The camera in the old Japanese print took me back to my early days of experiencing life through a lens and leaving it in film. Walking back in time as one retracing one’s steps, physically and metaphorically, is fun and exhausting. There is so much that is just beyond what I can see. As I pause and replay memories, I find myself caught in dark spirals mixed with enduring threads of light and hope. Part of me wants to echo an old lament. “I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke – smoke, and spitting into the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Another part of me is standing tall, hands raised, cheering for what was, will be, and is.
Life continues to unfold, open, inviting, and uncertain. It is easy to be overwhelmed by tiredness, chaos, and uncertainty. Even with age and experience, there is far more I do not know about the day ahead than what I know. I recognise my fear and doubts as a burden that is always with me. I know that I have the option to let them go at any time. I also know that life is like the old man river, he must know something, he keeps rolling along.
Life is filled with opportunities. I can hear life inviting me into conversations and relationships. The distractions – noise, excitements, and chaos – are all around me, competing for my time and attention. What happens next is in my court. I turn the settings; I focus on whatever is important in the moment. I wish I could say that I have always made the best choices. If I were able to go back, I hope that I focused on the people closest to my heart, the friends who make a difference, and those within my reach needing a listening ear.
Life is more than what I see in the viewfinder. Life is defined through the relationships in my life; the people I was able to share the journey with. Life is found in each step as I engage, support, and walk with others.
