Views from the Winter!: Fun Stuff

"A person's life can be compared quite nicely to the four seasons of the year. This blog is from someone in the Winter of Life enjoying the fruits of his "Summer and Fall" and looking forward to assisting the growth and nourishment for the next generation.

My Father and Grandfather passed on their wisdom through their actions and their stories. This is probably be the most impactful way to pass on wisdom. But the written word can have an affect on lives that extends beyond the memories of a couple of generations. This blog is an attempt to reflection on my life experiences and pass these reflections to future generations of my own family as well as any others who might come across these pages.

The Cycles of Life

Spring’s bright glow of expectancy,

Summer’s wonder of growth,

Fall’s joy of the harvest,

Winter’s requirement of rest,

So goes the cycle of land,

One season gives way to the next.

The seasons of our life

shadows the same inescapable design,

The completion of one season’s task

Is necessary for the next,

Until that season arrives when a man,

Like the land,

Must unavoidably rest.

Going Home

Sadness fills my heart.

As I anticipate death,

There are things left not done

Dreams not realized,

Fences not mended

Forgiveness’s not pursued

Feelings not expressed.

Leaving this life of regrets

Never to be fulfilled,

I enter familiar land,

And feel the sense of completeness

For which I have longed.

My heart is overjoyed

contemplating the ancient promise

Of seeing My Father

And hearing His words,

Welcome Home, My Child,

Welcome Home.

From "The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart

This book is Stewart's treatment of the Merlin/Arthur legend. The narrator is Merlin in the Winter of his life. He has this to say about his memories.

"This is true of all old men, that is recent past is misted, while distant scenes of memory are clear and brightly coloured. Even the scenes of my far childhood come back to me now sharp and high-coloured and edged with brightness, like the pattern of a fruit tree against a white wall, or banners in sunlight against a sky of storm."

I love Ms. Stewart's imagery. More importantly, Merlin speaks the truth of those in the Fall/Winter of Life. We see the past clearly and with bright clarity, while the present is often pictured in hues of gray.

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Fun Stuff