Cleaning the Dust Off Life.
“Humans are not disturbed by things, but the view which they take of them.”
--Epictetus
I realize most of the things that trouble me on a day-to-day basis are really simple and most of my unhappiness is self-imposed. I am talking about minor irritations like standing in line at the grocery store or stuck in traffic when I have an appointment. Even things like the purchase of new furniture or a home can become stressful or disturbing depending on how I perceive them in the moment.
Most everything comes down to the view I take of life. When I am disturbed it is usually a result of me not my circumstances.
It’s amazing how the little things in life can accumulate like dust on a beautiful piece of furniture or a finely-tuned musical instrument dulling the appearance and the sound. Sometimes I just need to stop and take time to remove the stresses that accumulate from those parts of myself I leave unattended in my life. When I do I often discover something beautiful.
Ronnie, the check-out cashier at my local grocery store reminds me of this truth every time I see her. She is often frayed and weak by the chemotherapy she undergoes each day for the cancer that is attempting to cut her life short but she refuses to allow her weariness and cancer to steal the luster of her hope. She seems to have a clear view of life.
By her example she reminds me that the only thing that really matters in this great big dusty world of mine is to tend to those things in my life that are beautiful and to remind myself that underneath all the stress-dust and worry-dust from a life that has been unattended is something beautiful and to not take the masterpiece for granted but to attend to it for in the end, it's all that matters.
13 Comments:
nice...
Thanks for the reminder!
My mother has a similar story to tell.
The woman who mentored my mother for 10-12 years underwent a double mastectomy in 1995 and began several heavy rounds of chemotherapy soon afterwards. The thing is -- this woman was a school teacher. She scheduled her chemo as early as possible in the morning so that she only missed the first period of the school day. She never complained, she never whined, she never sought out sympathy or empathy. She just lived her life out as best as she knew how, not letting the sickness get the best of her life.
My mother, to this day, continually cites this wonderful woman as an example of knowing and living out what's most important in this life -- loving God with your mind/body/soul/strength & loving everyone else as you love yourself.
And BTW -- it's been too long since I've posted, though I've still enjoyed your material the whole time.
I love the way you write just as much as what you have to say. Thanks.
I've printed this out to give to a stuck-in-a-rut-of-my-own-making parishioner. Thanks. As we say, "This will preach!"
Oh, God~
As always much simpler than I make it...thanks.....
As Shakespeare said: "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. (Hamlet, II.ii)"
Rick, really love your writing.
Great post.
Yes, the masterpiece matters!
I love that!
Thank you dear Rick.
I am right there with you, brother.
I hate my apartment. It's in a lousy neighborhood, it is not air conditioned except in the bedroom, the flooring is cracked and ugly in one room, and tore up and waiting for new tile in the other...
Then I go downtown and see people jangling cups of change, asking for a handout to get into one or the other shelters downtown....guess I needed to blow the dust off my situation.
My knees, at 49, are developing arthritis. It hurts to get out of my car. I use it as an excuse not to exercise. Then I drive through Hyde Park on my way to work, and see the people in motorized wheelchairs, waiting to cross the street to the Rehab Institute of Chicago. The voice in the back of my head (the one I detest most days) says, "Ingrate...take your Motrin and shut the &%$# up...."
Most of my self-resentment and my disappointment with life seems to be a failure of gratitude, over and over again... thanks for the gentle kick in the ass, bro.
Bro,
call me. or email (mac@azotuscafe.com).
I'm the new webmaster for 3dF in Fresno (fun story) and I'm, reading the forum on a particular issue and this wonderful madman starts writing and I think "This sounds like my Bro!" (and of course it was).
I miss you. Hit me back when you can. Love ~Mac
I missed having a “Christian Blog” so I started one today. Its about my struggles mostly because that’s what my spiritual life feels like – a huge battle, and I don’t know who’s winning. I hope you stop by to visit: Prodigal Daughter (link below)
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