I know that a lifetime is not by any means all smooth sailing, unicorns, lollipops and roses.
It appears to me that many people have occasional bursts of activity, production, creativity and moments of bliss, but also they seem to cycle up and down between achieving greatness and experiencing tragic loss, pain and sorrow.
This could possibly be the yin and yang of our destiny in our existence on this physical plain.
If we had a clear view of what we are doing and trying to achieve in this physical realm, well that would be great.
Then all would be assured that there is a coherent plan and direction in which we are headed.
We could pass this on to our future generations to see and understand. All would be well, wrapped up neat and tidy.
But life as we know it is not like that at all. It seems more messy and confusing than neat and tidy. We see that Mike has an ongoing problem with Joe.
Mary is upset with Suzy and they are not speaking. Workers are opposed to the company policy and unions want to strike for better conditions.
There’s a major territorial dispute between Israel and Palestine and its resulting in utter destruction and tens of thousands of needless deaths.
Another election is scheduled for the radically divided red and blue states this coming year and as it rapidly approaches the battle lines are already being drawn.
And boy, are those forces ever diametrically opposed.
About forty percent of the population wants to impeach our current president.
Another forty percent or so want to keep him. The remaining twenty percent doesn’t know and doesn’t care.
Major world powers are quite suspicious of each other. Many are antagonistic and in opposition to their neighboring nations.
One man wants to build a wall. The next man wants to tear it down.
Sometimes human interpersonal relationships appear more like a dog and cat fight.
It just amazes me that our human world survives and really gets along at all.
Have you ever actually looked at an ant hill and observed their activities? If you happen to do so you may well find it fascinating. Those little guys are scurrying around frantically, bumping into each other and not seeming to get anywhere or get anything done. But they don't appear to be slaughtering one another.
You might wonder if there is an overall plan, direction and purpose for all their actions.
And are we that much different from those ants in our endeavors here in this modern human world?
Our life looks like a game with opposing forces. And our opponents, as in let's say an opposing football team, would be doing their best to stop, block, shove us back and make us lose.
As I look around at what’s happening in the world I see many examples of this football-like game in progress.
We have the worker bees - citizens, taxpayers and consumers. And then we have the powers-that-be. T
hey are supposed to be our benevolent rulers. And under them there is a collection of agencies separating the worker from the elite. We have police, courts, prisons, militaries and such.
You may wonder if these organizations exist to maintain peace, order and tranquility as they claim.
But some seem to view them as our opponents or hired guns to keep the masses in line and their elite masters in power.
Not only is there opposition and coercion from the top down, but many families, groups and communities are often in direct conflict with each other. And their squabbles and confrontations are often fierce. Symptoms of a crumbling society?.
Might appears to make right and law of the jungle still sadly rules in our world today, even though we should have long since evolved and progressed well beyond such a low level condition of existence.
I know of course the lion may never lay down with the lamb. But we are not all lions and lambs.
I see peace not only as the absence of war, violent conflict, and human misery, but more so I see peace as a glow of brightness coming from the hearts of men, women and children of our world.
You could say that peace is our faith and trust in each other. It's a reflection of our love of living this life in the company of others.
And it's how things were meant to be. It's that quality, that safe, comfortable feeling you get when you look in the eyes of someone you love.
Also, you could say that peace is the spirit of Christmas.
Dan can be reached at danhughoconnor@gmail.com