Leave some lights on

Edward Young said that we all think all men (and women) mortal but ourselves. But in fact for everyone life on this planet is limited. To say that is not to be morbid but simply factual. The question which arises is what we will leave behind.I heard of a young lout who made himself objectionable in a railway cariage. When he was alighting a fellow passenger called him back saying 'You have left something behind'. He asked what he might have left and was told, 'A very bad impression'.
Most people would want to do better than that. Hopefully, when we go, we will leave a few lights on for those who come in later and perhaps save them from some of the stumbles we have made.

Starting and finishing

What counts is not so much how we start in life but how we finish, not the raw material with which we bigin but what we manage to do with it. I spoke with a fine Christian man who has lived an effective life and he confided that he was conceived as a result of his mother being raped. He could have spent his life bemoaning the beginning of his life but instead he can rejoice over what he has been able to make of what he received at birth.I salute him.

Whinging

When I first came to Australia 30 years ago I heard the term 'whinging'. I had not heard it before. It is not in my dictionary from England, only in the one from Australia!! In fact it is not only 'poms' or English men who are given to whinging. It is a universal tendency and finds expression in the phrase 'Why me?'We may sometimes feel that we do not get what we deserve. But think of all the good things we have done nothing to deserve like beautiful sunsets, the sound of music and much else. And think of some of the dire experiences we have been spared through no merit on our part.So we should stop whinging and just be grateful!