The office was fundamental, basic, and utilitarian. Oil, filters, and broken-down furniture dominated. It was grimy and dirty, more from wear and the nature of the business than a lack of attention to cleanliness. I imagined the stories behind each visual. In my mind, the shirt was fresh from the laundry, and the hat looked as if it had never heard of where the shirt had just come from. Neither was pristine by any measure I would generally use. I saw a shirt that was invested in living; it was in the business of sacrifice and making a living. The hat, on the other hand, lived on a dangerous path of foolhardiness, especially in this part of the world.
Life whispered and reminded me of a truth-perspective I had forgotten. “Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.” (Ecclesiastes 7.4)
Living and relationships come at a price. I know I am on a mission. I have heard the call. I can see the vision. What I forget about is the battles that will come along the way. Living out my purpose of caring for and planning Divinity’s trees is dangerous. The path has come with hurt, grief, and so much more. It is not that I have had it worse than anyone else. On the contrary, I have had support when I needed it, hope when I was desperate, and even an intervention or two when it was the answer I was missing.
Wasted steps are forever lost moments. There is no redo or replay in life. I have come to appreciate living’s one-way direction. Each moment is an opportunity to give it my best shot. In the best of times, I am willing to learn from the moment and apply my learnings to the next moment that I have. My efficiency in living is determined by how I use the freedom I have. It is all within my control. The success in living is written by how I take each step.
Time to get dressed and live.
