“Think of those still about you before they fade and disappear. How dear is even our least friend when they are no longer there.” -Roger H. Katz
Roger’s line fills me with tenderness. How precious life becomes when we awaken to our fleeting nature. We can get so caught up in the day to day of work and family responsibilities, and our need to meet the expectations of others, that we can lose touch with being true to ourselves. It can be difficult to break from the confines of our world and we can’t even imagine our lives otherwise.
Ah, but the imaginings… How might we live if we were mindful daily of our brief time here. To live, in the shadow of death. What grudges might we let go of? Who might we forgive? Could we ever begin to forgive ourselves?
I recently watched a Canadian movie on Netflix called “One Week” and I highly recommend watching this unique film. The main character, Ben Tyler is a young man who has been diagnosed with cancer and is presented with the odds of a 10% survival rate. When given the warning that his days are numbered Ben begins to reevaluate his life choices. He decides to decline chemo and instead, takes off on an adventure.
Ben’s secret aspiration is to become a writer. As he sets off, he carries with him notes from a children's book he authored. It is about a mythical creature, Grumps. When Ben was little his father liked to tell him stories. It seems that children who sought after the elusive Grumps were granted tremendous capacities. In a way, Ben’s is on his own search for the elusive Grumps, a quest for finding meaning and purpose; for finding his truth.
I hope you enjoy this short film clip (below) from the movie "One Week." Incidentally, this film also weaves in beautiful Canadian scenery and great music.
“To strive, to seek to find, and not to yield.” -Michael McGowan
May we all find the courage to step out and embrace life without yielding.
~liz Sorensen Wessel
Watercolor mandala by ~liz
