10 comments on “I Wonder . . .”

1. Kerry on October 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm said:

   Someone said you shouldn’t avoid looking at the past but don’t stare at it. For all of us isn’t the moment now when we can change our lives. Death is inevitable for all and if you can say in the last moments that you loved and were loved perhaps that is enough.

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2. Patricia on October 13, 2012 at 2:55 pm said:

   And, I think regret and remorse — peppered with perhaps a tad bit of guilt, now and then — are very good motivators in the days ahead. Thanks, Kerry.

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3. Jane on October 13, 2012 at 9:54 pm said:

   There are a few things I would like to wipe out and do over and I will always regret them. But you are right that the memory spurs me to have a little extra patience and do it right this time.

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4. Patricia on October 13, 2012 at 10:02 pm said:

   Hi, Janie. Good to hear from you. When I was younger I used to say I did not regret anything . . . that even my mistakes and/or failures were okay. In my wisdom years, I cannot necessarily say it is so.

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5. Anne Madsen on October 13, 2012 at 10:59 pm said:

   A long time ago I read Corrie ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place. In it she says there are no “ifs” in Gods plans. We make decisions with the information we have at the time, life brings certain situations….it’s all a part of God working in our life and we live and make our choices and do the best we can. Since we really can’t go back and do it again I have tried to see all the twists and turns in life as part of the big picture and have tried not to live with the heavy burden of regret.

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6. Patricia on October 14, 2012 at 12:44 am said:

   Isn’t that the truth, Anne. Thanks for the reminder — even second-guessing our self is mostly counter-productive.

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7. Bill on October 15, 2012 at 10:00 am said:

   Isn’t the idea to live as if the “if only’s” didn’t matter?
   I think that is incredibly difficult but a worthwhile goal. Some would call that living in the moment or appreciating now vs. living in the past.
   We never know how those “if only” situations might have turned out. Unless we are in one of those Star Trek parallel universe episodes, we never know where the road not taken really goes.
   They say that the grass is always greener but it is important to remember that greener grass needs to be mowed more often!

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   • Pat on October 15, 2012 at 10:02 pm said:

     Yes, thanks for the reminder, Bill, that there is a price to pay for the greener grass . . . IF it is greener in the long run.

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8. Maureen Ryan Griffin on October 15, 2012 at 2:28 pm said:

   Thanks for this one! Really struck a chord! What I love most about this post, Pat, is the way it calls us to examine how we can live “if only” free today, in this moment. It is a beautiful call to choose wisely! I have heard that half-wistful, half-berating voice many times, and each time,I do my best to allow my heart to answer. Because the God-is-love-that-dwells-within-each-of-us rises to say, “All things work to good to them that love God.” And all you have is now. What will you do with THIS “now”?

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9. Patricia on October 15, 2012 at 10:38 pm said:

   Ah, Maureen. Trying “to allow my heart to answer” lets me consider “if only”–but, only briefly and gently. A good thing. Thanks for chiming in.

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