Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Time, the unstoppable river that leaves All Things Changed

So at the beginning of the New Year and the end of the Old Year we find ourselves between time. There's a moment of inertia as the old year seeks to hold onto us with it lasts grasp, reminding us of it's great times and memories, as if to entice you to stay, all the while the new year beckons to you with adventure and second chances. We drift momentarily without time, wanting to keep our precious memories but in one moment wanting also to make new ones!

Then there's us... placing ourselves out of time by earnestly desiring to forget the pain, forget the past and to make a new start, fresh and devoid of the burden we carry. We are so good at protecting our sanity that we take the pain, the bad memories and like a clever centerfold artist, touch them up. Hiding blemishes, covering over the unsightly, even going as far as gratuitously changing facts to make the past more palatable.

Over time we warp parts of our past in our minds to such an extent that that hardly resemble anything that we were part of. We do it little by little, leaving enough truth to keep it believable and surrounding our thoughts with "supporting" facts. Thus creating our "perfect" past to match our "perfect" life! To reiterate, this we do to protect our sanity, and for the most part it's harmless and necessary. However, too much of anything corrupts and more so when the we start to live in the past we've "touched up".

Time is unstoppable and leaves everything changed!

"A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it." - Winston Churchill

Remember everything as it really was, this will often make the pain greater but it will also make the joy sweeter!

When we sang the Old Year out and the New Year in with the traditional "Auld Lang Syne", it brought these thoughts closer to mind. This past 2007, we have loved, we have lost, we have failed, we have triumphed and we have survived!

Auld Lang Syne - Robert Burns
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

May 2008 be a Blessed and happy year for us all!

1 comment:

Skitter said...

Well stated, the thing about 'dressing mutton as lamb' regarding our memories of the past. I am one of those enclined to cling to the past (good and bad)Wonder if it runs in families....?
A Wake-up call comes from Ecclesiastes7:10
Do not say "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Lets grab hold of a promise for 2008 from Isaiah 43: 18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.See, I am doing a new thing !.....

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