Thursday, March 17, 2011

Lose to Gain

It's hard to think of something profound to write about. With all that is going on in Japan right now. life seems a bit trivial here as spring break winds down. Complaints about "too much to do, too little time", such as cleaning the messy home office, putting away laundry, cleaning the car, or washing the dogs, when thousands upon thousands don't even have those things in their possession any more. What do you do when the very foundations of your being are literally shaken to the core and things washed right out of your hands?

I've been attempting to finish a book that I borrowed from my school's library in October and have finally plowed through most of it. One character, a rich, young king, realizes that "you only loses things that you cling to." In giving up something that he once thought was precious to him for the benefit of another, he experiences freedom and both he and the other person reap the benefits of his release.

I've been very fortunate to have received many things recently, including a new laptop, but I've been reminded again that what really should matter are things that I already have: a loving family and an abundance of relationships and friendships.