March 01-A, 2023

**Rock Castle Creek Spring 03/31/2012 Oil Paint Rendered –Tuggle Gap, Virginia**

We cannot hope to do better than
living truthfully,
bringing forth who we are
and what we have been given
by virtue of our DNA
to develop and serve
in expressing,
exhibiting,
serving,
the things we love
and love to do.

What are we doing when 
we are having the best time of our life?
What do we just do naturally,
without being told to do it?
How do we like to spend our time?

When we are living with integrity 
(Not trying to please anyone),
sincerity,
spontaneity,
what are we doing?

When we are living creatively,
imaginatively,
what are we doing?

When 
we are doing 
what is "truly us,"
what are we doing?

If we give all of this up
for the sake of being wealthy,
successful,
famous
and envied,
we will have blown our chance
to be alive in the time of our living,
with no way of making things up to ourselves,
or being at peace with the way we have lived.

And so, Jesus left us with,
"Unless you turn and become as children,
you will never enter the kingdom of light and peace."

–0–

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts