But...if my life was perfect....
I would not:
Be sensitive
Be compassionate
Be understanding of other people--of the world around me
Be flexible in how I approach and accomplish physical tasks
Be flexible in how I view the diversity of people, beliefs, and cultures
Be awe-struck by beauty around me
Be wonder-filled about life within and around me--life distant from me
Be appreciative of basic human capacities--thinking, and walking, to name a few
Be attentive to how words are used--how I use words
Be attentive to how my words and actions affect other people I know and do not know
Be blessed with a sense of humor
Be determined to live my life fully
Be passionate about pursuing my interests
Be interested in learning every day--each moment--of my life
Be willing to apologize when I had offended someone else, or stolen someone's dignity
Be dedicated to fulfilling my human potential, and encouraging others to do so
Be open to the notion that this list is not complete
Be baptized...be willing to seek an ongoing living of baptism
If My Life Were Perfect, I Would Not Be Human.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
If My Life Was Perfect...
I have struggled to advise a family member as to how to fulfill their unique human potential. Knowing the position of respect bestowed on me has given me a sense of responsibility. Only following the Boston Marathon Bombings have I been given an inkling as to how to fulfill my responsibility.
My family member lacks the sense of how to fulfill his adult responsibilities--fulfill his human potential. Ascribing responsibilities on other intimates how they have failed their responsibiltiies to my family member has clouded his willingness to look at his own human potential--the gift he has been given by God--by his belief in God. I know that belief exists in him. I do not know the form of belief.
My belief--the form of my belief--calls me to offer something.
From an unlikely source--the Boston Marathon Bombings suspect--I understand one way--one something--I may offer.
Optimist--idealist--that I am, recent years have taught me, "life is not perfect." Self-pity is not the sum of that equation in my life. So where does that leave me--how does that affect my offering to my family member.
A List. An Itemized--A Humbling List.
If My Life Was Perfect...
I Would Not:
Need to wear my ankle foot orthotic--my brace on my right leg
Need to walk long distances with a cane
Need to use a wheelchair
Need to take medication to control my intentional tremors
Need to take anticonvulsants to control my seizures
Need to grab the right handrail with my left hand when walking up or down a flight of stairs
I Would Not Fear:
Outstretching my left hand--lose the use of my left and right hand by:
Opening doorknobs
Carrying heavy bags of groceries
Carrying heavy loads of laundry
My capacity to stand up from the ground
People Would:
Think my handwriting was beautiful
My family member lacks the sense of how to fulfill his adult responsibilities--fulfill his human potential. Ascribing responsibilities on other intimates how they have failed their responsibiltiies to my family member has clouded his willingness to look at his own human potential--the gift he has been given by God--by his belief in God. I know that belief exists in him. I do not know the form of belief.
My belief--the form of my belief--calls me to offer something.
From an unlikely source--the Boston Marathon Bombings suspect--I understand one way--one something--I may offer.
Optimist--idealist--that I am, recent years have taught me, "life is not perfect." Self-pity is not the sum of that equation in my life. So where does that leave me--how does that affect my offering to my family member.
A List. An Itemized--A Humbling List.
If My Life Was Perfect...
I Would Not:
Need to wear my ankle foot orthotic--my brace on my right leg
Need to walk long distances with a cane
Need to use a wheelchair
Need to take medication to control my intentional tremors
Need to take anticonvulsants to control my seizures
Need to grab the right handrail with my left hand when walking up or down a flight of stairs
I Would Not Fear:
Outstretching my left hand--lose the use of my left and right hand by:
Opening doorknobs
Carrying heavy bags of groceries
Carrying heavy loads of laundry
My capacity to stand up from the ground
People Would:
Think my handwriting was beautiful
Intentional Failings. Human Potential.
Be it Mom's "focus on the positive, and ignore on the negative" mantra, strengthened by my necessary modification of that mantra, "focus on the positive and learn from the negative," not since my junior high school cry, "Mom, don't you know I can't do that!" have I allowed myself to itemize "the negative" and use that low "bank [of capabilities] balance" deter me from investing my life in what I could do. In fact, many times, truth be told, use of "the negative" as a justification for not acting or doing a given task leads me to cry out in opposition.
The Boston Marathon Bombings suspect has led me to revisit my mantra, "Focus on the positive and learn from the negative."
We have not heard from the the Boston Marathon bombings suspect regarding his motivations and intent. I have not addressed--I cannot--my questions, or feelings with him. Only in prayers seeking understanding have I done so.
I believe he might describe some failing in his upbringing that led him to his actions. Failings in his perceptions of given aspects of his upbringing. Economic situation. Family dynamic. Social interactions in the community. Experiences and influences of formative years--of current worldview, have overridden any belief in his power to learn from his experiences and influences, and dedicate himself to others not experiencing the same situation.
Two caveats. First, the actions--the intents--of the individuals or groups credited with causing the negative experiences and influences must be separated from the individuals or groups credited so credited.
Second, condemning other human beings for any action overlooks a fundamental reality. We are all human beings created with enduring frailty. As hard as we may try, we cannot escape the fact we fail our potential.
Our enduring human frailty is not an excuse, or a justification for acting with intentional failing--from intentional failings. Intentional failings that rise to the threshold of criminality must be treated as such.
We must strive to achieve to our human potential--forever and in all ways. Failing to do so is the ultimate intentional failing we may commit with our lives.
The Boston Marathon Bombings suspect has led me to revisit my mantra, "Focus on the positive and learn from the negative."
We have not heard from the the Boston Marathon bombings suspect regarding his motivations and intent. I have not addressed--I cannot--my questions, or feelings with him. Only in prayers seeking understanding have I done so.
I believe he might describe some failing in his upbringing that led him to his actions. Failings in his perceptions of given aspects of his upbringing. Economic situation. Family dynamic. Social interactions in the community. Experiences and influences of formative years--of current worldview, have overridden any belief in his power to learn from his experiences and influences, and dedicate himself to others not experiencing the same situation.
Two caveats. First, the actions--the intents--of the individuals or groups credited with causing the negative experiences and influences must be separated from the individuals or groups credited so credited.
Second, condemning other human beings for any action overlooks a fundamental reality. We are all human beings created with enduring frailty. As hard as we may try, we cannot escape the fact we fail our potential.
Our enduring human frailty is not an excuse, or a justification for acting with intentional failing--from intentional failings. Intentional failings that rise to the threshold of criminality must be treated as such.
We must strive to achieve to our human potential--forever and in all ways. Failing to do so is the ultimate intentional failing we may commit with our lives.
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