The sacrificial side of life

Live free or die. That is what it says on the licence plates in New Hampshire in the USA. That is what you will read over and over again if you ever visit this particular place. Strong words to be sure. Or, to put it plainly: Them are fightin’ words!

This is, of course, only a slogan and likely one of many possible mottoes that could have been chosen. But it is a feisty slogan nonetheless. It caught my attention years ago for the very first time. And even now, I can’t get used to it. The shock won’t go away. Nothing about the lovely landscapes in the White Mountains. Nothing about the beauty of the trees or the hills or the Atlantic ocean. There is nothing subtle or soft in this message.

Live free or die. This simple phrase draws a line in the sand. It represents a stark choice and a firm decision. It suggests collective courage and conviction. It draws attention to hardship and sacrifice in the past and hints at more to come. It makes you wonder, though, what type of freedom is being talked about. It is easy to know when you are dead, but how do you determine when you are truly free?

“I feel so free!” That is what a young man I know had to say after making his way from Cuba to Canada. Much of life, I learned, is controlled by the communist government there. Choices are few and far between. Things that I assume and take for granted are unthinkable not very far away.

“It is very dangerous here and there is no freedom!” That is what a young man I read about had to say about living in the West Bank. Then again, it may have been Gaza. But it doesn’t really matter. The point is that while life is always hard in some respects, it is much more difficult in some places than it is in others.

Have to say that I enjoyed this world a whole lot more before I travelled and read a little history. Liked the lullabies about everybody believing whatever they liked, and living however they pleased, and always getting along, etc. quite a bit more. But when the music fades, and everyone is finished singing the final round of John Lennon’s classic song “imagine all the people…” it is still dangerous walking home. In some parts of the world, walking anywhere at night is a bad idea.

During story time up here in Canada, we were often led to believe that we Canadians were an especially nice group of people. You know…didn’t cause anybody any trouble, tried to help out and lend a hand, keep the peace when we could – that type of thing. And to be fair, it is arguably less crazy here than it is on many other parts of the planet. Yet I doubt if Canadians have paid a very large percentage of the price required to keep it that way.

If Canada had been parked next to Germany or Russia or Iran during the past century, Canadian culture would have looked much different. And life overall would have been much more difficult. My home country may not have survived.

Having your life or your country or your civilization threatened is not a small thing. While preparing this post, I learned about a person I know well who recently had their life threatened. I am very concerned. Having been on the receiving end of a couple of death threats myself, I know that it is not a pleasant experience. And I wouldn’t want to encourage anyone to embrace a harmful or hasty response to immediate danger.

Your life is something you should treasure and protect. Your life isn’t something you should quickly throw away.

And yet, freedom isn’t free.

In the future, you may be required to make a very costly contribution for the common good. Your role could turn out to be much larger than you think. You never know. Gotta die some time. Might as well go down doing something that makes a difference – something that could make people truly free.

On taking chances

You will need to be willing to take some risks in order to move ahead in your life. Be careful, though, about the type of risks you take – particularly when they involve other people.

Here is a little song to play in the back of your mind if you are about to impulsively embark on an incredibly risky venture. Get “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA playing in the back of your mind. Then, imagine that you are driving with a friend in your car, that a gas station is just up ahead, and that the gas gauge is getting really low.

Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance…

Take a Chance with Me

I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way, and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still here I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna keep on driving, till the tank is almost dry

Push the pedal down, drive right on by

Take a chance with me

(The gauge is getting lower)

Take a chance with me

We could get stranded, we could be walking, many miles together

Listen to your yelling, very little talking, things could better

Oh, I know you’ve got

So much that you wanna do, when you catch up with me

It’s tragic

We didn’t make it there, okay it isn’t fair

You told me so

But I had to go

No, I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way, and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still stuck here I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna keep on driving, till the tank is almost dry

Push the pedal down, drive right on by

Take a chance with me

(Maybe I should have driven slower)

Take a chance with me

Oh, you should take a pill, not be in such a fury, no you won’t catch up with me

You might wanna really hurt me, but buddy don’t worry, I ain’t gonna let you

Let me take a bow

My feet are fast enough to flee when things get rough

Or it’s tragic

You say you’ll take your time, can’t get this off your mind

You can’t let it go

Yes, you told me so

I won’t change my mind, we can’t wait in line

Hey, gas ain’t free

Take a chance with me

And you need me, really, cuz this is my car

We’re going that way and we’re going far

You’d like to fly, fly far away

Still here with I see

Take a chance with me

Gonna run my very best, quickly flee

Put this old car to the test, took a chance with me

Ah ah ah ah aaaah, ah ah ah ah aaaah!

Hey, gas ain’t free

You took a chance with me

Gonna run my very best, quickly flee

Put this old car to the test, took a chance with me

(Took a chance, took a chance, took a chance with me)

Ah ah ah ah aaah, ah ah ah ah aaah!

Hey, gas ain’t free

You took a chance with me

{Repeat and fade}

“Hello…911? Yeah, I have a little problem”

Earth, sea, and sky

The view from the shore

Considering trying out a new and improved career and life direction is comparable to standing on the shore and about to step into a small boat.

Chances are that you will feel a sense of unease and a great deal of apprehension. Even fear. Yes, fear. Don’t be surprised if the air suddenly feels cool down by the water as you watch the waves crashing into the shore. You feel chilled. You feel uncomfortable and out-of-place. Cold. Salt is in the air; you can taste it. And the wind is picking up. One after another, larger and louder they come; the waves come. What seemed soothing and relaxing while walking along the beach is, well, frightening now that you have gotten a little closer and a bit wet.

You might not want to admit it, but you are feeling more than a little concerned. You are afraid. If there was a panic button nearby you might be inclined to push it. If you didn’t think you might need them later, you would already be firing off your flares.

If only you could fly like the seagulls that are circling overhead. Fly directly and effortlessly to your destination. Quickly and safely. Without a care in the world. If only. But you can’t. You will soon be bound to that boat – that old, wooden boat.