Moments — opportunities

I have always found a serenity with being in a church; a quiet that calms the soul. Why this is, I really don't know — it may be what a church represents, or the expectation that it's a place for quiet reflection, or maybe it's simply a symbol of something bigger than ourselves.

Recently I sat quietly on a back pew and supported a great friend (and his family) as they said goodbye to a mother, a wife, and a member of that very church. I was an observer of the human condition — the joy, the celebration, and of course the grief. It offered insight into a life lived, and an opportunity to ponder my own.

"You are born and you die, and everything is in-between". I heard someone say this once, and I could not help but reflect on the "everything in-between" as a woman sang Amazing Grace. 

Big and small, common and unique, easily attained and difficult — these are the types of opportunities that come our way each and every day, and make up our life; this is the "everything in-between" that he was talking about. As I left this borrowed sanctuary, I could not help but acknowledge that this life will not last forever, and that I should never shy away from any and all opportunities — no matter how unfamiliar and unlikely they may seem.

You never know where they will take you. And isn't that what life is all about?

iamgpe

Moments — more money.

My day ended gloriously when I was caught in a summer rain in the city. I had my umbrella with me so I suppose I wasn't caught unaware.

It poured. People scurried to get where they had to and tried to stay as dry as possible — some didn't even bother. I shared my umbrella with a woman — she was trying to keep her hair dry with piece of cardboard. I talked to a man who was soaked — he lamented that he had just gotten a hair cut. I complimented him on his haircut and we both laughed.

The rain was warm and I was mostly wet (even with my umbrella). I was smiling as I walked home.

Earlier in the day I overheard a conversation where one person was saying he wanted to have more money. I couldn't help but say, "We all want more money."

And then I said, "The real question is what are you doing to make more money". The other person gave me a knowing glance and I continued on with my day.

iamgpe

Knock on wood...

There is something that comes with getting a song stuck in your head, which is to say that it mostly stays there until it's good and ready to move on — you find yourself humming and whistling to yourself (and others), listening to it and watching it endlessly on YouTube, and you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to understand the meaning and philosophies behind the lyrics.

Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse? No?
Well I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

I have no intention to deconstruct the lyrics of the song "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones but do suggest you listen to it for no other reason than it is really, really catchy. If you are willing though, the song does allude to looking in the mirror and asking yourself how you will deal with some of the tougher aspects of life when they come your way (and they will) — as Jim Morrison said, "No one here gets out alive". I saw my uncle recently who is struggling with stage four lung cancer so maybe there is a little transference going on here, but it doesn't make the question any less valid as to how we face what will be surely difficult.

Sure you can prepare yourself or believe that you are prepared, but you will never really know until you are in the shit — as Mark Twain said, "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way". Sure you can work really hard not to pick up that cat but once in a while someone just hands it to you; there is nothing else to be done but deal with it (scratches and all). You have no choice but to move into the breech.

In the end you learn about resilience, character, under appreciated abilities, the concepts of wisdom and understanding, and if you are lucky, you realize the best outcome possible. And then you move on, forever changed.

Knock on wood.

iamgpe

PS — It seems the song has moved on.