Our own mortality is something that we rarely want to ponder or face. However, death is a fact of life. Most of us would prefer going to sleep at some ripe old age and never wake up after a lifetime of living. Then there are those of us who live with reckless abandonment and enjoy life on the edge.
Chris Boskoff is a young guy who was careening down the path of living without concern...then he had an accident that stopped his heart from beating, put him in a coma and caused him to suffer traumatic brain injury. He had to learn how to walk and talk again. He was extremely fortunate. I feel fortunate that he would share his his amazing story with us at Lost in America!
The economic downturn and slowing economy hit close to home this week. I was laid-off from my job on Saturday. Tuesday, I visited the unemployment office. I was told I would be eligible to receive $230 a week. Hardly enough to be able to live on Maui. I need to make that much per day! Needless to say, it was a major blow and I began to feel regret and doubt about the decisions and choices I have made over the past couple of years. How could I have been so foolish to follow my dream and passion of being a photographer?
An hour later despair had begun to set in. I bought a sandwich and wandered into the local bookstore and sat down in the coffee shop to eat. My head was spinning. I sat there feeling about as low as I can remember. After all I have worked for and been through, I wondered if I could face this financial and personal challenge staring at me.
Then, at my lowest moment and feeling a deep dread, over the sound system I heard…
I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do They’re really saying I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know And I think to myself what a wonderful world Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world
A sense of relief washed over me. In that moment, in this week, I was left with no doubt that there is a life beyond what we experience in this body on this planet.
The song was my dad’s favorite and the one he insisted be played at his funeral.
I was in the right place at the right time with my camera yesterday evening. I see a lot of rainbows around the island, but the camera isn't always so close at hand.
Our own mortality is something that we rarely want to ponder or face. However, death is a fact of life. Most of us would prefer going to sleep at some ripe old age and never wake up after a lifetime of living. Then there are those of us who live with reckless abandonment and enjoy life on the edge.
