Nothing New!

When we are disheartened by the news and the situations that we see people experiencing, we may take it to heart, but we must remember that there is ‘nothing new under the sun..’ As a former educator of Early American Literature, many of the stories that I taught had universal themes filled with warnings about human nature. I see the same behaviors today as those portrayed in plays and short stories such The Crucible by Arthur Miller; Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne; The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet and The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving. 

We laughed in the classroom when characters got their comeuppance, but when the stories play out over social media and the news headlines, it is not funny. People are still trying to get what they think they need to be happy but when payday arrives, they are never prepared to cash in the chips. Though none of us can escape life’s twists and turns, some of the debts and bad karma do not have to be as deep. Hopefully, we can climb up out of our pits and if we are lucky, there may even be a helping hand or two.

It is good to read. Sometimes, some of the warning signs are clear and we know that it is time to cross the street with the quickness. And, it is good to listen to our elders. They have been there and done that or at least they have seen a lot over the years. They can help us detect the red flags so we will know when to run from a situation.

I often like to read the comments when hot topics are being discussed on social media. It is quite apparent that some people have been well-raised and some simply don’t have a clue. Period. I wrote down a few snazzy sayings from commenters because I realize that I learn something new everyday. Here are a few:

Karma knows every address.A fool and his money soon depart.Karma can wait for every year, hour and minute to pass.The devil don’t play fair.Karma is a lawnmower.

I am sure there are more, but if more parents taught their children the laws of cause-effect, then we would not hear so many tragic stories each day. They should let their little ones know that slow and steady wins the race  and that it takes time to build a steady, sturdy crop. And, sometimes, less is more. How much does it really take to have a good life?  Because at the end, “You can’t take it with you!”

Lynn M.
September 21, 2024