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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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WINDS OF CHANGE
I stepped out of my warm house into the cold, crisp morning, where the sun -- apparently no more awake than I -- had not yet warmed things up. Suddenly I noticed an airplane cutting a path across the cloudless, blue sky. In its wake were two white lines streaming from its jet engines. Watching the jet's vapor testify to its flight path, I made several observations. At first the vapor created two perfectly straight and distinct lines. As the plane continued flying, however, wind currents caused the lines left behind to become less distinct. Soon the lines became wavy and almost indistinguishable from each other. Eventually the vapor dissipated and was no longer visible to the naked eye. When the plane was out of sight and its vaporous path markers were gone, only observers would be able to affirm the jet's flight. Many stories and traditions associated with this holiday season are like those jet streams I observed. At first they were clear and well defined like the vapor leaving the jet engines. As the winds of time interacted with the memories of these events and traditions, they became less distinct and even blended into each other a bit. Now the physical signs have vanished, and memories of them have faded. Those with whom the memories were shared keep them alive. Over time, I will likely forget seeing that jet cross the cloudless, blue sky on a cold and crisp winter morning. I may even forget some of the stories and traditions of my youth as they blur and fade in my memory. Yet, as surely as that jet passed overhead, other jets will do the same; and new stories and traditions will replace those that have served their purpose and vanished from my consciousness. Today, I will consider whether those stories and traditions I am honoring are important enough to remember or whether they have served their purpose and can be replaced.
© 2005 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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