and God made man

Looks as if we were stuck with one another for a while on spaceship Earth. Did not ask for it. Can’t get off it. Might as well live with it.

“It” here involving the virus, with Climate Change and as in the case of my daughter, breast cancer.

I have travelled a lot, stepped on the plane, at times, with one-way ticket.

But lately, the vessels I were on were mostly smaller, for shorter hops, fellow travelers younger, nimbler with larger carry-on. All masked up. All staring harder for facial engagement.

Then I found myself seeing old friends, far away friends, more frequently.

The “animals” feel the crumble first. Of extinction and destruction.

Of erosion and final end.

We know. When it’s time. When the End Game is approaching.

Many of us rushed and exited the Stadium before knowing the final scores to avoid traffic. The same with our existence, when those threats are looming: infrastructure, a heated climate and a cooling economy.

Kids are living in anxiety, though they don’t show it (vaccination? increased pressure to live up to yesterdays curriculum – pre=covid one).

Educators are expected to hold the standard (academic), but politicians are not to constituent pressures.

Kids are more adult-like, while adults kids.

An upside-down society where norms are abnormalized.

More cultic than cultured.

More digging our heads into the sand than lifting up our eyes above the horizon.

Only when we reached the peak can we see the other side, and enjoy the majestic and magnificent view from the top.

If it were only nature (the Garden of Eden), we then wouldn’t last long, emotionally.

We need other people, not for their service alone. But for companionship and contest. They also need us, to bounce off their views, to vent their frustration and to applaud our accomplishment.

Lately, I have attended old-friend reunions.

I have seen people grow, people died. Many never out-grow their given personality.

But most are successful. We were the ones who passed the exams, passed the challenges life threw at us, at our generation.

Who would start high school only to be delayed due to an invasion. Who would end high school due to a collapse of a regime.

Yet we tried and thrived despite. To complete our assignment (class) and our mission (life).

Never look back. It brings nothing but regret and remorse. “Just move on”, they said.

To the next peak and valley. Still ahead. There always are, those unknown.

Do or die, as a friend said.

The force of circumstances. Of nature, of trials and tribulation. Of known risks.

Still moving on. Yesterday and today. Often without a manual. Without pedagogy or philosophy.

Just be, just do, just live. Then add style to pepper it, spice it with arts, music and poetry.

At times, it’s not just passing the school exams but passing the challenges of life that counts.

Life is what it is. To many, it’s a blessing, others curse. To me, it’s a journey, an uphill one. Many times exhausting. Tearful even.

Then the last time I checked, I have become, though not yet overcome. But the man I am today came about with a price.

Price paid for joy, for fun, for lessons and for discovery.

And then God made man….leaving him alone to find out what’s it’s all about.

Those who venture more find out more. Those who venture less, miss out more.

Life is a long and winding road, of self-discovery (as the “self” interacts with other elements to find out what’s it is really made of). Our Maker gave us life, with best intentions and poor instructions. Partially abandoned, we are here to help one another to make it through. Hence, it looks as if we might be stuck with each other for quite a while, with masks on and on an empty stomach. Time to eat, again.