adventures” ???
After a recent viewing of this Lewis Carroll classic (why read the book, when you
have a video!), I couldn’t help but feel that Alice’s make believe dream was all too
much like the reality of my daily life.
Like Alice, I’ve often been one to enjoy the solid benefits of a nap … even if a few
have been at the wrong time (that manager was a boring speaker!) Don’t you ever
wonder why we are always in a hurry, like the rabbit, “late for an important date” and
like Alice, we don’t even know why? Every project has its Tweedle Dum and Tweedle
Dee to take up our time with meaningless stories and frustrating side adventures …
even if at times the tweedles are our supposed leaders. Whether at work or in the
market place, there are often walruses out there all too willing to trick us and “eat us
alive”. At times, day to day life can drain us of motivation and meaning with the
silliness of the Mad Hatter or a Cheshire Cat. And all around us are tyrants like the
Queen of Hearts, that may not hand out bloody threats of beheadings, but provide
the pain of tyrannical management edicts, selfish judgments, and inept pontifications.
Of course, Carroll had deep symbolism in all this.
One curious and powerful exchange jumps out …
As the Queen and Alice discuss some tasty jam and begin what seems a silly round
of bickering …
To live backwards … to exercise a kind of memory that works both ways …
one must …
Think backwards.
Hmm. What is it “about” thinking backwards that can help awaken me from the mis-
adventures of my day?
Planning. Things don’t just happen. Whether a child’s birthday party, a project at
work, or a comfortable retirement … things don’t just happen. Look at the beginning
of a project. Once the enthusiasm and initial idealism wears off, usually comes a
period of wasted mis-adventures. Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee. Why? Because
people don’t think backwards. This is the time for getting buy-in from the team,
clarifying goals, making sure expectations are set, setting aside time with the right
management/customers, problem solving, understanding what’s required, and getting
advertising or coordination out in a timely manner. The last minute rush to work the
technical details can wait to the last minute … and won’t be a problem if the planning
was done right. We must plant before we can sow. What we do today is just a part
of tomorrow.
Ask and you shall receive. Yes, this is a very Christian and spiritual statement.
But it is also one of the most practical pieces of wisdom you’ll ever hear. So much of
people’s progress has come from those with a positive vision of what they want. Do
you want to be on a team with good working relationships? Then envision it. You’ll
be amazed at how opportunities to build good relationships and resolve conflict will
present themselves. Then you can start living backwards!
Coincidences. Intensity brings with it coincidences and solutions. For the spiritual,
the new experience of prayer and the spiritual journey often brings the feeling of the
Divine and the Holy Spirit guiding us with coincidences. On a non-religious level,
intense and focused effort on a work project usually provides a powerful experience
when things “click”. We begin to anticipate and matters unfold for us. Life takes on a
“synchronicity” (click here for more on this subject!). Fervent prayer and an intense
work ethic opens up a wonderland where our experience of time begins to change.
Coincidences are all around us constantly. The wise person has the focus to see
and capture this power.
Lead a child. As adults, hopefully we’ve learned the art of asking the right
questions of our children or others around us. (for me … houseful of women … I’m
still learning!) Hard, demanding edicts, like those of the Queen of Hearts, usually
turn people off. People respond better to softer, leading questions. This allows
answers to unfold before us. This allows consensus. If one can master the art of
leading questions … that’s thinking backwards! That’s one of the keys to escaping
the mis-adventures of committees!
Timelessness. Stories of Jesus are filled with a sense of the timelessness of God.
“Coincidentally”, scientists such as Steve Hawking conclude that time has no
beginning and no end. Musicians such as Gordon Lightfoot sing that “time has no
beginning and no end”. And anyone who has even been in love knows about
timelessness.
How can we tap into the power of thinking backwards? Life requires advanced
planning … do what is required now to get what you need in the future … ask and
you shall receive … have a positive vision of what lies ahead … and be fervent about
it … life is unfolding in a manner … capture the power of coincidences … see the
events of life as constantly leading to one another …
By doing this … we can escape the wonderland of daily calamities … we can
graciously bear Tweedle Dum, not get “eaten alive” by the walruses, lightly endure
the Mad Hatters and Cheshire Cats, as well as avoid the tyranny of the Queen! Our
vision of matters can awaken us to a more powerful life … we can gain a greater
sense of depth, direction, and meaning … we can see tomorrow in today … and
become powered by this truth … we can …
Think Backwards!
understood
be only can
but, forwards
lived be must
Life" -
Kierkegaard
Søren
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actually works is
(in) reverse. You
must first be who
you really are,
then do what you
need to, in order
to have what you
want.
- Shakti Gawain -
Info for a
speaker !!!
out the
Main
Page!
A major life incident hit someone close by recently. One with potentially tragic implications. Here
are a few observations to ponder (backwards ?!)
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff of daily life. Most of what we struggle with pales in comparison to
major life incidents such as health. Bickering, pettiness, and smallness are not virtues.
2. The tough guy with the great sense of humor … broke into tears upon learning of his friend’s
news.
3. An acquaintance with a reputation as a “bully” ended up being the biggest helper … rallying
unbelievable support for the person … and with extreme caring and generosity.
4. The goodness of people shined through … visits, rides, meals, and so many prayers (three
continents, four major faiths!)
5. Two visitors to the hospital … former enemies for years … made amends after realizing the
significance of life through their mutual friend’s suffering.
6. Miracles are taking place around us each day. Prayers work.
