Sunday, June 6, 2010

The Process

Throughout our life, we are “in the process” of one thing or another. At times we are in the process of growing up—going from a child to adolescent, teenager to adult. Other times we are in the process of going to school, serving in the military, working at a job, or getting settled. As the years accumulate one notices that so many “in the process” experiences have defined our days and provided us with a reservoir of events from which we draw upon, reflect, and savor as benchmarks of life.

Not all “in the process” episodes are pleasant or enjoyable. Each one is uniquely memorable, but the price paid, and the cost incurred is, in many cases, prohibitive in endurance, energy-draining, effort-taxing and less than rewarding. We spend so much time trying to do things we think will please other people—family, friends, co-workers, colleagues and people we don’t even know. “What will the neighbors think?” Is a phrase heard many times during one’s lifetime. Often, we set aside personal wants and desires in order to do things so others will approve. Hopes and dreams are shunted in order to fulfill perceived obligations; or assumed because of guilt or outside pressure.

Each one of us can look back and recall decisions made during times of anxiety, stress and less than relaxed conditions and think about how those incidents have affected our life. We can also review occasions when choices were made that enriched and enhanced our days beyond all expectation. Such is the process of life.

During the year important “in process” occasions are noted, celebrated, and commemorated with a variety of emotion and feeling. Solemn, prayerful, joyful or jubilant we embellish these times with banquet and bounty. Together with others or alone in one’s private reverie, the emotions engendered by their remembrance comforts the heart, sustain the spirit, and nourish the soul. Recall when little moments in life unexpectedly snuck up on you and you knew immediately they would be remembered all your days: such is the Process of life. The process of love:

Chance to Opportunity



Opportunity to Turning Point



Strangers to Acquaintance,



Acquaintance to Friends,



Friends to Relationship.



Relationship to Date



Date to Going Steady,



Going steady to Engagement



Engagement to Promises



Promises to Love



Love to Marriage.



Marriage to Togetherness,



Togetherness to Oneness.



Oneness to Soul Mate



Soul mate to Everything!



Everything! to Commitment



Commitment to Wishes



Wishes to Hopes



Hopes to Dreams



Dreams to Reality



Reality to Obligation



Obligations to Priorities



Priorities to Value



Value to Time



Time to Importance



Importance to Together



Together to Divide



Divide to Promises



Promises to Priorities



Priorities to Things



Things to Importance



Importance to Excuse



Excuse to Reason



Reason to Why



Why to Whatever!



Whatever!



Whatever!!



Whatever!! to What?



What? to the Elephant in the Room



What Room?



The room.



House to Home



Home to Family



Family to Children



Children to Adults



Adults to Apartment



Apartment to House



House to House



Full to Empty



Empty to Together



Together to Alone



Alone to Unimportance



Unimportance to Loneliness



Loneliness to Regrets



Regrets to Memories



Memories to Life



Life to Goodbye



Goodbye to Ashes



Ashes to Forever



Now is the time to drink the wine!



Now is the time to taste the sweetness!



Now is the time to enjoy the pleasures.



Now is the time to treasure the moments



Save the memories for winter days



One only does what is important to one



One only values what is valuable to one



One always lives and shares with others



One always dies alone



So



Pour the wine



Taste the Sweetness from the Vineyard



Feel the warmth of ones you love.



Savor the Nectar of Marriage



Spouse, Children, Grandchildren



Enjoy the Perfume of Love



Recall the Spring



Remember the Summer



Treasure the Bounty of Autumn



Accept the Winter



Fill each Day with Laughter



Always



There is Love



Love

Where's Al going to be next???

Check back soon for his next appearance at a location near you!