Ø LIVE
Only Don’t Know
Zen Master Seung Sahn
Ø INVITE
The new , the strange, the different
Ø BELIEVE
We’re all doing our best IN THE MOMENT
Ø REMEMBER
In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5;18
Ø ACCEPT
In whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:11
Ø SPEAK
My truth fearlessly, live it lovingly
When a local law enforcement officer demanded that a good friend to leave her dying boyfriend’s bedside to pick up her car following an accident. She refused. The officer pressed on stating that either she picks up the car or it would be impounded as would my dog. Her attempts at reason succeeded only in that another officer intervened. She knew her boyfriend’s life was quickly coming to an end, so little else mattered but their time together. He died the next morning. I respect her decision but was sadden with envy. The thoughts of how my mother would have handled a similar situation entertained me in a very dark macabre fashion.
“Well Sally what do you want to do with your last two days? Do you have a plan? A goal ? Will you share it with me?”
After attempting to either share my plan or state that I didn’t know what I was going to do with my last two days of life I would be interrupted by an explanation to the effect of: since I was probably not even going getting out of bed. If we just remove the life support system now it would enable everyone to be able to keep all their daily commitments.
I could here her saying:
“This would save US some money, allow me to meet with my home teachers and pick the music for the next decade all before “Walker, Texas Ranger’ comes on tonight. “
Ok maybe I’m pushing it a bit with pre planning the entire decade.
Should I even attempt to object to having my life supporting system removed. I would be brow beaten into not only providing a plan but I should be ready to defend that plan. Upon failing to provide an acceptable plan, my plan would be revised to achieve the exact same goals as the original suggestion. Only this would still be “MY” plan with a few modifications. So how could I object to my own plan? Intertwined with “My New Plan” would be cleverly veiled character attacks infused with a debilitating level of disrespect. All of this would be delivered as “humor” “helpful advice” or "Love". Failure to accept my own plan would only provide additional evidence of my inability to cooperate and deep seated hatred for someone that really loved me.
The women is good at this.
Normally long before this point I would capitulate to whatever demand(s) stated. Anything to end this attack. At one time I believed that if I tried explaining myself I would at the very least not receive the attack and might even be respected for trying to cooperate. NOT!! I have come to believe that education does not necessarily produce respectful people. People decide if they recognize the divinity in others or they don’t. You do not need to ‘understand’ that other persons “difference” in order to acknowledge they too are connected to the same higher power you are and respect that. If I muster up the strength to hold out long enough a final plea is offered.
“Hell, you aren’t really doing anything anyway. Help your poor old mother out do you know what this room is costing? “