July 27, 2023 – A

Round-lobed Hepatica 03/22/2014 — Blue Star Trail, Ann Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Squaring ourselves up with our life
is coming to terms with how things are
and with the disparity between how they are
and how we want them to be--
and getting up and doing what needs to be done,
anyway,
nevertheless,
even so.

We are not in it for what we can get out of it.

"What's in it for us?"
is an inappropriate question.
"When is it going to be my turn?"
"When am I going to get my way?"
Are also inappropriate questions.

We all grow up against our will.

Getting up and doing what needs to be done,
when, where and how it needs to be done
is the duty incumbent upon every human being.

We are here to do what needs to be done,
when, where and how it needs to be done.

What we get out of it is the joy of doing it
and the satisfaction of having done it.
We also get to use our original nature
and the virtues/characteristics 
that are inherent in our DNA
in the service of what needs us to do it.

If we spill the milk, 
we clean up the milk.
If the dog throws up on the carpet,
we clean up the mess--
the way it needs to be cleaned up.

We rise to the occasion
in each situation as it arises.

The Sisyphean task is doing what needs to be done
every day--when, where and how it needs to be done.

The first thing that needs to be done
is how we are looking at what needs to be done.
"What's in it for me?"
Doesn't belong there.
"Why me?"
"What am I getting out of it?"
"Why should I be the one who does it?"

Turn the light around
and it becomes,
"I am built for this!"
"This is my specialty!"
"Give ME the ball!"
"Let me show you how it's done!"
"I was hoping I would get to do that today!"
Etc.

And we don't have to wait until tomorrow!
We can start right here, right now!

–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, five granddaughters, one great granddaughter, and a great grandson on the way, within about ten minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything.

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