Yesterday morning I was speaking with a friend of mine, and he says to me, “you know, one of the things I really like about you is that you just seem to say yes to life. I wish I could be more like that”. The statement itself didn’t surprise me, but what did, was that I remember a time shortly after I had started my first round of chemo, when I had a conversation with myself (and didn’t mention it to anyone), and decided I was no longer going to exclude good things from my life. Now to be sure, I have a little more time than the average bear, but I think most of us have enough space if it’s important enough to embrace this idea.
I’ve really been struck by the lesson on the rocks of Finisterre. I’ve continued to think about it, and I am convinced that at least in my life, I spend a great deal of time in fear. Now I’m not saying there isn’t a place for fear. There is. If you stomp up on a big old mama bear with cubs in the woods, and she stands up, fear and the following adrenaline charged running away are an acceptable response. No doubt. But what about the subtle ways fear enters our consciousness. We are afraid for our children’s future, so we micromanage their lives to the point where we may actually become the cause of their giving up and embracing a dark path. We are afraid of the quality of our relationship with our spouses, so we try too hard to insert ourselves into their business, having to approve or deny every action they want to take, rather than say, “I trust your judgement. What can I do to help”. We are afraid of losing a job, so we work too much and take time that is meant for our families and give it to masters who don’t even know what we’re doing. Fear.
I like sacred texts that are the oldest that can be found, because for me, they seem to hit the nail right on the head. Here is a passage from one of the earliest Christian texts.
“Fear is not in charity (love): but perfect charity (love)  casts out fear, because fear has pain. And he that fears, is not perfected in charity (love)”. I submit again, that we get to perfect love, one day at a time, through awareness.

Below is the schedule for the first annual walk for Hospice in my name. The owner of PeeWee’s restaurant, Tim PeeWee Reese has put together these starting times. I will be walking the first leg and the last, and will be at the restaurant as much as possible Saturday to wish everyone well. The schedule below is only so you can see the starting times. You don’t need to sign up, just show up when you want to walk. We’re asking for a $10 gift per person walking. All the proceeds will be donated to St. Elizabeth Hospice.
Thanks PeeWee. And thank you for supporting this cause. BTW, if you have a walker, and you’re not going to walk, there’s plenty of good food inside.