Aging Capriciously

I have always loved the phrase “I wonder as I wander out under the sky” from a song written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles.  It was first sung in 1944 by Pvt. Cecil Gant.  The record made it to number one on the Juke Box Race Records chart in 1944 and 1945.  It has probably been sung over a billion times and is a favorite among Christians during the holiday season.  The lyrics are as follows:

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

That Jesus my Savior did come for to die

For poor ordinary people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

Now many of you would know that I profess to be part Atheist and part Agnostic, so Jesus is not my savior.  However, I regard him as a great prophet and teacher of the human spirit.  Seldom have I read anything as significant as the Eight Beatitudes that Jesus gave in a sermon.  These eight messages tell us much about the man and speak volumes in terms of how we need to treat other human beings:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
3. Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.
4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew (5:3-10).

I wonder many nights when I am out under a clear sky.  I wonder what it all means.  I wonder what I am here for.  I wonder about friendship and loyalty.  I wonder about integrity and politics.  I wonder about the world and the climate.  I wonder if wars and murders will ever end.  I wonder if prejudice and discrimination will ever cease.  I wonder if abuse to women and gender-diverse people will ever end.  I wonder if religions will stop persecuting other religions.  I wonder if it was all worth living for.

A wise person once said that there are two “What Ifs.”  One deals with fear and can be paralyzing and enabling, “What if this happens?”  “What if I should fall or break a leg?”  “What if things should go wrong?”  The other “What If” deals with wonder and can lead to positive and rewarding insights.  Insights that raise life and humanity up and create a better world.  “What if we did this instead of this?”  “What if we could have peace instead of war?”  “What if we could eliminate the need for guns and weapons?”  “What if we valued humanity more than we valued money?”

I wonder what would happen if we chose hope and love over fear and greed.  I wonder as I wander out under the stars what life on this planet COULD be like.