look beyond the screen

Not everything is as it appears in a small screen view of the world.  A world view based on social media reflections tends to leave out the most important information available to you.

One of my greatest regrets in this life is that I never took the time to talk to my Dad.  I learned more about my father from his writings than I did from talking to him.  He was an amazing man, with a world of life experience that I missed learning.  He saw life from a perspective that I will never match or taste.  His feet moved across boundaries that no longer exist and his hands touched a world forgotten.  I cry over the missed opportunity to hear his stories in my ears.  I know now, too late, that my own world would have been greatly enriched, had I taken the time to know him.

I spent my youth running from him and his "restrictions", never taking the time to understand him.  My youth was foolish and unchecked by reason.

Don't make the same mistake.

Talk to those with real life experience and listen to their exposition of the years and encounters they had, both the good and the bad.  Every life around you is a treasure trove of wisdom and folly, lightness and dark, vision through another person's eyes and ears.

My character would have been molded and shaped by him in so many positive ways, had I but taken the time to listen.

Things to say

I have a lot to say, mostly to my children, as time marches on.  They're not with me often, and my sphere of influence with them is rapidly closing, or so it seems.

In 62 years I've accumulated considerable experience in this world and desperately need to pass it on.

Life, the world, politics, businesses, God, family, all manner of personal relationships, the list is enormous, and "wisdom" must not be self contained.  That's what parents are for, leadership.

I don't always get it right, though I try.

My social presence is large, but largely ignored, and this should provide the opportunity to speak up and speak out, if they'll pay heed. It's time to wrap it all up.

Girls, if you're watching, listen, consider, and freely discuss with me and your Mom, your friends, and your community,

I love you, not only with earthly love, but increasingly with the love of God.