Posted by Reflections on April 22, 2009
Is living on the edge normal? For some, it is. That is where the action is. In nature the edge between habitats is where we find the most going on. Deer move from one habitat to another. The woods offer the most concealment, but there is excellent grazing in the open meadows. When do you most often see deer? They are most active on the edge between darkness and light, at dawn and at dusk. Entire species are dependent on the edges, such as the shorelines between ocean and land, the banks of rivers and streams. Edges are prolific supporters of life in its myriad forms.
But what about people? Some shy away from the edge. They long for safe and comfortable lives. They crave predictability. They don’t want excitement. They are fine with the routine. They are creatures of habit.
Other people need excitement. To them, boredom is a fate worse than death. They need entertainment, adrenaline, chills, thrills and spills. Well, they try to avoid the spills, but those seem to come as part of the package. They are at their best when they are living large lives.
I think nature shows us that it takes all types. Variety is the spice of life. Every normal person needs a little fun and a thrill or two every now and then. Taking everything seriously all the time is just not normal. I swear that some people live in abject fear that somewhere someone is having a good time. They think that anything that is fun must be a sin.
In any society there are jobs that need all kinds of temperaments. Some people are content to do work that others would find boring or too repetitious. Some people need to live on the edge. They protect us from bad people and bad things. Without soldiers, police, firefighters, rescue and emergency services workers, we would lose lives that we are not ready to let slip away.
So as you live your life, keep your eyes on the future, but keep careful track of where the edge is. They say that adults drive slowly to feel safe, and adolescents drive fast to feel dangerous. You need to find your own speed, and you need to decide for yourself how closely you want to skate to the edge. Be careful, but don’t forget to live a little.
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Posted by Reflections on April 17, 2009
What kind of music do you like? Did you grow up listening to the music your parents enjoyed? Do you still like the styles they listened to? Did you rebel and start listening to the music that was popular with your peers and friends? Are you passionate about your favorite music? Can music fill your senses, lift your spirits or move you to tears? Do you sing along in the car or sing in the shower?
Has anyone ever commented negatively about your favorite kind of music? Does some music just leave you bored or unmoved? Do you very strongly dislike some styles of music? Have you wondered why some people actually like the music you dislike? What is your opinion of people who listen to music that you just can’t stand? Have you heard music fans insulting fans of music they dislike?
All these questions are about music. Let’s switch the subject to belief. You probably got your original religious instruction and beliefs from your family. You may be practicing the same religion still, or you may have decided that what worked for your parents doesn’t work for you. You may have even come to the conclusion that you are pretty indifferent about belief at this stage of your life. You may be more passionate about music than religion. If so, then that is a fine choice for you. Just keep in mind that there are places people are being killed for their religious beliefs, and this has been been true for thousands of years. We have matured and developed immensely as a species, but we are not entirely civilized yet.
Like music, religion boils down to taste. There’s no accounting for taste, whether we are talking about music or religion. Certainly, people make choices, assuming that they have choice as an option. But what to believe in is not an entirely logical decision, any more than choosing Johann Sebastian Bach over Jimmy Buffett.
So if your situation offers you free choice, choose what works best for you. And with this in mind, I hope you can understand that if the beliefs of another harm no one, there is absolutely no reason you should not respect them. And you should demand the same in return.
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Posted by Reflections on April 2, 2009
For life-giving rain we need clouds to gather. The temperature must decline, and the drops must fall. Sometimes we get thunder, lightning and strong winds along with our showers. Our joy at the arrival of our new granddaughter was accompanied by a perfect storm of circumstances that provided more drama than we would have preferred. A C-section brought us a beautiful baby girl, but complications led to later bleeding and additional surgery, followed by breathing problems and treatment for her mom in ICU.
So I had to be more Stoic than usual. Everything has worked out, and everyone is home. The storm has passed, and there is general calm in its wake. Certainly, you can tell that the storm passed through, but life is returning to normal. Hardship brings us close together, but we are happy to see it fading into the distance.
Life brings us storm and calm, tension and relief, sad times and glad. Cursing life makes as much sense as shouting at the wind. The wind doesn’t care. It pays us no mind and does what the wind does. That does not make the wind cruel or evil. It is just acting according to its nature.
Life is not cruel. It is just life. Nor is life kind. Life just is. It is our gift for as long as we have it. We cannot predict what life will bring. We only know how it will end. So our challenge is to learn its nature to the best of our ability so that we can live in as much contentment and harmony as we can find as we travel this road. If we disregard the obvious signs that nature gives us, we will spend more than our share of time being surprised by sudden storms.
Even when we plan well, watch for symptoms and signals, rely on experience and take good advice, we can still find ourselves caught in a sudden downpour or even a tragic flood. We can be swept away by events, even when we choose the safe and wise course.
Right now we are basking in the warmth and love of family. The sun is out, and we are enjoying life.
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