“The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because its only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think. The way they see themselves. The way they see the world. You can change the way people live their lives. That's the only lasting thing you can create."
Chuck Palahniak
Here lately there has been much on my mind. You know, the day to day drama of life. I am borderline ashamed to admit I have bought into things beyond my control and perhaps lost focus on the things that I should focus on. Why ashamed? Well, I guess because it involves worrying and stewing about things over which I have no control. Yep, I have invested entirely to much energy in focusing on stuff over which I have no control, and worrying about shit that hasn't happened yet. Two things I have often chastised those I love for manifesting. Yep, call me any names that come to mind.
I would like to blame others for this flawed character trait., but that would be total BS. Of all the personality disorders I might manifest, I find this one my most distasteful. Why? Because it seems to represent a lack of faith. Yes, simple enough. Worrying implies that God fails. It implies that God is not trustworthy. In all the most stressful times in my life eventually I could see that there was an underlying perfection. Eventually. To stew and fret is to doubt results. Not exactly the vision of an almighty I hold. If I practice what I profess, I should be able to accept that whatever happens is for the best (even if I can not see it at the time). As I think all life is a continuing effort to redefine ourselves as something better, I am working on it. Always striving for that balance.
In that desire to find balance, I think I need to share a portion of a remembered conversation with Dad. In the course of sharing things that we were reading, I mentioned that I was again revisiting the books of J R R Tolkien. Dad asked me why anyone would read a book of just basic fantasy. I have thought about that often, and finally, after his life has ended, I think I have an answer.
I knew when we were having the initial discussion that there was something deeper than just my enjoyment of the world and characters Tolkien created that I wanted/needed to relate. There was something profound in what they meant to me. Something far beyond just a good story. I never found the words to continue that discussion, but I think now I might be better able to share my thoughts (if for no reason other than I think that now I understand them). It is also important because, in finding the words to answer Dad's question, I have found something that I think is important as to who I think I might be as a person. Yep, something that important.
I recently started collecting quotes. It started after watching the movie about the Navy SEALs. There was a quote from Tecumseh that I thought was profound. I of course set about recording it. In the course of doing research I found several other quotes that I thought were worthy of more reflection. One in particular as it answered Dad's question of so long ago. It is at the top of the page.
There you go Dad. Everything physical fades. That is the nature of all that mankind will ever create. It is all finite. It's temporary nature does not make it any less wonderful, just limited. To find the unlimited, it is to the intangible that we must look. It is in what you yourself believed in. It is in that which was bigger than you that you shared and somehow got your children to accept as their own. It is there that I can find a glimpse of eternity. We all share personal beliefs with those we love. They are our nonphysical treasures. Our friends carry those intangibles and make them their own. Dad, it takes little effort to see your beliefs manifest in your granddaughters. It is a legacy that I assume was instilled in you by your parents. Those ideals are bigger than life. In Tolkien's stories, just as in life shared with you, I found things to believe in. Ideals I have tried to share with those I love. I hope I am as successful in sharing my truths as I suspect you were with me........................
By the way, I found a few other quotes by this author rather interesting. Including:
We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.
The only difference between suicide and martyrdom is press coverage.
If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character, would you slow down? Or speed up?
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.
