"Glory days, they'll pass you by, glory days, and the wink of a young girl's eye, glory days, glory days, glory days"
Springsteen
Dreamed last night that I was back in high school, and we are taking some kind of test, and we figured out that one question was unanserable the way it was presented to us. Then I came upon my best friend, or should I say one of my two friends, from high school, and he said, "I was wondering when you were going to approach me."
Well, I am going to my 50th reunion next month, and lots of feelings are surfacing about those years and things that are unfolding presently in my life and in the world.
In a sense, time doesn't matter, I am still the same person, even after many years, and so are you. On the other hand, time is of crucial importance, as I approach the end of my sixth decade. We have changed and grown, hopefully, into people with broadened perspectives and some measure of wisdom. But some have clearly not grown. Some are lost in their own confusion. Some seem to have a need to denigrate, to ridicule those whom they consider to be weaker or less than.
Some are concerned only with material things, with getting ahead. Some don't care about the effect of their actions upon others. They seem to lack a conscience.
Back to the dream, we are given many tests in life with questions that arise that are unanserable. I mean crucial questions, like the ultimate meaning of our existence on this planet. If there is a meaning. Like what we are meant to do with our remaining years. Like why were we brought in contact with the people we were brought in contact with over the years.
One thing that I believe is that the cosmos constitutes a whole, and that all sentient beings are connected somehow. Another thing I believe is that we are capable of transcending selfishness.
A hard truth, but a truth: there is no way to know for sure about the existence of an afterlife. Another hard truth: we have no way to know for sure about the ultimate fate of the life that exists on this planet.
But we are here now. We are capable of reaching out to others, and reaching deep inside. We are capable of radical honesty or radical equivocation. We are capable of taking a risk for a greater good or playing it safe, even if someone is going to be hurt by our inaction.
We are capable of standing for justice, or not.
Amazing that this thought process unfolded as a result of a vague dream, the key elements of which I had to tease out upon awakening. When we do remember a dream, it is worthwhile to take some time to delve into it. I believe it is a message to us from the deeper self...important to remember and share with others.
Perhaps the dream world constitutes an alternate universe...
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Comments
The right thing, I'm finding, is never easy in this world. Short-term difficulty, though, results in long-term peace. Maybe not peace in terms of outer harmony with the world at large, but inner peace in knowing you're standing up for your truth. Patrick - great post. I fully believe dreams are our deep-in-the-soul problem solvers. We just have to "tease out" those answers. For the answers are always within. Rock on, my friend. Rated with admiration.
I hope you have fun at your reunion.
I like to read your pieces, in part, because they are honest, and always, they show you for what you are--a good man. Indeed, I read your pieces in the Asheville newspaper, and can tell other folks here, by way of experience, it's very difficult to tell a story in 400 words, as you do so well. But, my friend, I must tell you that you are not coming to the end of your 6th decade, but your 7th. Do the arithmetic. I'm your age, and know this, upsetting as it is!