There is a common thread that weaves and winds itself through everything in the universe. This thread connects everything together from the smallest quirk to all of us to dying stars in some far off galaxy. The philosophers call it being. Theologians refer to it as God. The Chinese name it Tao. I find myself everyday thinking about this thread and of late I seem to have lost hold of this thread.
For me the essence of this life is found in the search and journey of life. But I'm tired at the moment and like a lonely traveler I need to find a rest stop for some sleep. I need to get my map out put the compass on it and find north again so I can continue on my way. Over the years I have put the compass on the map many times and have found my direction and kept going but this time it seems different. This time I am needing to carefully study the map, my surroundings, and make doubly sure I have the compass positioned correctly. I am nearing my mid-40s and this time I feel a disconnect like I have never have before. I look backward and see so much I have missed; so many opportunities left behind. And I am not alone in my regrets. So many of us have reached this age and looked back to see what has been missed and so many of us realize we may missed the important things. Where we often go wrong in these times is we rush ahead and buy new cars; find a mistress; immerse ourselves in our work even more; or what ever one does in such times. I can't do and will not do any of these. It is in these times we have to slow down and wait. The thread is still there, it just slipped out of my hand and is waving around in the wind. I'll catch it again.
Change is the one constant in the universe. Change is the one thing we can count on above anything else. Change for the sake of change is not always good, but when taken as a course of life is not a thing to be afraid of. So I guess the art in life is found in how we deal with change. I suppose we can fight against it or we can look backward to comfortable times, or we can tenderly feel our way with it as it is taking place while trying to learn a new way.
But this is the hard part; learning the new way. Learning to take things we have had for years and years and seeing them in new light. Letting what we know transform into, not something new, but something different; changed. And while we are letting these things transform we need to be especially attentive to these changes and and not miss their new nuances; and this is the hard part. Seeing the new changes is easy, learning to appreciate them for what they are isn't so much so. The danger is found in not reacting accordingly and instead of allowing the change to be what it will we can derail it and turn it into something negative or destructive. So like a beautiful piece of art, one I have looked at many times, I am looking once again at this life to see what these changes mean and how I can appreciate them.