PPS: Rule To Live By #26
26. Remember the Good. Respect Diversity. Understand Change. All of these run together. We all may seek consistency and permanence of status, friendships, marriage, values, priorities, goals, accomplishments, etc--------BUT, given the nature of the evolutionary process none of this can always be reality. Today will always be the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Nothing is ever static NOR guaranteed. God IS NOT micromanaging His created evolutionary process. He is not waiting on your prayers for Him to do the right thing or help you or anyone else out. If God ever interferes is an interesting question but beyond the limits of human perception. The best of relationships are never etched in stone. Good relationships that end are not failed relationships. A fawn and it's mother could not present a more perfect relationship, but it will have a perfectly normal and natural ending. Human relationships are far less predictable. Some parent/child relationships hardly change at all---ever. Some marriages really do last---till death do they part. Some friendships really do last---a lifetime. Other parent/child relationships evolve in a much more independent manner. Many marriages are not compatible till any death do they part. Most friendships are fleeting and change over time for many valid reasons. One can react to all this endless change with anger, resentment, disappointment, and spend energy on an endless blame game. OR, one can accept the nature of the evolutionary process and our own role in the process and be thankful for the 'good' times, the many valuable 'lessons' learned from so many, the many kindnesses bestowed on us by so many, and appreciate the role diversity plays in the process of evolution.
With just about everything in a state of constant flux in the evolutionary process, and indeed in our own lives, you simply learn in your formative years, compete and try to be productive in your productive years, and observe in your terminational years. Over time our roles change, our values change, our priorities change, our interests change, and one either rolls with the punches or frets and fusses away at everybody and everything---mumblegrumbling like right wing fanatics of varied patriotic ilk. It is amazing how many people spend so much time in a dither about how others dress, or worship, or sexual lives, or patriotic drivel, accumulation of wealth, egotistical 'family values', perceived manifest destinies, and the list goes on. The nice thing about healthy terminational years is that at last one has the opportunity to relax, care less about winning, or controlling, or out maneuvering, or judging, or teaching others a lesson, or making things go a certain way---and learn to go gently down the steam.
