As the years pass by, the more the truth there is to the quite quiet forewarn, There is nothing new under the sun.
We are told the wisest of his time, Solomon, suggested such message.
In my golden years now, I smile to understand this deeper in its truth.
Do we think to have intellectually exceeded our predecessors?
Let us try and duplicate pyramids throughout the world without communication and examine how, if at all, similar they will become, from its cubit weights and size to precise angular positioning.
Who were to take credit for these massive, remarkable creations?
I learned that if you wanted a name to be never spoken of or erased from history, not only could it be ordered by law or decree but generations down, the name would be as if it never did exist.
In this case, how many events were never written or, to go in this route of understanding, how many spoken of, witnessed, and clearly seen, were in time, wiped out from anyone’s knowing?
I laugh at the schematics of life and how people have a way to, I suppose, start over.
Born again and perhaps, why not? Again.
As I grew up and my eyes and my ears heard clearer, I have said before that I come to find the less I wish I knew about this world.
I believe the main reason I filter out many things I don’t want to acknowledge, as my husband has pointed out about me, is that the world gets heavy with the unnecessary.
My oldest son told me this last year that I’ve always had a problem listening.
I agreed with him more than he could understand why.
What he may not recall is the time he half-jokingly mentioned to me, while in college, that he wondered to have ADD, otherwise diagnostically known as Attention Deficit Disorder.
He might have wanted to add that I am not an empathetic mother, either. If he had, I would have agreed with this as well.
I don’t even know if he explained why he believed he had such deficit as I don’t recall waiting for a reasoning or explanation.
Why? I knew him as the child in me before he ever came out to see me as his mother.
Five children naturally in me. Five children naturally out of me. Each, I felt I already knew before they ever had a chance to even know me.
I reminded my son that he had been top of his high school graduating class. His claim held no merit.
The dark thoughts this world whispers into our hearts, minds, and spirits so our bodies cast doubt of its strength and capabilities- interesting.
I just recall telling him that what he had was what many just don’t acknowledge until around college- selective listening.
I know this because to this day, I am convinced I have mastered this to a most acknowledged and yet, still vulnerable skill level.
In my first full year of teaching, I will never forget my colleague, McKenna, cuing me in while standing amongst us all to answer a question following her lead during our staff meeting.
It must have took two calls of my name and a whisper from one beside me before I managed to snap back into awareness only to disappointingly respond, “I don’t know.”
I sat and watched her mouth move but heard nothing of what I’m sure were well rehearsed thoughts for her presentation before the room.
I’m grateful for McKenna’s solid strength in leading that meeting as I most evidently took no part in helping her close it up to a smooth finish.
Although McKenna graciously joked with me about it after, I reflected on my folly before that day ended. I cannot let my colleagues down when counting on me, even if it be impromptu.
Since then, I have gotten pretty good at listening to people the way you speed read an article- looking at the headline title to know what subject matter is being talked about while listening in for cue words.
Almost twenty years later, I’m happy to take self-note that while I still find myself selectively listening, having been asked my thoughts at yet another staff meeting just recently, I was glad to have been able to come up with a relatively sensical and hopefully, noteworthy answer.
The mind is a silly component that can go into auto pilot without warning.
And, yet, along with the heart, body, and spirit, it must be constantly and completely protected at its gate.
Have we not allowed much to enter of the wrong or unnecessary rather than inspect to make sure only the right or fulfilling do?
There are books I should have carefully read to the finish when assigned to me in high school. Two jobs after school and the juggles of academic and leisure activities, not to add, my lack, then, of having much push to complete any book, just won against any will or desire within me.
I recall one time hearing my Humanities teacher asking my classmates if I had fallen asleep. Her very question granted me the very permission I gave myself to fall deeper into sleep.
Absolutely excited to have continued my life into college, I was quite the zealot to start. And, yet, having already one out of to be, my five children, I could only focus on the chapters and pages for me to focus on to stay on path.
Looking back, reading back to, returning back to- none not even consciously an option.
Just like in high school, by my junior and senior year, while I continued to push myself to be involved, I was already one foot out the door moving forward.
I could feel it- going through the motions and yet, already apprehensive about what to do next.
Hence, by my junior and senior year, I began to acknowledge the underlying truth that while I would surely not be the straight-A student I could have been, I would find a way to still finish gloriously my way.
Four years later after high school, I was done with college, certified to start teaching, at least one school waiting to take me in had I been ready.
I had already two children by the time I walked down the aisle of my university graduation. I wasn’t ready nor did I have the desire to put other children before my very own.
And, yet, I was ready to take charge, wanting my children to be in every way, ready for the world.
I wanted them to never feel or act as if they had never been where they were going or found themselves to be in.
I felt I had listened enough, experienced enough, learned enough of the world to which I could just tell my children what steps to take and the paths to follow and good will be what would await every time.
What did I come to find?
You cannot convince a growing child anything.
Cutting the chit chat, I just wanted to direct my children along with the leadership and help of my husband, thinking with both of us, all would take place in greatest victory.
What I had not planned for is that part of the foretell that nothing is new under the sun, including how people react to faith and direction.
When things look uncertain, you will see the trust fade and the grass greener on (any) other sides but where one stands.
You think, Just listen to me and follow. But as you move forth, storms come your way and your leadership looks utterly questionable.
Those you lead start to see other shelter, even if temporary, to look more enticing than to stand in any further moment with you.
The divide occurs.
All of a sudden, one unit disperses into various directions.
All no longer speak the same way or even know each other anymore. And, yet, pyramids have surfaced everywhere.
I think, those that have been built out and wide, could they at one time together have become the Burj Khalifa or the eventual Burj Binghatti?
Have we decided to break away from one another just so we can compete as to see who stands tallest of all?
What messages do the pyramids speak of from atop their pinnacles?
Will we eventually come to find that building before our time was not for competition by any means or were they and so much more?
After all, how would we have known separate pyramids built similarly throughout the world?
The tallest building in the world? Was there not one taken down that almost touched the heavens?
Some things can only be spoken of. Yes?
Selective listening, seeing, and doing..
What of which is new? 🆕
