What if?
Yesterday I talked about the consequences of each decision we make. Later in the day I got the October assignment from the leader of the writing circle. The assignment was to write on “What if?”. Sometimes I get multiple reminders of the same spiritual lessons.
My marriage to my son’s mother ended after nearly eight years of marriage. Some of those eight years were wonderful and some were miserable for both of us. At times, attempting to create a home which felt safe and nurturing to both of us seemed as difficult as negotiating a peace treaty between Palestine and Israel. We seemed too often take turns sabotaging the effort of the other. Yet, as is true for Palestine and Israel, I would not, if I could, delete that marriage from my story. That marriage was responsible for a host on ongoing blessings, chief among them is our loving, delightful, bright, creative son. There were many others. We each introduced each other to experiences which have continued to enrich our respective life journeys. She, for example, introduced me to the world of classical music, museums, art, and cuisine which traveled far beyond the basics which kept my family of origin alive. This new experiences surpassed those occasional treats my siblings and I savored at the homes of some of our wealthier relatives (Wealthy meaning the absence of existential angst at every meal.)
After high school the only option seemed to be to join the military since there was no money for college and everyone assumed I would not go even if that had been an option. The service led to an assignment in Washington, DC which led to being assigned to Captain Berthrong which led to me attending the U. S. Naval Academy which led me to Annapolis which led me back to the Washington area which led me to a certain church which led me to my future wife which led me back to school which led me to graduate school which led to……. Eventually these chains of events led me to New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, Oregon, California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia to my second wife whose journey from the refugee camps of WWII had eventually led her to Wheeling, WV which led to, which led to, which led to, which led to….
The paradox is changing one positive or negative decision or event would change all of history for me and the rest of the universe. We are, after all, that intricately connected to each other; each of us triggering a chain of actions which triggers a series of new chains.
Obviously, my decisions are, in part, responsible for the current president of the United states, the terrible wars in much of the world, and, of course, all the positive, life giving events of the world!
Change one action and I would not be a part of the writing circle and, thus, would not be writing these words.
What if I had no regrets? What if each moment of my journey has been needed to weave this amazing quilt; this coat of many colors which covers the mountains, the streams, the plains and each of us?
With each decision, we each add an accessory to this costume in which we dance; another square to this quilt we call our life journey.
Written October 4, 2018
562 words
Yesterday I talked about the consequences of each decision we make. Later in the day I got the October assignment from the leader of the writing circle. The assignment was to write on “What if?”. Sometimes I get multiple reminders of the same spiritual lessons.
My marriage to my son’s mother ended after nearly eight years of marriage. Some of those eight years were wonderful and some were miserable for both of us. At times, attempting to create a home which felt safe and nurturing to both of us seemed as difficult as negotiating a peace treaty between Palestine and Israel. We seemed too often take turns sabotaging the effort of the other. Yet, as is true for Palestine and Israel, I would not, if I could, delete that marriage from my story. That marriage was responsible for a host on ongoing blessings, chief among them is our loving, delightful, bright, creative son. There were many others. We each introduced each other to experiences which have continued to enrich our respective life journeys. She, for example, introduced me to the world of classical music, museums, art, and cuisine which traveled far beyond the basics which kept my family of origin alive. This new experiences surpassed those occasional treats my siblings and I savored at the homes of some of our wealthier relatives (Wealthy meaning the absence of existential angst at every meal.)
After high school the only option seemed to be to join the military since there was no money for college and everyone assumed I would not go even if that had been an option. The service led to an assignment in Washington, DC which led to being assigned to Captain Berthrong which led to me attending the U. S. Naval Academy which led me to Annapolis which led me back to the Washington area which led me to a certain church which led me to my future wife which led me back to school which led me to graduate school which led to……. Eventually these chains of events led me to New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, Oregon, California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia to my second wife whose journey from the refugee camps of WWII had eventually led her to Wheeling, WV which led to, which led to, which led to, which led to….
The paradox is changing one positive or negative decision or event would change all of history for me and the rest of the universe. We are, after all, that intricately connected to each other; each of us triggering a chain of actions which triggers a series of new chains.
Obviously, my decisions are, in part, responsible for the current president of the United states, the terrible wars in much of the world, and, of course, all the positive, life giving events of the world!
Change one action and I would not be a part of the writing circle and, thus, would not be writing these words.
What if I had no regrets? What if each moment of my journey has been needed to weave this amazing quilt; this coat of many colors which covers the mountains, the streams, the plains and each of us?
With each decision, we each add an accessory to this costume in which we dance; another square to this quilt we call our life journey.
Written October 4, 2018
562 words
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