Roads a'plenty

Roads are a good object for comparisons to be made to. They have a number of good analogies, but I think the one I'll choose here is that they represent a way to travel. They make a journey a little easier than if you had to travel over rough terrain. And roads are plentiful these days making their use rather routine.

So, I'll choose several of these roads to explore the countryside (figuratively speaking) and see if the roads go somewhere lively or adventuresome. And if the countryside ends up being the type of terrain I like, I'll just stop and enjoy. And because the same road that got me to the spot also can take me away from the spot, I can leave at any time.

It sounds easy and enchanting. I know it's not, but it will help a person leave the state of limbo he may find himself in. And you never know when the road might just lead to the castle of your dreams.

Going nowhere

Limbo is a word that usually means some kind of interim state in which no one knows what direction to go next or a state in which no one formulates any plans to go any direction at all. Many have written about peaks and valleys in life, but there are just as many limbo places in life as there are peaks and valleys. Limbo places are hard for people to be in because they are used to such constant motion in their lives.

Limbo states, however, do allow for some reflection time just because energy is not used in keeping other motion going. And because limbo times are not usually self-imposed, they allow more global thinking to happen about our own spheres and possibilities. In that way, they are somewhat like dream states—a place in which possiblilities are endless and combinations happen without conscious consideration.

Such is my lot lately. But, the rearrangement of possibilities and the combinations not considered before keep me going and hopeful. It allows for my belief to take over that says that I really don't have to be in control of my environment. I never really have been. I just recognize the truth of it now more than ever than lying to myself or being in denial that I am in control. I trust the One in control of the big picture.

To the healer

The tone has been rather depressing tonight. I watched Grey's anatomy tonight. One of the doctors in the show was found at the bottom of a lake. They tried to revive her, but failed.

Oh what memories! The setting—the monitors—the doctors' efforts—the looks of fright and despair—the final blaring of the heart line tone!

So I come to my computer to blog and turn on the stereo. The 1st song up is a song that soothes my soul, has soothed my soul since my son departed this world. Matthew West's This Will Be My Finest Hour played—and spoke in ever gentle strains to my inmost psyche.

The king of contradiction strikes again

You said the last to cross the finish line will win,

And beggars will be millionaires someday,

and humble ones are going to have their say.

Well, all my friends are gone now

and all my money's gone now

And all my pride is gone now

and if what you say is true now

This will be my finest hour.

Everything is opposite down here—

The strong survive and the rest just disappear.

But your philosophy is more unique.

You say I'll be stronger when I'm weak.

This will be my finest hour.

It's 2 AM and sleepless.

I'm wide awake and restless

I don't know what my deal is.

Iv'e never felt so helpless.

I need you more than ever.

No I don't understand it.

I don't think I'll ever comprehend it.

It's so hard to conceive it,

so I guess I'll just believe it

This will be finest hour.

Oh Father!I am so silent in the face of death!

One year

Oh what a difference a year makes. I am reminded of a story I heard from Landon Saunders.

Two men in the medieval ages were in a dungeon talking. When the executioner came to get one of the men because it was his execution day, the man demanded the executioner get the king for him to talk to. When the king came, he told the man that he couldn't imagine anything the prisoner had to say would change his mind, but he allowed the man to speak. The prisoner said, "King, if you will give me one year to live, I will teach your horse to fly. Imagine what you could do with a flying horse." The king was taken aback by the request, laughed and told the man he didn't know how to teach horses to fly. The prisoner told the king that if the king killed him that day, the king would never know. So, the king gave the man a year to teach his horse to fly.

The cell mate of the prisoner watched the scene with disbelief. He couldn't believe his fellow prisoner really told the king that. "You don't know how to teach a horse to fly," he said. The cell mate replied, "I know that. But, who knows. In a year's time the king could die, the horse could die, or I might really teach a horse to fly. But, one thing's for certain. I have one more year to live."

Perilous times we live in. Outrageous solutions we try. One never knows when dire straits come, what opportunity will present itself.

Creating an illusion

The world has much uncertainty in it. However, when we create routines for ourselves, then we create an illusion for ourselves. We think that the routine creates stability, that that stability is desirable and that it offsets or at least minimizes what uncertainties lie ahead.

But, even in a "stable" environment, we could die in the night never to see the next day. We could have a fatal car accident or one that would injure us for life. We could cross the boss and get fired. We could encounter a criminal who would gladly end it all for us. We could not notice the world around us is falling apart and then our children leave or spouse. We could snap and become psychologically instable. We could be tempted to become immoral for a moment, but it would cost us when the information becomes more widely available at any time in our future. Any number of scenarios would fit. Any of those scenarios could happen in a split second. Then where is our stablility? What good would the routine have served us? But we hide behind the routines anyway.

Life is uncertain no matter how we slice it. That's where morality comes into play. It helps us to know how to react or it tells us who to trust if we don't know how to react. Paul put it well in his discussion of morality in his first communication with the group of Christians who met at Corinth, " If there is no resurrection from the dead... we are of all men most to be pitied" (15.19).