Wow, over a year between posts. I'm kinda surprised this thing didn't get deleted.

El is a year old now. The fact that she made it to this milestone means I didn't screw up THAT bad. I have been thinking about things. Admittedly, there a touch of morbidity that makes me want to write down all of the wisdom that I've garnered during my life thus far (in case I'm not around when she's old enough to hear it). Things like:

Give. Give it all. Give time. Give money. Give sincere attention. Give talents. Give space. Give til it hurts. Everything that matters has already been given and secured for you, so nothing you give on this earth will really cost you anything. Not only that, but something within us is stirred during the act of giving. I don't mean that "feeling good about yourself" sensation. I mean something deeper. Eternity echoes when we give.

People are important simply because they're people. Learn to deal with everyone in a way that acknowledges their spiritual image. Many will live in denial of that image, but it's there nonetheless.

Listen more than you talk. This is the whole "two ears, one mouth" ratio that people talk about. The wisdom in this is beautiful because not only will it keep you from listening too little, it will keep you from saying too much. Very important in many contexts.

Take risks! Don't be foolish, but don't hang onto life so tightly that you never live. Take relational risks. Open up enough to be hurt because only then will you ever really be loved. Take financial risks. Put money in places where it has the opportunity to disappear because those are the places where it can grow. The purpose of life, contrary to what culture says, isn't simply to extend it as long as possible. It's much bigger and much more beautiful than that.

More to come. Probably before next February.