Let it Be

Each day that we wake up is a day filled with new possibilities. No matter how difficult, challenging or non-productive yesterday was, today is a clean slate--an opportunity to start fresh. That's the beauty of life. But not everyone can look forward to tomorrow as we middle class Americans can. Oh, sure! We have plenty about which to complain, especially in this election year. But we also have choices, freedoms, more-than-basic comforts, health care, and even vacations. We live amid so much abundance that we abuse our bodies and become easily bored with our daily existence. We seek constant stimulation, entertainment, screen time . . . input, input, input.  

What if we made a conscious effort to slow the pace,"smell the roses," and just be for a few minutes each day?  What if we took those moments to reflect on our blessings and say, "thank you" to the Creator?  What if we decided to do one kind deed each day without expecting anything in return? What if we used our freedom not as a privilege but as an opportunity to make someone else's life better?  What if we stopped trying to control everyone and everything and, instead, allowed God to be the judge of ourselves and others?

Achieving a peaceful existence sounds easy, but finding peace requires letting go, which is always harder than holding on--holding on to prejudices, perceived insults, insecurities, assumptions, anxieties, possessions, and people. I think the Beatles hit, "Let it Be" perfectly expresses the idea of letting-go and letting-God.  Paul McCartney might have been a genius when he wrote the lyrics or maybe, like the Paul of Ephesians, he simply allowed himself to be a conduit:

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Yeah, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

When the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted

There is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be

Yeah, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be

Yeah, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

You know there's gonna be an answer, let it be

And when the night is cloudy

There is still a light that shines on me

Shine until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, oh no, let it be, let it be, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be, let it be

You know there's gonna be an answer, let it be

Oh, let it be