And so it is that we bring yet another year to a close – 2012 was, for the most – not much different from the last. There were moments of high-joy and satisfaction, and of course as always found in life, moments of disappointment and deep-sadness. Father Time Present, just before turning and fading into the past, sat on the edge of time and whispered – “This was to be my year; my father (Time Past) told me I would see great change in human life. I am tired, worn and weary – I leave this year with nothing changed, nothing new, and a deep regret that I could not change hate to love, ignorance to education, and war to peace. Forgive me Father – please forgive me.”
Would it not be wonderful to end this year on a positive and up-lifting note? Alas, Father Time’s wife History will not allow what is truth to be hidden or camouflaged nor should we. Truth be told – there were many more moments of human disaster than moments of human peace. War rages on, most often in the name of religion – within the dark and poverty-stricken villages of this world 20,000 children die each day unnoticed, and the pursuit of wealth far, far outreaches the pursuit of peace. As our new child-like Father Time Future, who sits on the edge of a new-year in a diaper and fancy New Year’s cap, waves and yells with joy – “Happy New Year”, humanity sits on the edge of yet another year’s dawn with rays of hope, faith and love rising on the edge of the next day just beyond our reach.
It doesn’t take long to quickly understand what seems important to life as portrayed by the “news and entertainment media” as the “best” of 2012: the “best car,” the deepest secrets of Hollywood “stars,” sports heroes and Super Bowls, royalty and “families of wealth,” the arrogance and insignificant impact of negative politics and religious wars, the “best” top-ten names for dogs, Honey Boo-Boo, and the “fear” of not being able to purchase semi-automatic military weapons of destruction for “personal use.” And Yoda, scratching his head whispers – “Important to life are these?”
It really doesn’t take a Harvard PhD in neurological-surgery to understand what rests most important on the road ahead of us (the principles of life) – here are but a few: resolution to disease, an end to starvation, responsible birth control, the incorporation of world-peace and human-unity, the enormous value of children, the need to remove illiteracy and spread the thirst for education. And Yoda, with a deep sigh whispers – “Ah, important to life are these.”
There is one obvious solution to adopting the “principles of life” – it’ll take an enthusiastic world community, intelligent cooperation between nations, the separation of religions and states, the love of others and a diminished importance of self, and perhaps the hardest of all – knowing the difference between what we “want” and what we “need.” I will dedicate my life this year first to my wife Chris, next to my children and grandchildren and then to each life I touch. Strive each day to start with love, continue throughout the day with concern and just before drifting off to sleep … whisper these words – “I love you.” That “is” life. Happy New Year to all and to all a good night!
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