Wednesday Wisdom Greetings!
Have you ever had trouble letting go of “what was” (an idea, a misstep, a security, a treasure, a love etc.) and facing what will be? I know most of us can say a resounding, “Yes!”
Today’s WW is a combination of someone else’s wisdom (Norman Lear that I heard on a radio program the other day) and my own current experience. Norman, a television writer and producer, is 94 and was asked about any wisdom he may pass on and his response was, “two words should be used more often together – over and next”). I will come back to this in a minute.
(Actually, Solomon is muttering that all wisdom is someone else’s; it just gets refined and and reshaped for our own circumstances. And the truth is- all wisdom and knowledge comes from the God Shepherd.)
Okay, Solomon, we get that . . .
Have you also had the experience in life of coming to a crossroads and feeling all kinds of “what ifs” and excitement at the same time? That can be as simple as giving a keynote address, preparing for an observation by your principals and risk trying something new with the class, or writing a book, …. or getting married!
If you are a subscriber to The Shared Journey you already have received personal updates about John giving me an engagement ring for my birthday.
So today’s blog is about Mr. John’s and my newest announcement; we are getting married right after Thanksgiving!
“The Boys” here have been commissioned by our most beloved and late Mr. Tom to support Ms. Margie. They have done just that. Our mascot, Solomon, along with Solomon Junior (SJ) and their forerunner, Sigmund, have truly formed an alliance and are excited to watch and hear the the plans for the future here at TSJ headquarters.
They know it is an ongoing process of loving “what was” forever and exercising courage and trust in taking steps toward what has seemingly been in the Shepherd’s design for Mr. John, Ms. Margie and TSJ fans and friends.
Change takes time and courage along with commitment and trust. Change is not always convenient and can even be difficult but it does not make it wrong. It is an exciting thing about being alive- fully alive. Alive enough to taste new adventures.
John and I have shared the journey from grief to gratitude and from despair to delight (and everything in between).
Norman Lear’s philosophy struck a cord in me. I paraphrase a bit, but essentially he said, “It all rests on two words we should use more often: over and next. It helps to think of a hammock connecting the two where you can rest in the moment.”
The picture above was taken in a quiet time here at the TSJ office when I suddenly noticed my hand (with the engagement ring) sitting on my Bible and the other clutching the coffee mug with it wonderful message about trusting in God’s design for our lives . It says “your life has a purpose.”
No matter what part of the past is “over” (in my case like family meals with Tom’s stories) there will always be a next… a new experience waiting to bring happiness with it. Mother Nature has shown us this over and over with changing of seasons and even with lush new growth that takes place after droughts or fires etc.
I have noticed I have been using that mug a lot in the last few months reading and re-reading its message as I watch my own life unfold in unanticipated, yet delightful ways.
But these are universal messages that carry meaning for all of us when we need them. As for me, I am currently in a “hammock time,” you might say – maybe I can call it the “grace hammock”… resting in the grace of God’s love along with the love and support of my children, friends and family while they too grieve the loss of a wonderful “pops” and grandpa etc.
Now we are touched by this man named John who has come gently into our lives and who knows this journey through grief to joy as well.
Life is a journey. It is meant to be a shared one! What is next?
Solomon says for us to go play in life’s pastures trusting in a grand design that is always unfolding. And we are safe to graze its goodness under the grace and love of God.
And I will be busily getting ready to have a service of worship and marriage…
Margie
