The meaning of Life

  If it isn't that, it will be another. And sometimes the that of which we were so concerned, was not nearly as bad as the other, which was not at all on our minds. The plain fact is, that no matter how you duck and try to evade unpleasant things, that often, the one you never saw coming hits you like a Mack truck head on. Bam! None of us gets away unscathed, but somehow we absorb the hit, pick ourselves up, and go about chasing in life what we still decide to be worthy. Life is a struggle for all people, no matter their wealth or status. Certainly plenty of money can keep you from financial hardships, but money, like life itself, can change in a moment. Money makes things easier, but only to a point. It is a diversion, a way to pursue the pleasures of this world as you see fit. 

  But wealth cannot shield you from the problems and hardships in life, because in the end, it is those things we put our faith in during this life that will decide our ultimate end. If this is all there is to life, and all we have to look forward to at the end of it, is to become plant food, then certainly the old saying that, Whoever has the most toys at the end of his life wins, would be true. But even the most arrogant among us know that there is much more to life than the accumulation of things. 

  Death comes to us all, on that I know we can all agree. Death is eternal, again, on this we can all agree. We know that stone is dead, always was, always will be. They are forever unaware of anything and everything, they are dead as door nails. So then, if we are all in agreement that death is eternal, final and permanent, and that this is true, and that only this life, which we live out on this planet, is all there is, we lie to ourselves.  But to think that the opposite, that life too is eternal, of this we have a problem. Why? If you believe that a person who dies to this world is dead forever, you believe that in ignorance. Life exists in the forever of this life, as we know after we die, that life here goes on without us. But what of the glint of the eye in the living that goes dull at death, do you believe that it too rots in the ground? That spark of light, is life, and it was never fully a captive of this, our ever aging bodies. But rather, something more, something much more. You see, life is not physical by nature, but rather, is spiritual. Your spirit is the essence of your life, my life, all life. We agree that death is eternal, than you must know that the opposite side of that coin is also true. Life, like death, is eternal. So for each of us, first we must admit to ourselves that life too is eternal, and how you go about reclaiming that life before we leave this one, is the meaning of life.  

  Death be not proud, though some think of you as mighty and dreadful. For it is not true that you are mighty, for those you think that you have overthrown, you have not. Death, you are defeated, and in the end, it is you who shall die. 

  Paraphrased portion of a poem by John Donne     

Tested Truths: Rock and Roll, a brief history

Tested Truths: Rock and Roll, a brief history:   It came wailin out of the backwoods of Tennessee, with roots deep in places like Chicago, Detroit and New York City. A true American art f...

Tested Truths: Politics

Tested Truths: Politics:     As a long time hundredaire, I am not what you might call an expert on the economy at large, nor the intricacies of finance. But still, ...

Politics

    As a long time hundredaire, I am not what you might call an expert on the economy at large, nor the intricacies of finance. But still, as it is said that we all have one, I too have one, an opinion on the geopolitical realities of our time. What do I know? I know what every Joe Everyday knows, that tariffs are really taxes, and when it comes to taxes, its always the little guys who get hurt. 

  But not only do we understand the things you don't think we do, we also remember what this country can do when united to fight tyranny in all its forms as we did in the two world wars of the twentieth century. We, also know that during those times, we voluntarily rationed ourselves, collected items needed for the effort, and yes, every family suffered some kind of financial problems, some big, some not, but all chipped in and did what they could for the greater good. For the good of our great nation, yes, but also for the good of the free world. 

  But why repeat the mistakes made in the 20th, and do the same thing now in the twenty-first? What if by the clever use of our capitalist system, we can bring about a peaceful coexistence without shedding a drop of American blood on some far off battle field, and that we could coax the outlaw countries to do whats right by flexing our financial prowess rather than our military might? Sounds good all the sane people. Say, count me in, but how do we go about it? Lets use the lobster business as an example. They, the lobster-men industry, have 200 million pounds of lobster to sell, a record catch. China usually would but 30% of that. So sixty million pounds of lobster will not be shipped to the typical Chinese markets. Now what? Well, two things. First, there is going to be a lot of pissed off Chinese who will no longer have the butter drenched delight they so crave, and two, Americans are going to be eating a lot more lobster. If you are a shell fish lover, (which I'm not), even if you have to pay a little more for it, keep in mind that it will be more than a good meal, but your patriotic duty to eat as much as you can, and then go for seconds. In short America, no matter the suffering industry, farm, sea, or whatever. As a citizen, hell man, you may hate the label, but as a patriot, it is all of our duty to keep the effected markets as healthy as we can, because of one thing we know sure, if it comes to a shooting war it will be our sons and daughters on the firing line. So to me, and hopefully for you too, I'd much rather be a bit poorer, and a bit inconvenienced if it will get our enemies, the tyrants of this world, to act as responsible citizens, and we can do it united as Americans. We can keep the wolves of war from our gates, and as for me, I'd rather eat lobster than see the blood of my children spilled on a battlefield somewhere. 

  You see, money does more than make a clinking clacking sound, it really is what makes the world go round. So America, here we are again at yet another cross road, do we pull together and help each other take our lumps here where its safe, or do we choose instead to use the blood and treasure of another military encounter? I say, eat lobster, pay a little more if you have to, tighten your belt, pitch in and help. because in the end its simple, we can apply pressure constantly, and cut off their markets, or should we go about sharpening our missiles?     

Thee heavy weight fight!

Philosophy's Friends

  John Black and Jason White were good friends. The two men shared two loves, one for the great outdoors, and the other for philosophy. Each was successful in his own right, each had great paying jobs, both, secretly hating those jobs, even though all the trappings of wealth surrounded them, each longed for more. One an architect, the other a CEO of a large ad firm. Oddly or not, the two first met at lunch in the restaurant across the street from their buildings. It was as early as this first lunch that the two discussed their shared dream that someday they would leave it all behind them and strike out to become more than their proper names, and the subtitle as an attached moniker of who they were. Because along with their names, each was known as John the architect, or Jason the ad man. 

  Almost six years from the day of their meeting, each now married and with families, each said good bye to their loved ones early in the morning, with the understanding that each sought solace and a much needed rest from the rigors of their jobs, and that each would return in a week to ten days. They told them of their plans to hike, camp and fish, far from the maddening crowds, and from all the endless technology that had become so much a part of every day life. They left saying that they would return soon after their vacation, and of course, return to their jobs. As to whether they would or not, neither man was sure. 

  They started their hike on the well worn path which left from the park's parking lot marked,  Hiking Trail. But after only an hour of walking, the two men set off from the marked trails and went in search of a spot of complete tranquility. After three days of hiking, the two came upon a long valley that led from the clearing they had entered into what appeared to be a flat rock face rise at the other end of this valley. It took the two experienced hikers a full day to reach the end of their hike. They were well rewarded for their long trek, and the two stood and stared lack jawed at the utter beauty which now seemed to engulf them. Both men knew, but perhaps John put it simply when he said, Jay, I think we have just found thee spot! At the bottom of the rock faced wall was a small fissure, an opening from which sweet pure water flowed slowly, collecting in the small stream that ran the length of the valley. Both men fell to their knees and scooped fresh mountain water from their cupped hands, a drink which to each seemed the most pleasant taste they had ever known. If you were to stand centered on the beauty of the sight in front of you, the soft running brook at the center gave way to soft rounded hills to either side of the stream. The soft hills folded back with an assortment of short trees and shrubbery on their sides and tops. Close to the waters edge, both to the right and to the left, supple ferns moved in the gentle winds that came and went. Each man took his turn while straddling the small stream with legs spread to either side, seemed as if transfixed by the vista before them. The soft moving ferns were not only located on the forest floor, but traveled up the vertical edges of this crease in the rock face. Besides its obvious beauty, this vision drew each man to it at a deeper level, so much so that with the evenings shadows creeping in, if they didn't move quickly, they would have no camp. So each man moved efficiently, neither speaking to the other while going about their chores. 

  Later, after the evening gave way to night, the light of a new full moon shone down on the scene. This changed the look, as the ferns shadows along side of the now seemingly blue white sparkling water had both men staring as if spell bound by its allure. Both men became so enamored by this beautiful vision, that their desire to do nothing else but burry themselves in this place grew with each passing moment. 

  As to whether either man ever returned home remains a mystery said the old man who told his story to his inquisitors. No matter how many questions they peppered him with, the old man never wavered saying, This is all I know of the story, and whether it is fact or merely another mountain fable is up to you to decide. I have told you all I know. And with that the old gentleman turned and walked slowly away from his questioners.      

Bob Dylan:"The chief commander in a world we can't see"