, in pain and ticked off at the Devil, I put on one of my favorite Christian heavy metal bands, Impending Doom, put my earphones in, turned the music up as loud as I could stand it, closed my eyes and started banging away at the keyboard. What you'll read in this blog was knocked out in about 10 minutes. I present it to you unedited, unrevised. It is the warcry of a tortured and angry soldier, resolving himself to never give up, never give in, never surrender.
Those Thundering Songs Which Define Me
Being an artistic soul, and having gone through so much pain, sorrow, anger and depression, I have a short list of songs which thunder in my spirit. At times a lost child and at other times a blood-drenched soldier, these anthems make up the DNA of my warrior soul.
The Fragility of the Artistic Soul
Today the world received the devastating news of the suicide-by-hanging of Chester Bennington, lead singer of the band Linkin Park. As in the case of many other artists who have committed suicide, the sad fact is the artistic soul is a fragile one. Singers, poets, musicians, painters, writers, actors, we all have it; a seemingly brittle, inner core which is easily shattered. I know life seems devastatingly brittle at times, but believe me, it's not worth ending it. The enemy of our souls is at work, doing everything within his grasp to steal your soul. Don't let that happen. As Dylan Thomas said, “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Let’s Redefine Failure
In a previous blog I detailed when I joined the ARMY in the early 90s (https://brokenpeople.blog/2016/12/22/my-suicide-part-1/). I did not graduate Basic Training, after my suicide attempt, and was given a "General Discharge." So I blew it, right? I dare to reply, "In the grand scheme of life, the answer is 'no.' I did not fail." … Continue reading Let’s Redefine Failure
“We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes”
I went through a period of a few months when I literally felt I was going insane, simply because of pain and its residual effects. I’d love to tell you I’ve found some magical cure or pill for this problem. I haven’t. All I have is a stubborn resolve to never give up.
