One Must Look Around To See What Is Around Them

There is a huge difference. Looking is the active awareness of searching. Seeing is the end result. Every little detail of a moment which bleeds into another chained together. Picking those moments that had an impact on you. The positives of those moments shining on the top in the sun as the muck sinks into the ground eaten by the night. The positives fuel passion and hope. Breeds kindness and a chance of loving one’s life. Leading us to share it with others.

The pattern changes constantly as people come and go. Conditions of work; family; relationships; money change for the good and the bad. People being born; moving and dying never stops. Constant motion being pushed forward. Time never stopping. As we learn to live; communicate with others. Becoming a makeshift family of sorts, we learn to trust and care. Learning all the details of another beyond what we can see. That the individual is the ingredient of the family. It affects everything. Makes a person special and irreplaceable. Once they are gone, they are gone. Surviving in our memories where they are safe. Every life is essential.

Worth knowing as we all change in the little ways by the world we live. We should embrace it. Offer and accept forgiveness in ourselves and to others. God forgives us everyday. A simple request goes a long way. Love each other even if we do not like each other. Reach out to one another for all that we can learn and share with each other. Not to hate one another as it makes us numb and ugly. If we see then we can find that door standing in the middle of our lives. It is there.

It exists inside that sense of peace we can hold. Understanding; acceptance; mercy; kindness; forgiveness; hope and love. We can find it in everyday life. Just shake the voice in our heads that reminds us of pain. Easier said then done but a work in progress. We, together, can see the door. We can hear the voice through the world if we shut out the pain just long enough to reach out our hand. We will find that key in each other. Why, because God is here always. Standing right in front of us. We just won’t see it. Sometimes it’s pride. Sometime ignorance. Or it is disappointment. God has no back so he can’t turn away from us, but we can turn towards him. Players choice.

I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in The Holy Spirit. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. Every idea and talent comes from God. Christ is God. Even this world is on loan from God. Everything is gifted from the one true God.

I have seen it when I needed to God has sent me help in others in times I needed it the most. Making me see the important sides of the coin at the exact moment. Why? Because God is faithful. We are all a work in progress. We all fail and succeed at times. Capable of good and evil. We hurt and heal. Receive and give both love and hate. We can fix it with God. Not too late. God leads the way even if we do not see it.

In 1986, I became diabetic. That is still a struggle. It affects all things. Through my life i have been called stupid and some doubted what I could do. I didnt belong as i was an oddball. God did not give up on me and blessed me with thise who changed my life for the best. I have had to endue and ask forgiveness often for those mistakes, but God carried me on.

My family is not rich, but we always have enough and when need more it is provided by God. 2000, I was in between jobs. This allowed me to take care of my Grandma who was widowed and moved to Illinois. We were able to reconnect. Allowed me to return to my passion, storytelling and drawing. I began creating the Barnsyverse which exists to this day. I was losing my faith back in 2001. Then a friend introduced me to Kelly Schweig which brought me back to my faith. I married Kelly in 2003. Through the good and bad, me and Kelly have endured the odds still rising out of the tide.

2003, Kelly suggested I take a temp job at Roosevelt University’s Bookstore in Schaumburg. That lead to a full time job eventually in security which I still have today.

I am blessed to have my wife and our daughter. There was a chance that i might not have been able to be a father biological due to my type 1 diabetes but God made it happen.

My job also allowed me to be in my daughter’s, Katy, life quite actively since I work nights. I'm the bartender there. People come and chat needing an ear to bend. That's me. Many friends made. Good memories drown out the bad.

When my dad was fighting cancer from 2016 to 2018, we were able to have that talk we needed to have. There was still a lot to say but he passed away knowing that I loved him.

By 2017, I was in a bad way of dealing with this hurt. I needed a distraction to give me an outlet for the pain and Kelly suggested a creative one. I created the barnyink.com website to deal with my frustrations at how life was going. It brought a chance to deal with pain. i continue my website as a creative tool to showcase my work and a way to remember dad.

2018, we needed to get a newer car. We were going to trade out the Malibu and God stepped in. Sadly, Kelly’s dad passed away and his truck was left to Kelly. With both trade ins we were able to afford a better car. In 2025 that car saved me and Kelly, through God’s power, from a terrible accident that could of been so much worse. He carried us through.

I entertain people with my geeky tendencies and I think that is the reason. I draw pictures; tell stories; make customized toys out of duct tape which I give away. I hope it makes a difference and I think it does. Have I gone through hard stuff yes, but those times have carried me and my family to better things. Made us stronger and forged us in our unity and faith.

That disappointment of rejection as a creator lead here which brings me joy now. And all that time I spent taking care of Katy during her childhood, she and I share a strong bond. One that translates into geekdom and storytelling.

The good pile outweighs the bad. Why? Because God shows me that in sliver of light in the dark that HE is still in charge. That good will shine through. We will sing; laugh and dance again. I am grateful for all I have. I am grateful to all of you who are in someway in my life. You all make me better. Believe me when I say that. I used this site now to entertain people which lead into my self publishing my own comics.

And Please give God a chance.