July 27, 2013

Do not live like there is no tomorrow, live for tomorrow.

"Live like there is no tomorrow."  Or, "Live like you are dying" - They are popular adages, quoted in movies and popular music, but there can be a problem with these notions if they are not done wisely.  If we live like there is no tomorrow, it can free us to do some great things... or some really dumb things.

In contrast, people who live like they want to see 100, or at least a vigorous 85, (at which age they sill plan to be enjoying life to the full), they plan ahead. They eat well, they save their money, and they don't streak for the hell of it.

You always hear the stories about people who took great risk and reaped great rewards, but people rarely write books about taking great risks, losing everything, and not being free to do anything, because they are in debt up to their eye balls, smashed up their body in an accident, caught a disease, or have lost a relationship that will never recover. Can God heal some of these things? Yes. Does he always? No. 


It's cool to say "I have no regrets." But lets be honest, most of us have regrets. Some consequences are long lasting.

In other words, there is a difference between wisely risking everything, and foolishly risking everything. So don't live like there is no tomorrow, live FOR tomorrow, by making wise, sometimes boring, choices today. THEN, if a level of counter-intuitive wisdom (maybe the Holy Spirit) says give it all up for a very good reason, then ok, go for it. But we should not simply live carefree for the hell of it.  Take responsibility for your future.  Make life happen, don't let life happen.

July 07, 2013

On Independence Day

June 7, '76
in Independence Hall.
Richard Henry Lee

made the audacious
call: "Resolved, [we] ought to be,
free and independent States.”

“It is rebellion”
The King of England said
“Take all the ships.”

Ties were severed
one by one, as war began
to brew. Common Sense

is what they called, the
fall from grace, of George and his
belligerent states.

But politics takes
time, and some had thoughts of peace.
Recess Congress called.

While five began to write.
Adams, Sherman, Franklin,
Livingston, each played

a role, but Thomas
dipped the quill, and it is this
that he began to write:

“When in the course of
human events, it becomes
necessary...”

to break the bonds that tie.

Then that immortal
line, “All men are created  equal.”
With Rights, and  Life and Liberty

And the pursuit of happiness.