The Search for Life’s Meaning
No doubt, every person who has ever lived has wondered how he or she got here, in a spiritual sense; what their goals in life should be; and at the end of life, we wonder why it went so fast and what life truly meant. One considers whether “right” choices were made, knowing full well that there are no really “right” or “wrong” choices, except perhaps in a moral sense. There are only “alternate” choices.
We lock our doors, and set home alarm systems, and try to protect ourselves from things that go bump in the night. What we overlook is that there usually is no real danger from exterior sources. Ultimately, our own bodies are the enemy. We are prone to self-destruct.
Between the cradle and the grave, we go about our business as if there will be a tomorrow. Pick up any newspaper, in any city, on any given day, and the obituaries will reveal the names of those who thought there would be a tomorrow in their future. Yet, the person choked on a piece of steak, or got run over by a truck backing up, or died of hypothermia while hiking in the mountains, or a million other ways that people can and do write their final chapter.
Being a creative person means that someone will leave behind more extant physical objects than perhaps others. For example, my quilts reside with friends around the country and around the world. My quilt history and textile articles, poetry, and songs have been distributed to millions of people via our well-trafficked website, newspapers, and print publications. Quilt directions I have written have resulted in the making of more quilts than I can imagine. My “hand-outs” for classes I’ve presented will outlast me. People tend to hang onto such ephemera. My words and my works are my personal legacy, and so are my direct descendants, one son and two grandchildren.
When life is uncertain, as it is right now for me, it is good to take account of the things I’ve done right in life. No one is perfect. My biggest mistake was in thinking that life would continue for a lot longer, pain-free, and problem-free.
For now, all I can do is to appreciate what “is:” the flowers in the garden, the toad at the back door, the Cardinal in my backyard, the satisfying little quilt project I designed and am working on, the nutritious food that Jim prepares, and having such a loving husband and good friends. Life is composed of the “little things,” and in the end, the small kindnesses and the joie d’ vivre are really ALL that matters.
I celebrate the memories of all of the opportunities I’ve been given from my youth, going forward. In the end, I would not trade my experiences, both good or bad, for those of any other living soul, or, for that matter, for all the tea in China.
Take a lesson, enjoy today. The rainy days will come soon enough.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
