life is precious | Tracks In The Dust

Archive for the tag “life is precious”

10 Dec 2012

Waiting for the End of the World

Okay, It will happen. Someday.

Waiting for it seems a waste of time. There are many who seem to be searching for it. They work to interpret the “signs” and decide that the Mayan’s calendar has it right, or some tea-leaves, crystal balls, Nostradamus, alien codes written in farmers fields, zombies coming to walk the earth or some religious faction incited by a self-declared prophet.

With the coming of the latest Mayan forecast looking like this December 21st, the fascination begins again.

For some they look at things so seriously that they are out buying provisions, digging shelters. Grab your family, food and ammunition. You are going to need it in the world ahead (I thought it was the end- maybe just a new chapter?)
For others there is a planned party to watch the event front-row center and lift a glass (or something else I suppose)
Yet others take on some interest like it is the next blockbuster disaster movie that is going to produce world-wide earth moving events destined to make the environment itself be the course of our demise… in full surround sound.

All of it is kind of ironic. Our “individual” worlds are so fragile. The end of the world may happen at any time for us, like a personal journey that has already been written. Step off a curb, slip on a rock, let that pain you have ignored take you away from the human fold as quickly as you arrived.

IF we choose to wait for it to happen, looking for it behind every news story or internet article, it kind of makes us all victims… victims of our human need for knowing our destiny. We cannot really know that “next” moment in our lives, any more than we can predict the moment that will become “the end of the world”.

So I choose to look at it this way. The world will come to an end in my lifetime. It will more than likely be my personal demise. But it may be that the aliens, planets, earth itself or our own foolish nuclear destruction take the course. Living for today, making the best of my time on this Earth to help others, share the Word, provide sound advice to my children, love my spouse and “embrace God’s grace” is still the best way to celebrate the end of the world. The world as we know it has exciting possibilities if you believe that the alternative will be all that much more glorious.

Get off your cloud and get living while you can!

Posted in Before and After Things Change and tagged being remembered, December 21st, Definitions, End of the World, Eternity, life is precious, Maya calendar, Maya civilization, Sprituality

03 Dec 2012

2 Comments

“Happy” Holidays

Every time about this time of year I kind of think about what’s left for the year before it’s over.

There is so much to be thankful for, and so much to reflect on. There are 2 holidays here in the US before it is all done, and it is such a great time to catch up with friends and family and celebrate life together. A time to be “happy”

No matter what you think you did this year, you can always do more. But no matter what you have you can always be thankful – Be thankful for the opportunity to be here on this Earth, reading things on the Internet, with food and water and sharing your love with your family, friends.

This time of year also means people have high expectations of what the holiday’s should bring. The idea Thanksgiving ( in the US can be a house full of food, family and football) and the picture perfect Merry Christmas. Often that ends up putting people in the most depressed sorts- when the simplest reasons to be HAPPY are just those things that “are” simple… Sometimes alone feeling abandoned, sometimes without much or anything to eat. It takes time to remember what happiness really is. It’s not about “things” or possessions, it is about something much simpler than that. It’s about being recognized for being a human-being on this Earth who, just like everyone else, is trying to make the best of the world as it has been dealt.

So as we are spending time looking for things to be thankful for… as we wander by and wish people a “happy” holiday season. Looks like we should be aware that for some it may be hard to see it, hard to feel it, or know where happiness is. They need to know your wish is sincere, you need to know you mean it.

Happy Holiday all!

Posted in Before and After Things Change and tagged being remembered, Christmas, Definitions, Happiness, Joy, Kindness, life is precious, Postive Thinking, Reality Check, Thanksgiving

29 Nov 2012

4 Comments

Closing Time

Closing Time (Photo credit: André Hofmeister)

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings’ end.” Semisonic “Closing Time”

The real-deal is that everything changes (time does that) and when something begins, it is always destined for an “end”. At least here on Earth.

Acceptance of change is often hard, and can lead to disappointment. It seems like so often disappointment a result of what we want to have happen- but doesn’t. We get stuck on the idea that if something doesn’t happen “exactly” like we imagined it should -then it seems wrong (we get angry or sad).

So hard to remember that. SO SO easy to let things get you down. Not like you can’t have plans or something, but they have to allow for the detours that life will deal us. Let one thing happen and be prepared to allow closure to the next. Hanging on to it can just make it harder.

So yeah- closing time… let it happen. Let it be the “last call” and the lights come up, because tomorrow is another day and “you can’t stay here” …..” in reality you wouldn’t want to any way. And that final “closing time” is somewhere in your future- you will go home to somewhere where forever is real. For now- keep moving. It’s gloriously more of an adventure that way – share it with the people you love on the journey ahead.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Acceptance, Change, Closing Time, Faith, life is precious, moments, Music, Semisonic

31 Oct 2012

1 Comment

Imperfection is Perfect

As the song goes “that’s the way God planned it”.

It seems that perfection (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder. Imperfection is what makes things so right. Nothing is perfect- there are blemishes in nature, and humankind is far from it. So many strive for it, but the harder they work toward it the farther it seems.

So what about this imperfect life we live? Some of the rough parts are hidden, some of them are there for all to see. Some things are ugly, others are beautiful. There is not going to be a way to be perfect in everything. Only one man on Earth was and He died on the cross.

Today in the media, it seems there is always some story about a gaffe or mistake that fromcelebrity or politician doing or saying something. People put under the microscope of public media. Scrutinized for any mistake, or unexpected action not commonly fitting the in the “perfect form” we think we want. Awk! Like pictures of celebrities in regular every day circumstances, women celeb’s without their make up on (really?) or politicians making comments that don’t fit what we think they should be saying (especially for the opposition during election).

All this just appears to reinforce our expectations for what the media or some portion of the community wants to paint as “the standard” of perfection . It feels like a bad trend. It makes others feel inferior when they shouldn’t It sets the bar so high that others feel they cannot ever reach it.

Sadly, so many continue to live up to expectations of perfection they will be hard-pressed to ever achieve. They look for approval that never comes, and in their frustration they get angry or sad. Sometimes the emotion leads to violence or suicide. Other times it leads to depression and hopelessness.

We have to accept imperfection. God embraces it. We have to understand that in itself there is the beauty of uniqueness ( is that a word?). There is something that makes everyone and every thing worthwhile. If we put that under the microscope instead and rejoiced in it… relished its imperfection. Celebrate the exceptions.

So what can we look for in our striving for perfection? What do you believe? Do you believe?

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, Advice, Beauty, Definitions, Emotion, God, Grace, Imperfection, life is precious, Perfection, Postive Thinking, Self-Awareness, tracks in the dust

18 Oct 2012

2 Comments

Paint It Black

I see a red door and I want it painted black.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and I must have it painted black
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

(Thanks Mick and Keith)

Black and Red. Kind of like there are those contrasting days, those moments that we come up against when things change. I think they are my favorite colors (is black a color anyway?)

It reminds me of the song in Les Misarables ( the great musical) Red and Black.

Red – the blood of angry men!
Black – the dark of ages past!
Red – a world about to dawn!
Black – the night that ends at last!

Change happens, sometimes for change-sake, sometimes because it has to. But it is.

You can change things from red to black. You may end up changing it back.

There may be times you just feel like painting it black – but red will have to do.