IF- Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of my favorite lines from the movie Aladdin is when Jeanie refers to the power of a Djinn; “Phenomenal cosmic power, itty bitty living space.”   When I ponder the word “if” I think  of its place in things.  It is an Itty bitty word with phenomenal cosmic consequences. 

One of the great things we do with it is try to reason through the past.  This is dangerous.  If when reflected on the past can lead to dangerous regret and empty misgivings.  We cannot change the past with “if I had…”.   We cannot alter what has been with if. 

When focused on the future this small word has the power to create so many binary choices.  Remember that I believe that most things are binary, black and white, true or false.  You will either agree or disagree (that is a binary choice).   Most of life is a series of “if then” situations. 

Most of the great questions of the universe are balanced on an “if”.   As I strive to follow Christ I must measure many of these if questions.  Remember that as I write these things I am measuring what is right for me as a Christ follower.  You Dear Reader are welcome in the conversation because I love you and value you.  As always I welcome your thoughts and questions.  Walk with me please; I need the company.

IF - Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you   

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

    But make allowance for their doubting too;   

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, 

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, 

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: 

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster 

    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken 

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, 

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 

And lose, and start again at your beginnings 

    And never breathe a word about your loss; 

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you 

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, 

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, 

    If all men count with you, but none too much; 

If you can fill the unforgiving minute 

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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