What do we want???

I chanced upon this video tonight when I visited my friend Hayley.  I had already decided to write a journal entry and knew immediately that this was the source of my motivation.

I then asked my son Seb, “How does this make you feel?”.  Media stimulates as does nature and men and flora and fauna.  How does this Charlie Chaplin oratory, taken from its context and superimposed with modern images stimulate feelings within us?  Well, I thought I would like to share some of mine.

I feel freedom.

It is like having a moment of clarity after being in a fog for quite a long cold time.  I get very annoyed that some drivers travel so close behind me, and today I thought I am going to suspend that anger and replace it with acceptance. On the way home then I had a smile on my face because when I realise that the annoyance I have for the driver is hurting only me and I can choose to be happy when someone is tailing me. I am free.  I am free to be free of anger.  I am free to be happy.

I feel hope.

There was a time in my life, quite recently, that I felt hopeless.  I could see no viable solution to my predicament.  There was no easy way out and the hard way out was beyond my ability.  Then from the love of another human being, a chain of marvellous and wondrous events conspired to avail a solution unto me.  One after another, people got in the way of my demise and slowly hope was a real ingredient in my daily recipe.  Hope, freedom and joy.  This love – this conspiracy – continues today.  I don’t think that it was ever NOT there.  My mind is the thing that has changed.

I feel inspiration and disappointment.

In my mind I have been a magnificent example of God’s creative genius and at once a wretched failure or an impotent organ on a cancerous body.  Both minds are perceptions and both are distorted images.  The inspiration in Charlie’s speech is in the glorious possibility of a better way.  The hope of a better way now that the fog of self-deception has lifted rises to inspiration to spread the word.  There is joy in his proclamation “Soldiers unite!”.  For haven’t we all felt the trudgery of a soldiers march and have felt the relief of pulling off shoes from swollen feet.  Well, I haven’t really – but my Dad did.  Just as he must have been inspired by his son’s obvious great potential. he must surely been disappointed at the lack of control he had over the ripening of that potential.  Oh, how we expect things to be a certain way.  When we see the amazing results from generosity of spirit that conquers natural disasters and triumphs over totalitarian juntas it is a natural jump to think that anything can be overcome and “all will be alright!”  It’s disappointing then to hear of rising paedophilia and plummeting living standards in the ‘Home of the free’.

Today, I had a friend whose frittata came out too dry.  I have another friend whose long-term confidant and friend is very sick and dying, and my feeble advice to both is the same.  Go slower and pray more.

Love always

Mike
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