This week’s image is both literally, and figuratively, of Paradise. The familiar silhouette of Mount Rainier in the background helps to locate this paradise to be here on earth. I would like to take full credit for this photo. Although I pushed the shutter, it was my wife who suggested that I take the photo closer to ground level. At 6’7” tall, I spend much of my time with my head in the clouds. My wife always has a way of seeing things from a different perspective for which I am eternally grateful.
This may seem like a peculiar picture for Thanksgiving Day. I probably should be posting an image of the glorious late autumn scenery we enjoy here in southeastern Pennsylvania. However, I find this one quite appropriate for this day that we give thanks for all that we have been given.
Having recently turned 55, I have been anxious to check off some of the items remaining on my bucket list. Not that I am concerned how much time I have remaining, it is just a long list. Like so many, I am temporarily grounded until the fog of COVID lifts so that we can once again take to the skies. It is very frustrating not to be able to do what I want. Time is a terrible thing to waste.
It always seems easy to focus on the things you want and can’t have. The media bombards us with both subliminal, as well as blatant, messages of the things that someone else deems are essential to our happiness. You couldn’t possibly have a joyous Christmas without a brand new Lexus sitting in your driveway. When we can’t have these things, we can be overcome with feelings of emptiness. The isolation and economic hardships of COVID seems to be amplifying these feelings.
I am reminded today of Phil Collin’s song from the 90’s “Another Day in Paradise”. Phil released this song at a time when the popular music artists were less focused on hedonistic delights and more on the social issues of the day. During this all too brief period we were given songs like “We Are the World”, “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, “The Way it Is” and “The End of the Innocence”. These songs reminded us just how fortunate we are.
On this day when we take a fleeting break from our relentless routine of chasing the American Dream, let’s remind ourselves of what we have and those that have touched our lives. As the Rockettes kick their heals this morning in front of Macy’s to formally kickoff the season of spending, let us be mindful that we can create more joy by reaching out to those in need than by putting oversized red bows in our driveway.
