Wow, another year has come, and we enter a new decade. 2010, whoa. This morning found me reflecting back to May 1973. That’s the month and year I graduated from high school. We were a rebellious, hippie like generation, the only thing we were thinking about was our trip to the beach, and we were leaving right after graduation. The future, we didn't think beyond the beach and the party! We just lived out each moment fully until it was all gone! William Arthur Ward, dedicated scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher, captures the essence of how we approached life in those days…
The truth is the good times didn’t GO anywhere our attitude or our outlook towards life shifted as we grew older and we became “responsible adults”. Meaning married, with a mortgage and so on and so forth. So our focus became providing, maintaining, and gathering more…And as the world changed, and as our lives changed due to events either under our control or beyond our control, fear and or apathy entered our lives. So far from the free spirited days, so far from living in the moment, so far from drawing all of the goodness from every experience, so far from communal living and experiences. Hold on here, what actually changed. Really nothing. In 1973 there was still conflict in Vietnam, there was a gas crisis, and we had a poor economy. I think that the only thing that has changed is inside of each of us, the way we see ourselves, which is how others see us. I know I am that way, caught up in the day to day business going fast, so fast sometimes that I lose a sense of who I am, and then I do not have time for others. That is so far from where we started, not what we envisioned for ourselves I'd say.
Yet, today here we are! Some of us from that class made it, and some of us did not, God have mercy. Nevertheless, we are here. Now that I am a mature 55 something, I would think I am smarter, sharper, and savvier and that I am looking to the future and planning how I might use the time ahead to make a difference. A major difference between 1973 and today in 2010, is I had no worries then, today we are engaged in warfare in multiple countries, nearly $3.00 per gallon gasoline, the threat of terrorism is real and close, the economy is in turmoil and many are out of work and struggling to eat and maintain shelter. We all have those worries now more than ever. The light hearted, live for today exuberance was crushed by the weight of life, of caring for ourselves, our children and in some cases parents and grandparents. Where did all the good times go?“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
The truth is the good times didn’t GO anywhere our attitude or our outlook towards life shifted as we grew older and we became “responsible adults”. Meaning married, with a mortgage and so on and so forth. So our focus became providing, maintaining, and gathering more…And as the world changed, and as our lives changed due to events either under our control or beyond our control, fear and or apathy entered our lives. So far from the free spirited days, so far from living in the moment, so far from drawing all of the goodness from every experience, so far from communal living and experiences. Hold on here, what actually changed. Really nothing. In 1973 there was still conflict in Vietnam, there was a gas crisis, and we had a poor economy. I think that the only thing that has changed is inside of each of us, the way we see ourselves, which is how others see us. I know I am that way, caught up in the day to day business going fast, so fast sometimes that I lose a sense of who I am, and then I do not have time for others. That is so far from where we started, not what we envisioned for ourselves I'd say.
We can rekindle that youthful exuberance. So where do we start, how can we move from worrying to living fully… For me there are two scriptures that inspire me. These verses in their simplicity wisk me back to that delightful day in 1973 – where I lived and loved in the moment. The writers of Matthew and John explicitly point to Jesus’ love of us and how to live life; John 14:1“…Do not let your hearts be troubled…” and Matthew 28:20 “…I am with you always…” Jesus in plain simple easy to understand language says in essence I am here and it is going to be alright! Go and enjoy this life my father has given you! Now how cool is that! Jesus, in my view, tells us to live life, to enjoy life, to trust in him and to not worry but to live in and through the moment, drawing every single ounce of precious life from each moment and sharing it communally each and every day. Just like in our youth, I remember we wandered, wondered, laughed, cried and cared for each other, together, in community.
Today, we are the body of Christ, such that it is, and I think we should jump start its heart, get it breathing and thriving again to do that we must re-connect and get energized. Let’s all graduate from worry and anxiety and travel towards happiness in Christ and the joy that comes from in living together in Christ, for Christ and for each other!
Finally, the words of William Ward mark the path forward...
We have the opportunity once more to right some wrongs,
to pray for peace,
to plant a tree, and sing more joyful songs!
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