Because of the holidays I've had more free time lately and sometimes find myself clicking channels on the TV. I watched some show about dinosaurs and was wondering why He created dinosaurs and wooly mammoths. (Yeah, my mind can go into strange places, especially when I have free time....) I mean, they were huge, they just kept eating everything, and it kinda seemed like a waste of resources. And then for some reason, I thought about people learning to dance. I know, they don't seem to be related, but stay with me ....I just finished teaching a beginners swing class and one of the classic mistakes beginners make is taking huge steps. Men especially cover big areas of floor trying to do those triple steps! After they get more used to the dance, they calm down, tire themselves out and the huge triples disappear, but that only happens over time and with practice. So that got me thinking........maybe He was new at this creation stuff, maybe He was just putting in practice, or like an artist, trying out a new brush to see what it would do. God had an empty canvas and decided to go big and bold? Or needed more practice in brush control to be able to add the fine details? Or was it all part of the original Plan? Got a lot of world here, let's fill it up quickly? Or maybe He was just approaching it all with a sense of humor, and knew that some day little kids would be fascinated by dinosaurs and wooly mammoths, and the thought of all those paleontologists digging in the dirt with little brushes seemed like a real knee-slapper? Told you my mind goes into strange places....... I kinda like the "need practice" or "new brush" theories though....I find it reassuring that all things get better with time and practice, even Creation. Think of the fun He must have had working on dinosaurs before He spent all that time with roses and tulips, and all creatures great and small!! That's a lovely thought, isn't it?
I'm trying to get better with time and practice too. I usually try to set a goal for myself as far as my classes go, try to focus on some skill my students need to learn or improve. But this year, I'm only going to focus on me---or more accurately, on harnessing the energies of positive thinking. I almost have a handle on this ---- oh yes! I have read many a self-help book through the years, and they have all finally started to gel into a life lesson for me. I am going to steep myself in these self-help theories, from Barbara Sher to Dr Wayne Dyer to the Secret to Feng Shui........I am going to re-visit these gurus, because it's there within my reach --- I can almost grab it. It's all about the flow of energy within us, around us and through us. It's about faith too -- not just hoping for the Good, but having such strong faith you expect it and discount all doubt. It's like that song Joyful Joyful --- "melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away". I want to capture that power of the positive; I want my clouds to melt away.
And here's another strange place my mind has wandered into ---- why can't we all do that? This past year or two have been tough on some people. People have lost jobs and homes and family and friends. You may be dealing with helping your children or helping your parents, or trying to cope with mounting bills, or funds that have lost value. I heard there is a group of scientists or statisticians that pay attention to things posted on the internet and make predictions based on the "global consciousness". There is that old saying "you are what you eat", but maybe it is more apt to say we live what we think. Suppose we confound that group of predicters by only thinking positive thoughts, supposing we all embrace the Pollyanna theory? My kids loved that movie, so did I, because there is truly something uplifting about looking for the sunny side and believing in it. Seems like I remember a line from that movie (was it a quote from Lincoln?)...."if you look for the bad in people you shall surely find it". But the opposite is true too; Norman Vincent Peale called his book "The Power of Positive Thinking"--- not the benefits or the good part or the comfort or maybe this will help ---- he called it the Power. Years later Dr Dyer called his book "The Power of Intention". Each of us has the ability to use that power in our own individual lives. But if we all use it, now we're talking power!
I know a lot of old songs and of course, since it's the New Year lots of you have been humming Auld Lang Syne. But there's another song that's connected to New Year, so instead let's all hum or sing "Happy Days Are Here Again!" There's another old song, can't remember most of the words, but these come back to me....."if everyone lit just one little candle what a bright world this would be". Yeah......that's a lovely thought too......and I believe with all my heart that it's possible.
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