Justified Journey 7/28/09

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

William James
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A big loud welcome to you.
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Two of the most powerful virtues we can have are faith and patience. In fact, without those two qualities at work in the stream of life, things would be a fine mess. The opposite side of patience is to be rash and hasty, two activities that have been the designers of some of the most tangled and regretable messes in the world.

One of the traits of youth is the desire to have what we want when we want it. Instant results. And if we don't see them we push on, do things over or do something else. Fads are born of that. The latest gadget is coveted with a passion. There has to be some evidence of what we wish for or pray for or else.

Lust has been described as the desire to have whatever we want on the instant, without waiting. Instant gratification. Carrie Fisher once wrote that instant gratification takes too long.

In my career I found that some directors want the results of their directions instantly. But there is a gestation period for any ideas that are worthwhile. A good argument doesn't convince any thinking person immediately. The more important an event the longer it takes to bear fruit.

The farmer doesn't expect his crops to grow right after he plants them. He has faith that nature is doing the work. You don't want your children to grow up instantly and miss their childhood. But if the right influences and instructions are given them the result will most likely be an adult you want to know.

The worst things that can happen usually take no time to appear. That's just because they are worthless. But the blessings take time. Lately I've seen things blooming in my life that I made some good efforts to see a long time ago. Some of them are things I simply forgot about. But the seeds opened, took root and eventually bore fruit while I wasn't thinking about them.

We are the fruits of life. We are the products, the results of life. We are neither swallowed up in life nor are we plowed back under. That gives us the right, opportunity and obligation to act in ways that make a positive difference in the world, even if the results are not immediate.

DB
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Watch the flowers enjoying the weather.
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SUMMER QUIZ

This is not a contest.



A young man out west just took home 88 million dollars from the lottery.



Whether you play the lottery or not, if you suddenly had 88 million dollars, or the equivalent of whatever your currency is, what are the first three things you would do with it?



You have all summer to answer if you wish.

18 responses so far.



DB