The end and fading away of great love…is like a bell that no longer rings…
The silence is deafening and oppressive…no longer ringing and clear..no longer raising hopes…or bringing cheer.
So many ears had heard the bell ringing…across the valleys and deep blue lake… beyond the dells and mountains…raising hopes or bringing cheer … only sad memories remain…the silent bell…no longer rings.
The sadness of the silent bell… a reminder of love long lost…the hollowness of silence..the memories of the ring..no joy or happiness remaining…for the bell no longer rings.
Do you no longer hear that ringing… do you miss it too? My heart is hungry for that sound…the bell that no longer rings…
Beyond this world…cross all time and space…I hear a faint but clear chime… of a distant bell…it’s rings are calling us to Him now …the Creator of all love…love never to be lost…or silenced….the ring across all eternity….forged by His eternal Grace.
The bell forever rings now….the love never failing or silent…for all mankind to hear… Its rings loudly now…for us all to hear…the silent bell forgotten…never silent again…the Savior commands it’s ringing… never to be silenced again…
The bell forever rings now….the love never failing or silent…the sounds of love…and eternal life….the bell is sounding now for you…do you hear it ring…?
Thank you, Jim, for this amazing contribution.
Jim McGraw of Atlanta Ga. holds a Masters in History from Cal State as well as a double major in history and political science from Georgia State University. He is a decorated Marine who served in the Vietnam Fleet Marine Force, 3rd Marine Division, Bravo in 1968 and 1969. Jim is married with 3 grown kids and 3 grandchildren.
This is wonderful, Jim! I just ordered your memoir Sky Diamonds and can’t wait to read it. I am certain my husband will want to read it, too. Congratulations and best wishes and thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
Pam, “Sky Diamonds” is quite graphic in the sexual narrative. This first book of the trilogy is written by the protagonist, Jim Gilchrist, at age 23. That period of his life reflects the harsh language and frank and graphic comments about the actual occurrence of sexual events. The publisher stated they “didn’t want another Romance novel”.
The remaining books (“Eagles Flight”, and “Eagles Landing”) reflects his maturing and spirit of a gentleman; albeit a womanizer until the love of his life tamed him.
I hope Sky Diamonds will entertain you and perhaps give you a look back to the 1960s. Much of the story is true.
Merry Christmas
Jim
Jim, thanks for the “warning” as it will be interesting once I get into your book how I will feel about such “graphic” descriptions as you allude to here. I have never been a fan of “romance novels” nor even fiction. I also have never felt a need to be “entertained.” Rather, I seek to better understand how we as Americans got to where we are today, and based on your life experiences in your brief bio by Kathy, I have the expectation that your story will help me better understand the male perspective in all this. Real stories by real people have always been more appealing to me. Still, I admire the fact that you wrote this about your life which began two years after mine in 1943, so I am familiar with the post-WWII years that created so many changes for all of us. Also, I had a very close friend who served in the Vietnam War, a helicopter pilot who earned a Silver Star but lost his life. I’ll let you know my thoughts once I begin reading your book after it arrives. Merry Christmas to you, as well!!!!
Pam,
I’m forwarding an introduction to “Sky Diamonds”
(Perhaps for a second edition) .. it provides some insights about our protagonist views on life. This is just a prototype as I further develop the characters and story.
The struggle for balancing ones soul in pursuing great wealth and power. The price a man pays for his soul versus the power and wealth… at what cost?
Our protagonist abandons his spiritual soul for the pleasures of the world; driven by primal sexual pursuits , drinking in the extreme, power over lives, ego, world travels in pursuit of these pleasures.
Thanks
Jim
Pam,
I’m forwarding an introduction to “Sky Diamonds”
(Perhaps for a second edition) .. it provides some insights about our protagonist views on life. This is just a prototype as I further develop the characters and story.
The struggle for balancing ones soul in pursuing great wealth and power. The price a man pays for his soul versus the power and wealth… at what cost?
Thanks
Jim
Jim, this is powerful writing indeed, expressing thoughts, feelings and emotions common to most if not all seekers, different though we are in many ways, similar and even alike in others. This is the beauty of writing and sharing our writing with other “seekers” who somehow know this human experience is so fleeting and yet so precious and how do we live each day with the wonder of a child and the wisdom of an elder? Without the Internet, we would never be able to share such intimate thoughts, feelings and emotions with others around the world, so I am ever grateful to live in a time when we can connect with others such as yourself, who are able and willing to express in writing, which is why I appreciate Kathy’s website so much. We will never know how our posts affect others and, hopefully, inspire them to “keep on keeping on” knowing we are all connected as “spiritual beings having a human experience” as taught by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, one of my heroes! Again, thank you for sharing your gift of writing.
AUTHOR NOTES
The western world has developed a profound ignorance and hatred for the concept and beliefs in a “Creator”..yes I capitalize “Creator”…this vast universe and creation of life, perhaps life in Galaxies beyond trillions of light years, in my view demands this acknowledgement…belief or not… the finest minds in every scientific discipline cannot begin to explain the creation…a universe that continues to expand and create whole new galaxies…power of that magnitude cannot be a “big bang “… what or who created the “bang”? Why life? Why creation? What drive inspired the creation?
Why indeed? Why question such an obvious answer… a Creator is real and has the answers we are astounded by… believe, or die wondering.
Our protagonist seeks to restore his beliefs in such a powerful force; lost in his college years… perhaps in each of our lives…the hunger to rationalize our existence and find a sense of meaning and profound sense of eternity….are we living our lives “sub specie aeternitatis”?
My life experiences seem to parallel our protagonist and searching for all the aspects of life’s mysteries. I can speak with some degree of credibility; over 72 years of an extensive resume of experiences; experiences that go far beyond the usual ordinary life adventures …truly earned…often the hard way.
During his formative years, Gilchrist rises from poverty and dubious genetics, dismal educational performance, intermittent poor body image during his youthful development, interrupting his self confidence…mercifully he was a “late bloomer”.
Gilchrist began a lifelong work ethic by age 10… cutting neighbors grass for
$ 1.00. .never ending working odd jobs after school.. since age 10: all his clothes, limited entertainment spending, bike, car and insurance, sports equipment, graduation trips…often providing money to help his parents make ends meet….as his development began, while in mid years of high school, Gilchrist awoke to excellent athletic skills, amazing body development…a handsome well dressed young man…much improved academic acumen, advanced interpersonal skills and communications to the broadest range of ages and economic levels… able to communicate with Rich and poor, educational levels…a natural communicator…far beyond his years…and severely limited by the opportunities , expected by his contemporaries, from his poor family, and questionable genetics.
Gilchrist was maniacally driven to succeed… rising above a poor family and excelling in using his “God given” talents discovered in mid high school. These talents again.. were accelerated by the incredible work ethic from age 10!
We will witness the rise of Gilchrist from a Georgia poor “good ole boy”; during the 1950s onward and see his emergence as a force of determination and driven ambition…sadly losing his spirituality and strong roots of Southern heritage. While attending a small north Georgia junior college; Jim is obsessed with pursuing highly attractive and sexually active young women. He has his very first experience with sexual intimacy… he being 17 years old, she 37…and experiences that driven desire of pursuit of beautiful women
… worldwide.
Furthermore, drawn into the Vietnam war as Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. Gilchrist is exposed to brutal physical conditioning and hardcore combat activities; in preparation for serving with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam…near the DMZ (demilitarized zone) and Laos. Severely wounded and holding onto his functionality in body form and prospects for a successful life.. sought after since boyhood.
The wounded Marines counting on Gilchrist to attend their trauma wounds, snake bites, white phosphorus wounds, acute cellulitis from leech bites, and severe combat fatigue thus post traumatic stress syndrome…a lifetime curse for many.
Upon being wounded, he recovers in the Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan; where he meets the women that will forever change his life. The affair begins a driven career for both; with world travel, riches, and involvement for Gilchrist in international crime organizations that catapult him to extraordinary wealth and power. Gilchrist will lead a secret parallel life; legitimate charter sales with Pan American Airlines and a leading role with one of the largest crime organizations worldwide… one complementing the other…a stealth life among the most powerful organizations in the world.
The parallel life forces Gilchrist to betray his spiritual beliefs in exchange for vast riches and power. Ignoring the Creator. We see him Alienating his soul from his college years and pursuit of beautiful women around the world. Wealth beyond his wildest dreams, international power few men ever experience, and the opportunity to lift the aging crime organization to new heights and riches.
Power, riches, control of vast resources and technology driven success and extraordinary relationships assure Jim’s rise to world power. What forces could stop that driven power of success? They’re there… to be confronted with and survive; controlling wealth and yes lives.
Now the ultimate challenge for atheist and those still trying to understand or explain creation and how it all came to pass. Do we have: soul, intelligence, physicality to thrive, survive, breeding, romantic and sexual love, compassion, insights; in other words…the creation of “self”! What or whom would have that awesome power … certainly not a “Big Bang” or vague vapor like mysterious forces!
Why wouldn’t a powerful force as Creator; share several forms of His creation and profound propensity for love for His earthly inhabitants?
Why the motivation for creating a vast universe and human creatures? I feel He exhibited the power of love… as we understand in our naive ways
; His power of love is not to be understood or even contemplated… beyond our meager attempts to understand.
The manic atheist will have a stroke over this assertion!
Is there a trinity! Yes, in my view. The Creator sought to provide a bridge for mankind’s search for answers and perhaps enhance a relationship with His creation.
The Trinity was intended for our redemption and salvation; from a cruel and world filled with evil and corruption of the spirit… He sought to instill each of mankind. The bridge to love and compassion ..we cannot imagine the power of; enough power to create a universe and share with His human beings.. in His image.
Gilchrist will have to restore his spiritual self and reconciliation with the Creator.. to survive with sanity and peace… guiding him is the love of his life… Dr. Jill Meadows… reunion with his children lost in the pursuit of power and wealth.
Experience the power of the Creator and overcoming the earthly pursuit of wealth and power. Yes.. redemption.. how quant!.
This story isn’t about religion.. in essence, but the search for one mans return to beliefs in the Creator… versus the insignificant pursuit of staggering wealth and power and manic pursuit of all of life’s pleasures..juxtaposed with his creation and the futility of earthly pursuits.
Postscript:
For those entrenched atheists and doubters of a Creator; let me ask you all to consider;
Imagine your soul, genetics of intelligence, and physical characteristics of your birth… being thrusted into an endless canyon of life’s earthly experiences. The canyons are completely black and lifeless, totally void of sound or fellow humans, Your being void, intellectually, of any form of a Creator or vague curiosity about your existence. Now imagine you coming to the end of a long life.
As you fade into oblivion, those canyons of your life experiences flash into your last thoughts; is that an ending to your life form?
Believe in some form of Creator… or perish forever into the oblivion of doubt and the possibilities of a lost of a soul.. perhaps yours?
Jim McGraw
Jim McGraw