I used to think life was long, but know I know it is short
I used to think I might change the world, but now I hope the world doesn’t change me
I used to think that everything was in the plan, but now I try to fly with less of one
I used to think that the outside was the measure of success, but now I know the outside illusion
I used to think that rational mind could take us anywhere, but now I know its poverty absent spirit
I used to think that time doing nothing was wasteful, but now I know that doing nothing accepts our creaturehood
I used to think that love was a choice, but now I know that it is a surging sea with its own rules
I used to think we could organize peace, but now I know that peace is a gift received and shared
I used to divide life into material and spiritual, but now I know that spiritual is in the material
I used to think it was my responsibility to turn others to God, but now I know the harder path of loving them
I used to think that criticism by others was about me, but now I know that it is always and only about them
I used to think that loving people meant rescuing them, but now I know that loving them is helping them to be free of all rescuing
I used to think that this slice of civilization is somehow special, but now I know it simply takes its place in the long sludge of history
I used to think that prayer was a sending a message from one to another, and now I know it is simply being with the other
I used to think that people were getting better every day, but now I know that the darkness of human nature continues to persist
I used to think that we should only appeal to the highest motives of people, but now I know we are moved by many motives
I used to think that the church was holy by virtue of its own nature, but now I know it is holy only by virtue of what it points to
I used to think that we could trust individual virtue to protect us from social sin, but now I know that we must protect ourselves from ourselves when it comes to greed and power
I used to trust explanations from those in power, but now I know them all to be self-serving, an attempt to create an illusion
I used to think that helping people meant providing for them what they did not have, but now I know that provision comes from God and I may help remove obstacles to its flow to all people
I used to think that creativity was employing a technical skill set, but now I know that it arises as an inner vision that employs a skill set
I used to think I could make a list and capture all important things on it, but now I know that any list, especially mine, is incomplete, filled and completed only by a communion of saints, living and dead
Wow! Tim, that was a powerful piece of writing. Thanks for your thoughts and spirit.
Wonderful! I especially like this truth: “I used to think it was my responsibility to turn others to God, but now I know the harder path of loving them.” I used to think it was my responsibility to [change others] but now I know the harder path of loving them and so I work at living that truth every day.
“I used to think that criticism by others was about me, but now I know that it is always and only about them”
This is easy to see from a distance but harder when it is close.
Hmmm….guess I’m going to have to print all of those truisms. There is way too much for me to ponder at one time. I’m going to enjoy them a few at a time.