The trees are beginning to lose their green as the days grow shorter and the temperature falls. Wildlife is everywhere, gathering their stash for the coming winter. My garden is pushing out the last fruits of my labor. A warm blanket is comforting on a cool Fall evening.
I love Autumn. To me it is the wise old season that follows the life giving spring and the fast and productive summer. Autumn is the time to look back at the previous seasons and to let nature prepare for the cold death of winter. After battling wildlife and elements in the Summer, Autumn allows me to surrender to the inevitability of my garden's demise. I still search for that last juicy tomato, or that squash that is now golden and ready for harvest. They may be far and few, but they are savored for their rarity and tenacity to survive.
The 'Autumn' years of life are much the same. I appreciate the wisdom I gather from those whose youthful greenery has faded and been replaced by a brilliant silver. I seek the last fruits of a labor made through years of knowledge gathering from those who look back on their golden Summers and youthful Springs. As they prepare for the cold, dark Winter, we in our Summer years can offer them warmth. An ear to hear their tales of standing like the mighty oak, lush and green, before the leaves began to fall and the season of their prime faded and passed, waiting for a new crop.
Like this time of year, the Autumn years are a time to see the beauty of a life's cycle. To assess what we have learned for the sake of a more bountiful harvest from the crop that will grow next spring. To pass on the knowledge we have gained to strengthen the green buds of May. They cycle continues. But each year can yield a better harvest if we take time to learn from the one we reap today.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Letting Go.
Everything in life is about letting go. The first thing you must do when you enter this world is let go of the security of your mother's womb. And our general reaction at the time is to wail at the loss. The first of many times we will experience the difficult situation of having to let go of something.
Family and friends. Material possessions. Emotional attachments. The list goes on and on. Everyday we are faced with the question; 'Should I just let it go?' But the answer is not always easy. Anger toward someone who has hurt you is a wall we have all built up. But can we let go of the anger and tear down the wall from our side to see if perhaps that person needs our help? Can we let go of our pride at the risk of humiliation? No good ever comes from a wall of silence. Dialogue may not give you the resolution you need, but it does give you a clearer view of the situation.
We all save things in our lives that we are not really sure why we keep around. Sentimental things that have a deep emotional connection. Reminders of something that once was. When we finally dispense with the item we rarely regret it. And we gain a freedom from the emotional dependency.
As we age we tend to get better at letting go of things. But it doesn't get any easier. In fact, we tend to have a lot more to let go of. Whether we face a slow debilitating end or a sudden snuffing out of our life, I do believe we will ultimately face the decision of having to let everything go. When I think of that last choice I will have to make, it makes it easier when it comes to my day to day options.
Whether it is material things, knowledge, talent, etc. unlike the board game, we will not win The Game of Life by what we HAVE at the end of the game, but by what we LEAVE. What we let go. I hope to face the Lord a naked man who gave of my heart and mind to all I could. I hope to give Him a soul vacant of animosity, anger, and prejudice. A soul that is cleansed of vanity, pride and arrogance. In the end, I will have to let go of that soul. It belongs to God.
Family and friends. Material possessions. Emotional attachments. The list goes on and on. Everyday we are faced with the question; 'Should I just let it go?' But the answer is not always easy. Anger toward someone who has hurt you is a wall we have all built up. But can we let go of the anger and tear down the wall from our side to see if perhaps that person needs our help? Can we let go of our pride at the risk of humiliation? No good ever comes from a wall of silence. Dialogue may not give you the resolution you need, but it does give you a clearer view of the situation.
We all save things in our lives that we are not really sure why we keep around. Sentimental things that have a deep emotional connection. Reminders of something that once was. When we finally dispense with the item we rarely regret it. And we gain a freedom from the emotional dependency.
As we age we tend to get better at letting go of things. But it doesn't get any easier. In fact, we tend to have a lot more to let go of. Whether we face a slow debilitating end or a sudden snuffing out of our life, I do believe we will ultimately face the decision of having to let everything go. When I think of that last choice I will have to make, it makes it easier when it comes to my day to day options.
Whether it is material things, knowledge, talent, etc. unlike the board game, we will not win The Game of Life by what we HAVE at the end of the game, but by what we LEAVE. What we let go. I hope to face the Lord a naked man who gave of my heart and mind to all I could. I hope to give Him a soul vacant of animosity, anger, and prejudice. A soul that is cleansed of vanity, pride and arrogance. In the end, I will have to let go of that soul. It belongs to God.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remembering 9/11
I still view with suspicion any sunny September morning. I remember the shock of seeing the second plane hit the World Trade Center on live TV. I feel a tinge of the numbness I felt as the days events unfolded. Confusion, fear and anger were the feelings that reigned that day. With the possibility of more attacks, chemicals like Anthrax being used, and malls (where I worked) being targets of terrorists, I started the days following 9/11 with great anxiety. It was then that I found the words of the 23rd Psalm to strengthen my resolve to go forward. "Yea though I walk through valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me." I always thought that Psalm was for the dying. But it is really for the living. A reminder that the hand of God is firmly in mine as we march against those with self darkened hearts. Something I am sure the victims and hero's of 9/11 knew.
From that day I found my spiritual center. From my confusion, I found direction. From my fear, I found prayer. From my anger, I found peace. We must never forget that day, and we must never forget what we learned from that day. God bless those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks and may they always feel the love, support and prayers of a most grateful nation.
From that day I found my spiritual center. From my confusion, I found direction. From my fear, I found prayer. From my anger, I found peace. We must never forget that day, and we must never forget what we learned from that day. God bless those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks and may they always feel the love, support and prayers of a most grateful nation.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Writing Your Story
The image of a Moses-like old man or a deep reverberating voice and a lot of bright light were never the image of God that I envision meeting. First of all, if He is the all powerful entity that pulls all the strings, why appear old? Second, if God created us in His image then wouldn't he appear to be all too normal? That's how I see Him. A very happy, familiar face with a contagious smile. And I don't believe he will literally separate us from the good and the bad then damn the bad to an eternity of the agony of hell. My vision is of sitting down with my loving God and He simply says "Tell me your story".
My idea of the meaning of life is that we have the opportunity to write our story. It is that story which we will be held accountable for. If we pursued and achieved great wealth then what did we use it for? God probably won't be too impressed by what is left in your bank account when you enter His kingdom. A wall full of degree's will only give prudence to the Lord's judgement if the knowledge gained was used to create a better world. Artists who didn't use their talent will have a hard time showing results.
When we take our life's pen in hand we must write our story from back to front. Know where we want to go then bind the chapters of success and failures together in our living manuscript. We have no idea how many pages it will take to get our story to the finish. Some will write a short story that achieved more in less time while others will write page after page of good intentions that will drag on to many chapters of regrets, remorse and excuses. Some stories will be documentation of one who lived their life as 'an open book'. While others will tell a tale of surprises and humble works. The possibilities are endless. The opportunities are boundless.
Are you writing the story you want to be read by those you leave behind? If your story ends tomorrow are you prepared to share your manuscript with God? Have you used the plot twists of tragedy, loss, disappointment and failure to inspire, share courage and grow? Do you know what your story says and means?
I look forward to my chat with God. I hope we laugh a lot and get misty eyed remembering times of joy and sorrow. The story that I am writing will be easy to retell because it is not just my story but OUR story. God is and always has been a part of life. I have to keep asking myself if my works are worthy of being added to the volumes of God's library. Will he add it to his collection, or send the manuscript back for a re-write?
My idea of the meaning of life is that we have the opportunity to write our story. It is that story which we will be held accountable for. If we pursued and achieved great wealth then what did we use it for? God probably won't be too impressed by what is left in your bank account when you enter His kingdom. A wall full of degree's will only give prudence to the Lord's judgement if the knowledge gained was used to create a better world. Artists who didn't use their talent will have a hard time showing results.
When we take our life's pen in hand we must write our story from back to front. Know where we want to go then bind the chapters of success and failures together in our living manuscript. We have no idea how many pages it will take to get our story to the finish. Some will write a short story that achieved more in less time while others will write page after page of good intentions that will drag on to many chapters of regrets, remorse and excuses. Some stories will be documentation of one who lived their life as 'an open book'. While others will tell a tale of surprises and humble works. The possibilities are endless. The opportunities are boundless.
Are you writing the story you want to be read by those you leave behind? If your story ends tomorrow are you prepared to share your manuscript with God? Have you used the plot twists of tragedy, loss, disappointment and failure to inspire, share courage and grow? Do you know what your story says and means?
I look forward to my chat with God. I hope we laugh a lot and get misty eyed remembering times of joy and sorrow. The story that I am writing will be easy to retell because it is not just my story but OUR story. God is and always has been a part of life. I have to keep asking myself if my works are worthy of being added to the volumes of God's library. Will he add it to his collection, or send the manuscript back for a re-write?
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