“There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping, a time
to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is
planted. A time to tear down, and a time
to build up. A time to weep, and a time
to laugh; a time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing; a time to be silent,
and a time to speak.” – (Solomon, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
This psalm from Solomon is perhaps the greatest quote on
time ever. It is undeniably recognized the world over for its profound wisdom. It reflects a world where everything has a
place and a purpose and the role of time is an overarching foundation for the purpose
of life. Today we weep for a lost friend
or spouse, tomorrow we rejoice over a marriage or birth. Today we fight a war for justice and tomorrow
we negotiate for peace.
We think we control time. We believe that we control life
and even our own destinies. The reality
is that we have control over some things and some (perhaps the vast majority)
we do not. Solomon’s wisdom counsels us
to accept the ups and downs of life. It speaks to life as a flow wherein
everything has its place. It counsels us to develop our own wisdom as we
progress through life and face its inevitable joys and sorrows. Do not be saddened by the burdens of life, for
tomorrow is always a new day and it will bring new times and new opportunities.
You have as much to be optimistic over as you do pessimistic. Optimistic people
are happier and live longer.
We may not always be able to control time but we can always
choose how we want to spend our time. We
choose our attitudes and we chose the meaning of time to us at any given
moment. I can decide to do what I think
is important today or I can spend my day in trivial pursuits. I can work today to make the world a better
place or I can bemoan the lack of good TV programs and its excessive
commercialism. Some days I will be
successful and others I will not be in controlling my time. Perhaps today is a time for failure and
tomorrow will be a new opportunity.
What is your time for today? Life is often a series of cycles, do you live
and accept your cycles or do you try to force your time according to some
schedule? Do you accept the ups and downs of life? What downs are the most
difficult for you to accept?
Hi John, I am catching up on blogs I missed, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyd "Where have all the Hippies Gone". I think we all enjoy things we can relate to, and this blog surely brought back memories of my hippie daze!! That last word is not a typo. Truly some of those days, I was in a daze. I participated in the war protest rallies downtown as it is appealed to my pacifist nature. I know where this hippie has gone... She is 60yrs. old now, basically happy and content with life, and looking back there are not too many things I would change if I had to go back.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying today's blog. As for accepting the ups and downs of life. I think I roll with the punches and I am surely not one of those people who say,"why me?". I am more of a , "Why not me" type of person. Keep 'em coming. I look forward to these blogs.
Thanks Jeanine, now I know where all the hippies went. You joined the 1 percent/ :)
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