Johnny who?

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William Blake once wrote… “Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night.”   If it were only that easy.

When I was of younger years… WAY, WAY, younger years…. I love to watch Saturday Morning Cartoons.  One of my favorites, for whatever reason back then, was Johnny Quest.

It appears that title may have imprinted itself on me for life.  I have “Johnny Quest” stamped on my brain, somewhere.  It feels to me, like I am always, always on a quest. Searching. Seeking.  Asking. Not knowing.

Today, I read an article in one of the “weekly” news magazines.  It could have been TIME, I think.  At any rate, the gist of it was… JUST that.  It opened by saying, “If you are in search of your life purpose, you are not alone.”

Heck.  Of course I’m in on that.  I had to continue reading.  It went on to say that we should talk to people older than us.  Specifically, old people who are really good and accomplished, at whatever it is, we WANT to do.

Well Holy Crapomoly.  If I KNEW what it was I WANTED to do… I would just be doing it.  Therein lies the problem for me.  As I mentioned earlier, I just don’t know.  Sure.  I will ask someone older and awesome….. at what it….. is I long to do.  When I figure out….. what it is…. I long to do.

And then I remembered this.  A passage from Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life, written by Max Ehrmann.

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love – for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”

And there it is.