Wishing It Would Come Again

Cliff Diving At Sunset

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer (14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was a Franco-German (Alsatian) theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, in the German Empire. Schweitzer challenged both the secular view of Jesus as depicted by historical-critical methodology current at his time in certain academic circles, as well as the traditional Christian view, depicting a Jesus Christ who expected and predicted the imminent end of the world. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life", expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, now in Gabon, west central Africa (then French Equatorial Africa). As a music scholar and organist, he studied the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and influenced the Organ reform movement (Orgelbewegung).

Schweitzer's passionate quest was to discover a universal ethical philosophy, anchored in a universal reality, and make it directly available to all of humanity.

"To hell with reality! I want to die in music, not in reason or in prose. People don't deserve the restraint we show by not going into delirium in front of them. To hell with them!" - Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Louis-Ferdinand Céline was the pen name of French writer and medical doctor Louis-Ferdinand Destouches (27 May 1894 – 1 July 1961). Céline was chosen after his grandmother's first name. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, developing a new style of writing that modernized both French and World literature. He remains, however, a controversial figure because of his satirical anti-Semitic tracts published during 1937 and his support for Vichy France during the Second World War.

"Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy." - Joseph Campbell

Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience. His philosophy is often summarized by his phrase: "Follow your bliss."

"Most people can look back over the years and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when, because of a readiness within us and a collaboration with events occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live and to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives." - Frederick F. Flack (I have Googled this man and can find nothing about him. However, his quote has gone viral, found worthy on several sites, now on mine as well.)

Sometimes life gives you one chance, or at least you don't know when it will come again, if ever. Sometimes it passes near, over and over, but is not yours even so, may never be yours again. Sometimes you are called to measure up and you just can't. Then you spend the rest of your life trying to be the person you should have been. You get there, become that person and realize it makes not one whit of difference, because the opportunity has come and gone. Sometimes you understand the underlying truth and realize that you have no idea what the fuck is going on.

Wishing It Would Come Again

It used to be hard
and I would shrink, hide myself
in the sharp corner
of the mountain road
hearing it approach, roaring
its way then past me
not heeding my shape
and me glad of all my skill
at hiding myself.

It takes so many
shapes, sings chorales, harmony
in one verdant voice.
I could love it now
with my new strings and bright frets,
with my callused tips.

October 5, 2009 12:58 PM