It's Over, and It's Just Begun

When you think about it, much of the world ... and our existence in the world ... operates on a “it’s over, and it’s just begun” mantra. It's a rotational thing: The sun rises, the sun sets; the seasons come, the season go; we sleep, we wake; the Cubbies win, the Cubbies lose; the Cubbies lose; The Cubbies lose; The Cubbies win. (You get the picture).

On the other hand, there's lots of things that that we have to do and/or deal with that has a beginning, and an end - and that's that. No more. For example, jobs start, and they can end completely. Companies start, and they can end completely. Relationships start, and yes, they can end/end. Most profoundly of all: life begins and life ends, at least the physical form as we know it.

As the ubiquitous sound-bite goes … “It is what it is.”

But wait. Before you think I’m being fatalistic or cavalier, I want you to know that I really do appreciate the fact that some beginnings, and endings, are much more difficult than others, requiring special appreciation and mindfulness. The more we value (in context), that things begin and end, the more we need to enjoy the here and now. If we can successfully harness what we learn through life’s beginnings, endings, and in-betweens … the better we can navigate and manage the new beginnings, endings, and in-betweens. Does that make sense?

(By the way, fate and destiny have nothing to do with anything. They’re an excuse disguised as rational. After all, Darth Vader was wrong: it wasn’t Luke’s destiny to go to the dark side. Was it? Our destiny is what we make of it).

That said, I do believe that God has a hand in things; but He expects us to show up, and do the work. And do it as best we can. And thankfully, as George Eliot said, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” (Cool way to look at it, no?) Really, unless we just want to give up and disappoint ourselves, and those who need and love us every time something comes to an end; or unless we’re afraid, for whatever reason, to take on new beginnings and blame it on fate or destiny —we have to understand what’s at stake. We have to discern what we have or have not, and appreciate what we could win or lose, depending on our choices.
Then we need to do what we need to do; get ready, and go.

In other words, get to work.

With every new challenge, we should be better, stronger, and wiser; appreciating that work takes work, and hard work takes hard work. As an added bonus, the reward for our hard work and determination will help us know so much more in many different ways: intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The experience we earn, is never insignificant. It’s experience.

Experience is Good.