Just Because I’m Being Paranoid, Doesn’t Mean Everyone Isn’t Out to Get Me, and Other Summer Truths.

by Rob Krabbe, © 2012

I usually watch the morning news with my standard wassail bowl of coffee, and a hopeful spirit.  Today, the weather person’s contribution, of course, comes up as part of the telecast and yet is usually not so entangled with the regular news segment, but we are currently doomed to the globe lighting on fire any minute.  The Zombie Apocalypse is gaining ground on the “heartbeaters;” our children are all having sex and doing some new designer drug, and then the fine art and science of politics has become yesterday’s “used car sales,” where no matter what we hear from what party about what issue…well, it’s all a load of crap, and we’re generally just choosing between who makes the lie more palatable, or makes us feel better about ourselves after we set aside our disbelief knowingly.

In this light, I turned the news off before the opening music for Good Morning America, and took my coffee and my “almost attitude,” to the front porch for some reality checking come to Jesus moment.  I pray and meditate for a bit, and ended up really just listening to the world around me.  I sat there enjoying my coffee, in my rocking chair, far away from the world it seemed, at least the human world.  The non-human world, was alive and already doing it’s day.  I was listening to the morning happen, and I realized something I have realized far too many times and set aside.  The earth and all the creation’s non-human inhabitants, were really just ignoring our foolishness.  Even in areas where we have made the living more difficult with our “progress.”  A wonderful cool breeze, brushed over my skin lightly, cooling both my temperament and my body, preparing me for the wonderful life-giving warmth of the sun that would come; the fragrance of life and death, trees, flowers, things being born, withering, dying and being born again, filled my nostrils; hungry animals were eating smaller ones; the Kutzu vine was at work trying to drag my “groomed” yard back into the wilderness it is naturally.  There was beauty in both life and death all around me.  Yet none of it, none of the animals, none of the plants, trees, elements, none of it seemed the slightest bit concerned with the plans and schemes of mankind, or whether my day was busy or not.  Then I remember a lyric from Bob Dylon, a song called “When He Returns, from the album “Slow Train Coming” released in 1979:

Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask

He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask

How long can you falsify and deny what is real?

How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal?

Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned

He’s got plans of His own to set up His throne

When He returns

-Bob Dylan © 1979

And then once again, life seems set right by a Dylan song.  I know from interviews with him he hates being called the poet of a generation, but he has a simple wisdom.  Simplicity is the new complexity.

So today, with my wonderful cup of Dark Roast by Ugly Mug Coffee, and the momentarily cool breeze ahead of the 90 degree humidity coming today, the “air that you wear,” I reinforce in my heart and soul the reality that so much of what drives us, inspires decisions from us, and taints our every day lives, so much of what we live for, and sadly die for, keeps us awake at night, so much of what we fight about, and get angry about, or strive for, well so much of it really doesn’t matter so much, in light of eternity, and the greater blessings of this earth.  I adjust my head once again for a new simplicity, and text my daughter and invite them to bring my Grand child and come by to Sunday dinner.

I decide once again to try to live for what matters, and to keep a growing list of all that really doesn’t so much.