Paradise Lost: The Beauty of Belonging (commentary)

Paradise Lost: The Beauty of Belonging

By John Trent

Whatever happened to our small town values, our sense of family and community? For many of us, we had a feeling of belonging; an aspect of our culture that has slowly eroded and has been lost. Growing-up in a small town on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, everyone knew everybody. We all had different beliefs, we were different races, but we all went to the same schools and ate at the same restaurants. We all respected each other and we were fiercely protective of one another.

Unlike the ‘big city’, as children we were safe to roam the woods, the streets, and the shore. We could be mischievous and silly, only to be caught and scolded by a neighbor or family friend. Our town gave meaning to the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’

Though I have moved on and lived in the ‘big cities’, the values of our childhood have certainly changed. Impersonal and mechanized are the first words that come to mind when I think of our current state of world affairs. What happened to that warm voice on the other line when you called to make a doctors appointment? Press 1 for an appointment, press 2 for more options, and press # if you wish to be transferred to another automated machine. Now I must admit, I'm all for efficiency and cost savings; however, I can honestly say I miss the human interaction of speaking to a receptionist, ‘Miss Lucy’, who had known me since I was born. She was like a great aunt or even a granny.

In this age of modernization, we have allowed Facebook,My Space,and other sites to replace and displace our very humanity. Slowly and methodically, our youth are losing the ability to enjoy the wonders of belonging, the wonders of being part of a community. Instead we send messages like LOL : ). For those not IM savvy, that means ‘laugh out loud’ with a smiley face, which means I’m happy. Everything is so fast, impersonal, and mechanized.

Unlike many who live to read what someones 'status' might be or 'why did he or she post that', our community taught us to cooperate with others and we did without the help of the internet. We learned that accomplishments of the group were always greater than that of the individual. We learned how to rely on others and how others could rely on us.

Most importantly, we learned the importance of integration versus the assimilation of the masses. No matter what we achieved as a community, we were encouraged to walk life’s path independently while always, and I mean always, knowing we would be caught if we fell.

So tonight, instead of texting your friend, give them a call. Listen to their voice. Listen to the joy you hear when you say “I miss you” or “I love you”. Make life personal. Re-learn how to interact with other humans, face to face, and teach our youngsters the art of socialization. Life’s to short to be hiding behind a computer screen.

Escape!

Escape
by John Trent

I’m soaring amongst the tops of trees
And seeing the world below
The sky is blue with cottony balls
The sun is so bright and aglow

Tick, tick, the clock on the wall
His words are hazy and muffled
Fading slowly, my mind wants out
My feet are busy and befuddled

I join the stars in outer space
And drift the cosmos wide
In peaceful quiet I ride the moon
While distant stars collide

That droning voice, the room so dark
This presentation is long and boring
Heads are nodding and most eyes are closed
And, the fellow beside me is snoring

I must return and escape this existence
Or the next two hours will be numbing
So I’ll pretend to care, pay close attention I swear
And daydream of worlds forthcoming!

Outgoing Tide

Outgoing Tide
by John Trent

Burning crimson from a late Southern dusk
Long and tangled, hang drapes of Spanish grey
Standing tall, with its lengthening shadows
Each oaken vein takes root in the sand

Leaves gently touched by a familiar breeze
And set ablaze upon the retreating sun
Edges illumined with burnt gold and reds
And colors fade as the horizon darkens

Carefully leaning on my old grey friend
My mind slowly slips to a time long past
Barnacled pile, remains splintered and broken
Of a wharf, once busy, with the day’s fresh catch

These tired eyes scan the ancient river’s mouth
Keeping watch for the return of the swarms of gulls
My mind sees the ghost of each passing trawler
As the lone gull sings his old and soulful song

Lost memories and dreams from the limbs of this oak
Remembering the days of my imaginary youth
Now I stand at its roots with the slow setting sun
As my childhood drifts on the outgoing tide

Kindness (comments)

Kindness

by John Trent

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ~ Lao Tzu

Good morning friends and family,

It’s dark and chilly this morning, but that will soon change when we “Spring Forward” this coming weekend. Warmer weather is slowly approaching coastal Georgia.

As I read the above quote, I thought of the differences between those who ‘act’ kind and those who are genuinely kind. In a nutshell, Lao-Tzu wrote in a latter text that if you had any expectations for being kind, then you weren’t being kind. In essence, you were seeking favor for your good deeds. To be truly kind, he said, we must give to the deserving, as well as those who are not, without expectation.

So, I suggest we allow our kindness to be effortless, to become second nature or become our nature. Then, we can become instruments of love and compassion for all of humanity.

I wish each of you a wonderful day and may God share his unwavering kindness with you. Much love to all, John

Clear Water

Clear Water
by John Trent

You may lead my horse to water,
But you can not make him drink
‘Cause he’s as stubborn as a mule
And reserves the right to think

There are some that always follow
And some that always lead
Of course, there are those who argue
And some that always agree

Life is full of twists and turns
God grants us each a choice
We can follow Him to the Promised Land
Where we all can sing and rejoice

For some the water is muddy
For others it’s full of fear
I pray the lost can finally drink
For His love is amazingly clear

Infinite Whispers

Infinite Whispers
by John Trent

Alone I stand on this dark wooded path
So fresh the scent of the impending rain
I close my eyes to face the wind
As the lions of March roar through the pine
And settle to the sound of God’s infinite whispers

Bare limbs reach and continue to dance
Ever so subtle, cool drops kiss my face
Each touch awakens the essence of my soul
While thunder annouces the arrival of spring
And the dead slowly fall, making way for the new

The Pebble (comments)

The Pebble

by John Trent

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." ~Moliere

I once heard a story of a little boy and his father. The father was a businessman who was always busy. One day, he was preparing to leave for work and began to explain his schedule to his wife, when his young son, Billy, started tugging on his pants leg.

Ignoring his son, Billy tugged harder and started to shout, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.” Getting annoyed, the father told Billy not to interrupt. He was in a hurry to leave. He had to go to work.

Being very persistent, Billy continued to tug on his father’s pant leg. By now the father was getting angry. He turned towards Billy, started to raise his voice, leaned towards his son and, at which point, Billy grabbed his father’s tie and pulled him to his knees.

Shocked and surprised, the father was struggling for words……..then, Billy held out his hand. He looked into his father’s eyes and said, “Daddy, I want you to have this beautiful present I found for you”. Cupped in his small hand was tiny smooth pebble.

With a tear in his eye, the father gladly accepted the tiny gift and hugged his son. Billy turned and went outside to play.

At what point in our lives did we lose the ability to see the wonder of a shiny pebble or the willingness to give up on accomplishing something meaningful? Throughout our ‘tween’ years we are coached and taught to be adults. Slowly and methodically our childhood disappears into faint and fond memories, only for each of us to be inserted into the hustle and bustle of our daily adult existence.

Like Billy, we need to find our “shiny pebble” and share it with someone we love. We need to regain our childlike persistence and never give up on what we believe important, even though it might seem insignificant to others. Then, and only then, like Billy's father will we re-learn the importance of what's directly in front of us and return to innocence.

Wishing each of you a wonderful day and may God’s grace bless you all.