Have Peace - Cause It's the Same Old Song

What's stealing your peace these days? There are the obvious things I am sure: unemployment, debt, the economy. I hear tell that America is going down (heard it at my own kitchen table, so I guess it must be true); some folks think it's the end of the world and we are heading into Armageddon or the Rapture or whatever they think happens at the end.

Slow down people. You know when I first came to America there was a lot of talk about the end of the world then too. Lemme give you the problems and the playlist from my youth:

The country was in the middle of a war overseas that no one wanted ("Bring The Boys Home" by Freda Payne,"War" by Edwin Starr, the saddest of all "The Green Green Grass of Home" by Porter Wagoner(?))

Air pollution and species extinction had people worried about "the ecology" ("Mercy, Mercy me (The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye). In 1970 my teacher told me that we would be wearing gas masks by the time I grew up, I believed her.

Soldiers were coming back from Ira.. I mean Vietnam strung out on dope , and a lot of the peeps here at home weren't feeling so good themselves (we lost Janis, Jimi and a host of others - I'm feeling Don Mclean's "American Pie" here)

We were living in New York and the economy wasn't doing too well, I remember those days as "dark days" in the city that never sleeps

Women were burning their bras and speaking out for the right to work outside the home, equal pay etc ("I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy)

Negros/Blacks (we weren't quite sure yet ) had made significant gains during the sixties but there was still a lot of ground to cover ("What's Going On" b y Marvin Gaye)

And I told you all that to say: "Why is every generation conceited enough to believe that the world is going to end on their watch? "

This country has survived a revolution, a civil war, world wars, minor skirmishes overseas, minor skirmishes right here at home, our treatment of Native Americans, slavery, the Great Depression, Prohibition, Brown vs the Board of Education, Selma, November 22 1963, April 4th 1968, June 5th 1968, the Watts riots, the Detroit riots, the Chicago 7, the Manson Family, Watergate, Oklahoma City, 2001... I could, heck I probably should go on because I can't believe the absolute lack of faith that I am seeing all around me.

Let me ask you again, what's stealing your peace? Is it indecision about what to do next, fear of what the future holds, doubts about your ability to safely navigate these treacherous times?

My advice to you

Listen to the still small voice in your head and heart and not the voices on the radio, TV, or across the kitchen table.

Stay away from negative people, negative conversation, and negative thoughts.

If you have to stop watching the news for a while, do it, you'll be shocked at how this improves your outlook.

Most importantly have faith - after all God didn't bring you this far to leave you where you are.

Sometimes I hear a song and for hours, even days the tune plays over and over in my mind. And sometimes เพลงเก่าแก่ comes to mind for no obvious reason. It simply seeps into my consciousness from some long forgotten memory emerging from hidden recesses. Perhaps fully formed or perhaps it will take time to reformulate, being mulled around subconsciously until enough pieces fall into place to form a chorus or perhaps even a verse or two. Playing softly away in the background of my mind, until finally the volume has increased to a point that it knocks squarely on the door of my awareness.

Today, this tune from long ago did just that.

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,

I'll taste your strawberries I'll drink your sweet wine,

A million tomorrows shall all pass away,

'Ere I forget all the joy that is mine today...

I can't be contented with yesterdays glories,

I can't live on promises winter through spring.

Today is my moment and now is my story,

I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing."