Musings from the Ozone

Avid Facebook user that I am, I posted this anonymous quote just before New Year's day;  "Many Americans no longer celebrate the arrival of the New Year---they celebrate the survival of the old year."  Wow, you would have thought I had spit in the national gallery!   In no time I received 5 comments on that post!   Some agreed with the quote, some posted laughing comments and still other's pointed to the scripture in Philemon 3--that says, "Forgetting those things which are behind (the past year) and reaching for those things that are before,,: (2010).  

Isn't life just like that?  Some people go with the flow, others laugh at life and things, while still others chastise others for thinking negatively.  Like they say, it takes all kinds. 

So what kind of a past decade did you have?  It is true; many are just thankful to have come through with their very lives intact!  They do call it survival.  Just ask all the Hurricane Katrina survivors how they feel today, knowing that they are alive when even many of their family were swept away in death by the grim reaper.  Ask those who escaped dying in the bombing of the World Trade Center, when many of their co-workers did not survive, how they feel, knowing that they were the 'lucky' ones.  Survival of the past year is one thing, but a decade is a long time to look back on and realize that we have truly survived a lot of changes that have come and gone in our lives.  Those that have lost loved ones, albeit to more typical kinds of diseases and sicknesses, can verify that life can change drastically in 24 hours or less.

 Now, on to those types of humans who laugh their way through life, even as they laughed at my comments of survival; they really do exist!  In one sense of the word, humor is an escape from facing the pains of changes.  If we would take a tip from those who try to lighten their woe-be-gone problems with a dash of humor, perhaps we would enjoy our lives more!  They do not look on every situation as a calamity or a victory; rather they put the magic of humor over the event and it becomes manageable.  We are not talking about the comic who never takes anything seriously; we are speaking of the wise and witty type of personality who can see something humorous in heavy situations. 

The last type of personality that commented on my post was one that is strict and judgmental in their outlook.  The quote like, "Many Americans no longer celebrate the arrival of the New Year---they celebrate the survival of the old year," is meant to be taken light-heartedly.  It is not meant to be serious, but is also another view of the new year!  How some people can get on another's case when they are hurting, or reminiscing over a painful time, is shocking.  When a person is in grief over losing a loved one, we do better when we let them cry, talk and remember their loved one--even if it is grief manifested in an wearisome way.  We could help them by saying lovely things about their beloved or just being present in a loving way while they talk away.  It is never helpful to tell them that things will be better after a while, or 'you'll get over this," etc.  Some people, unfortunately, never get over the grief of a child being murdered, a rape, a shooting, or any other type of horrible death or shock.  We must try in earnest to be compassionate with people who have 'survived' bad situations.

 While I posted the quote with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and meant for it to be laughable, I do understand that many people do appreciate what has transpired in the past decade and will use their experiences, good or bad, to the best possible use in the new year and decade.  When I look back, personally, my highlight of the decade was to receive my master's degree right smack in the middle of the decade! (2005)  It was a great thrill to receive a life time achievement even though I would be considered by many to be 'over the hill.'  I had to answer questions, such as "what do you plan to do with your degree?"  Of course, we would have to look into the future which would be like looking into a crystal ball to see where an education would or could take a person.  The truth is, who really knows what the future holds?  An accomplishment in one area of life does not necessitate that you will use it in another area of life.  I might even say I 'survived' college!  It is also fun to look back on it now!  

Looking ahead requires a certain amount of hope and trust.  I am thankful that I do not have to sweat out the prospects of the unknown, because I plan to keep God in my life and plans.  He will help us survive anything, and He will also direct us in the future.