moments | Tracks In The Dust

Archive for the tag “moments”

16 Oct 2013

Too Much Information

Too much information!

Back in my childhood I remember the evening newspaper landing on the front porch every night. My dad would come home from work, kick off his shoes, sometimes make up a cocktail and read the paper. When I got interested in what they used to call “current events” I was watching TV.

Even in my youngest days the biggest news would show up on the airwaves and most of the public would watch it. After all, we had 3 national networks to choose from. You had a choice who you liked, who you trusted. Assassinations, moon landings. war’s on TV, protesters, politicians, national news and local news all came through the TV screen on one of the few channels the airwaves could send our way.

Things have changed. We get our information in such a different way. My grown children don’t even own a connection to a TV source. No antenna, no cable. They get their news from the Internet. Though the smartphones and the computers they have in their hands. Portable. Anywhere. That is the great part of the “information age” .

But now those 3 channels have turned into a multitude of options. The newspapers are shuttering their doors, the TV channels that had been so robust in reporting the news are now full of talking-heads who are spouting their opinions on any topic that will sell more commercials and make people who think the same way happier.

So here we are on the Internet. There is an endless source of information on the world-wide web. But that has made the news have a thousand alternate versions. A view-point becomes a fact, a fact becomes distorted, a picture tells a thousand words but the words don’t match the picture. The photos are photo-shopped, and the captions frequently don’t match the event. The world is instantaneous. News from the other side of the world can show up on your iPad less than 30 seconds after the event. Two minutes later you can read the view points of every one who wants to declare their position.

So its TMI. Too Much information. There doesn’t seem to be a “filter” at all. It is going to keep coming and we all have to make the best of it.

That is what can make blog-posts on WordPress exciting. Connected people can make a difference. It is what we can all do since we are inter-connected human beings from all over the world. We can verify that the entire world isn’t going down in flames. There are a lot of things we all have in common. It is the goodness of the information age. It is our chance to remove the filter and understand each other. I am thankful for that. Hope you are too.

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, Definitions, Information Age, moments, Newspaper, Opinions, Television, Too Much Information, tracks in the dust, We Are Connected, Who Are You

15 Oct 2013

Autumn Fishing Memories

It was the first days of autumn. I can still smell the mix of oil and gasoline from my dad’s Evenrude small engine. We carefully slipped into the aluminum boat and shuffled our tackle to the middle. With a couple of pulls of the cord the engine stuttered on and we were off.

There was a light mist on the lake, In the early morning there wasn’t a lot of wind for a fall day. The lake was more like a mirror and the trees surrounding them had begun to turn colors, bright orange and reds and burnt browns. The color of the trees extended onto the small lake like dashes of fire as the sun came up in the east. The small motor didn’t disturb the water much, but moved our small flat-backed canoe forward slowly across the small lake with an echo.

Headed for a small bay off the shore of a marshy area things were optimistic for a catch. My dad would say that there was a special place- off the shore where fish would congregate. I always thought that kind of funny because I had thought of fish in schools, but his term made it sound like they were lined up for Sunday church. Where the small fish were the bigger fish were bound to be nearby feeding on the minnows. The large mouthed fish we were after were not quick to hit the bait, but when they did they would pull hard.

As we settled into the marshy inlet we heard some splashes of wild life on the shore. A muskrat perhaps, or a raccoon hiding behind the tall cat-tailed marsh grass. Some swirls in the water proved that there was opportunity under the water for a morning of success and surprise.

It was a very special time. No matter what the catch. Special because we had shared our bacon and egg breakfast in the first light of dawn, we had dressed for the chill of morning knowing that as the sun rose the temperature would rise with it. The early day would give way to blue sky and a beautiful fall day – what we called Indian summer.

I cherish those days even now . I wish I had spent more of those kind of days with my kids. They were special then and decades later they are still there – in my recollections of a time that will ever be imprinted on the memory of my childhood.

I had some great times with my kids over the years and I hope they will remember them for the many years to come. My advice to you – to my kids. Embrace the memories, be conscious that they are there and soak them in. They’re worth more than most any riches you can accumulate in your life.

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged being remembered, cherish, Faith, Family, Happiness, life is precious, Memories, moments, Sprituality, tracks in the dust

08 Oct 2013

Passing Through Here Kind Of Fast

I had someone ask me the other day why I call my WordPress blog “Tracks in the Dust”.

We all know that we are human and only here on this Earth for a precious small amount of time in the scheme of things. Some of us shorter than others, we have a bit of time to enjoy life, cherish it. pass on the wisdom and faith to the others coming behind us.

Eventual we all will have to count on what we have done while we were here on this planet to leave our impressions on the lives and souls of others. Some of them we may not ever realize we had done anything, but that small thing- that action of “grace” may last forever and move forward in someone else’s life. Eternity will let us know someday.

Still some of what we are doing will be simply “tracks in the dust”. Leaving an impression that the wind of time will blow away.

That is what made this song by David Crosby ( of Crosby, Stills and Nash) such a special one for me. Why my blog is named what it is. All that “hippie” hopefulness seems to wane with age. But it is still there as we passing through here kind of fast.

Tracks in the Dust

Four of us were having dinner
And I threw down the paper with a curse
And my wife said, “Complaining doesn’t get it
You got to do something or you can bet it
Will get worse”

And my friend said, “You’ve been watching TV too much
And all that hippie hopefulness is just a crutch”
But if thinkin’ that way helps you
To make it through the night
Then who am I to say what’s wrong and right

But I think, we’re passing through here kind of fast
Did you think these tracks in the dust would last

I think, we’re passing through here kind of fast
Did you think these tracks in the dust would last?

So you think we should just sit here
And have another glass of wine
While the world goes to hell
Which you know damn well
It’s going to do just down the line

And his lady said, “I don’t know how can you be so sure
I mean some things seem to get better
You know the hero still saves the
Damsel in distress, the villain doesn’t get her
And I said, “Where have you been living
I mean they’re selling death in the streets”

Cheap and the lying politicians
Are rolling in the profits they reap.
And he said, “He’s right honey
But I think it’s always been that way”
And he smiled kind of patiently
And I knew he was going to say

I think, we’re passing through here kind of fast
Did you think these tracks in the dust would last

I think, we’re passing through here kind of fast

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, Crosby, David Crosby, Doubt, Faith, Grace, Life, Memories, moments, Nash, Reality Check, Self-Awareness, tracks in the dust

01 Oct 2013

Meaning

Meaning. A big word that means a lot. People are looking for meaning in life, and wanting meaning in what they do. I know it is important to me, and it seem to be that every one is seeking it.

Maybe it is a meaning for the job? After getting paid, it would be nice to know that you are a contributor, that you make a difference in the job, that you get recognized for the work you have done.

Maybe it is understanding “why” – defining the meaning to injustice in our lives and the world around us, the unfair things that happen to others, to you. Understanding why people are violently hurting each other, hating each other, making life miserable for others.

It could be the ultimate “meaning of life“- looking for the spiritual center. Are we really only on earth for such a short time only to have it all end? Is there something more? What are we supposed to do while we are here on earth? (that is a topic for another day, but it is clear then that eternity matters most).

People want meaning in their lives too. So many want to mean something to someone. To the ones they love, to their family and friends. They want to be significant in their lives.

There is the gallant goal of doing something meaningful (good or bad) in life. Showing mankind that you have something more to give can make for a lifelong task. Sometimes achieved, sometimes never reached. Not all the heavy stuff of Kant’s enlightenment or something. Just searching.

So in the end- what is that driving meaning in your life? Can you reach for it? Is it elusive or in-reach? Are you always looking elsewhere and not right in front of you? It can be so simple I think, yet so difficult to find. It can be a daily driving force. A preoccupation that can consume us. It can find us somewhere in a “hollow” place, It can be infinitely rewarding.

Here’s my take on it: Look for it in the closest places. In your heart not your mind, in the eyes of others, in the places that provide peace in your life. Look for it in God, look for it in the air you breathe. Breathe in. The meaning is there.

The meaning of life per perspective. (williamkiddjr.wordpress.com)
Youth ,hopes and dreams- meaning to life (rajatkumar1069.wordpress.com)

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, choices, Fear, God, Grace, Happiness, Joy, Meaning of life, moments, Philosophy, Reality Check, Religion and Spirituality, Searching for Significance, Who Are You

20 Aug 2013

4 Comments

You Can Never Go Back

Lately I have found myself with the chance to visit with old friends I haven’t seen in ages. It has been an absolute joy. The echoes of the remembrances are fun to hear, and I have realized they have so much importance in who I am today.

But as much fun as it is to look at the past and enjoy the things that made that time special (although it didn’t always seem that special at the time), just can’t help thinking about the adage ” You can never go back”

That isn’t a bad thing, if you did go back in time knowing what you know now, it would certainly be different. If you went back to the present day friends and haunts from the past, it wouldn’t be the same either. Yes, it is okay to visit and capture those memories and have a chance to relive some of the experience. But in the long-run you will out stay your welcome – reality comes back and you would notice you are older (but hopefully wiser) – maybe a bit more jaded and less willing to accept the things that may not have bothered you in the past.

So as my wife and I have said to our kids often enough, be sure to be facing forward in your life, look for the next opportunity to grow in your life, spiritual growth, and all of the things that you can reach for.
Don’t forget who you are either, It is that past that brought you here. You cannot discard it like it didn’t happen, you lived it and it served you as well as it could. You made good decisions, experienced bad ones, had some luck and misfortune along the way.
Take nothing for granted, life is short and you need to wrap yourself in all of what it is- past, present and future. But you can’t ever go back and have it be the same,.. but the future is left to be written.