I always get a little sad when I see it’s almost time to leave Sri Lanka. One month hasn’t been nearly enough this time. In 2004, we were wiser in spending two months here. I keep wondering about the prospects of spending five or six months of every year on this island. I think I’d feel in tune with the cosmos dividing my time between two main spots on nearly opposite sides of the earth.
I feel really fortunate to have led a rather blessed life. I have been able to live the way I want and have had the means to do so. I can see how people could get sidetracked by many obstacles. I can also understand how one could get sucked into a mainstream way of living. I’m thankful, in fact, that most people do. The way we’ve created our economic system, it’s necessary that most people replace their car every three or four years. On the other hand, my truck is going on fourteen. It’s important for general society to put in eight-hour days for 48 to 50 weeks per year. Yet, I have taught 30 weeks or fewer of half days for decades now. Some people never leave the location they were born, yet I’ve been able to not only walk, but stay in hundreds of spots around our globe.
Today, I just existed and spent a great deal of time thinking about how I’ll spend my remaining years. This is not something that can be understood by someone in their 20’s or 30’s. With age really can come wisdom, not for all of course! I am smart enough to realize that, God willing, I only have another 25 years for an active lifestyle and for all the choices those years could offer. How do I want us to spend our precious remaining time? This big question is much more important than most I have on a normal afternoon of teaching at BCIT.
Today was filled with the ordinary things of life as well as some things which are rarer. For example, we planted a mango seedling in the back yard today. The newspaper said the auspicious time was at 11:40 am while facing north. What will fate hold for that tree? Will it wither or prosper? For what other creatures will it offer shelter or food? Will it remain alive at the end of my own days?
