We are facing another new year, the time to reflect on the past while anticipating the future.\u00a0 This is the time of promises of changes we wish for the next year.\u00a0 This is the time to remember the good and the bad of yesterday.\u00a0 This is the time to remember the successes and failures of the past while maintaining optimism for the future.\u00a0 How wonderful was yesterday?\u00a0 How great may tomorrow be?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do we remember what was important last year?\u00a0 Was it the ten pounds we lost? Was it the raise or the new job?\u00a0 Maybe it was the new car or the bigger house? Maybe it was the better whatever?\u00a0 Are these the things of genuine happiness?\u00a0 How are we measuring our lives?\u00a0 How do we decide what really matters?\u00a0 Were there possibly other things less visible, less remembered that were much more important?\u00a0 Where do we find peace, blessings, and the understanding of what is important?<\/p>\n
Take a few minutes looking back at 2007, seeing those times of real contentment when you just knew it was all worth it.\u00a0 Remember that chance family gathering where everyone laughed and relaxed?\u00a0 Remember that day you spent time with a co-worker or neighbor, allowing them to tell you of their difficulties?\u00a0 Remember that day you and your wife had breakfast in the back yard, just the two of you?<\/p>\n
Remember that day you spoke to the person no one talks to, the look on their face when you noticed them?\u00a0 Remember that day you took just a few minutes to hug the person whose life was falling apart, letting them know they were not alone? \u00a0<\/p>\n
Remember the day you reconciled with your friend who had wronged you long ago, not even able to remember what caused the rift?\u00a0 Remember the day your child, way past the age of saying I love you, actually\u00a0did so, and in public for everyone to hear? Can you remember all those brief moments that are life at its very\u00a0best?<\/p>\n
What are the blessings we have that we don’t remember because they just are, the blessings the rest of the world wants?\u00a0 What are those things that have become an expected part of our life rather than a gift begging a thank you?\u00a0 What have we had for over 200 years that makes us the envy of the world?\u00a0<\/p>\n
We have had no wars on our soil in 150 years.\u00a0 We do not live with mine fields in our communities.\u00a0 We do not have to fear for our lives each time we leave our home. We have the freedom to go to church or not and, if we do, we can attend whatever church we want.\u00a0 We have the right to pick our political leaders.\u00a0 We are able to speak freely, criticizing our government without being executed.\u00a0 We haven’t, on a daily basis, had to go to bed afraid or wondering.<\/p>\n
What is important in life and what is a nuisance, an inconvenience?\u00a0 Years ago I cared for a woman in her 90s who had a stroke leaving her markedly weak on one side of her body.\u00a0 After spending what I thought was an appropriate\u00a0time with her, I left her room to attend other patients.\u00a0 When I returned she was crying quietly to herself.\u00a0\u00a0Her husband of some 70 years was sitting in the corner not sure what to do. I sat down, asking her what was wrong.\u00a0 She said she was thinking about this stroke and wondered if she wouldn’t rather just die.\u00a0 I was unsure what to say but decided to take a chance.\u00a0 I suggested there was a possibility she was right, but we should first analyze the situation to see if she was right.\u00a0 She looked a bit puzzled.\u00a0 I asked her if I told her this stroke would kill her or destroy her brain.\u00a0 She said no.\u00a0 I asked her if I told her that her husband was going to die or that he was going to divorce her.\u00a0 She said no.\u00a0 I asked her if I told her she was going to lose her home or heat in the furnace or food on the table.\u00a0 She said no.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I suggested to her that I had not given her a problem today, only an inconvenience. She started crying harder and I worried I had offended her.\u00a0 Before I could question her, she looked up through her tears and told me that everything important in her life “was just fine,” and a perfectly working arm and leg simply weren’t that important at her age.<\/p>\n
Do we have perspective in our lives?\u00a0 Do we take time to consider what is important in our lives?\u00a0 When we look back to yesterday what do we see?\u00a0 When we look forward to tomorrow what do we anticipate?\u00a0 My New Year’s wish for us all – perspective.<\/p>\n
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