Life is not always dark and gloom!

Nor do gales and storm, even if ferociously blowing and raging, can sink our boat, when trust and hope keep them floating above the clashing and tumultuous waves.

This time my reflections will take not a sudden but an unexpected turn. All the while I was pondering about social, political and philosophical issues, small living and pleasant occurrences and details, like the flowers in our garden, were sprouting all around without me noticing or paying attention to them.

Little girls smiling at me at the residential fair square. Adolescents and young adults from my country of birth asking me to become my friends, through Sonico, Hi5 or Facebook, so I can share with them my memories, thoughts, concepts, and advise.

A wonderful wife quietly and lovingly beautifying our retirement home with so many treasures we have accumulated through the years. And then, in the moments I leave my hiding place and my laptop and internet connections, cozily warming my chest with her smile while reclining her head on my shoulder, as we sit watching TV and talk about so many little things that have brought happiness to our lives.

Digressing from the tiring and repetitive pounding of societal issues and crisis, and their influence on our citizen concerns, is a welcome gift and blessing from the Lord.

He leads us to remember that the origin in society lies in the family nucleus and its spiritual health and well being. He makes us remember the process He had been taking us through as the most exquisite jeweler, chipping away the impurities of the rough diamonds we are at the beginning.

He makes us visualize the progressive stages of our living, not only for our own perception, but for leaving it as an example of the divine planning ways, of His for His redeemed children.

He raises our awareness of the blessings brought through the vicissitudes and trials, to strengthen our resolve to keep walking, on the right direction, and over the entangled paths of this chaotic universal human behavior of today.

Usually, we, men, are fond of trying to solve the immensurable maladies and injustices of the world and in doing so we forget to enjoy the little things and life pleasures.

We fail to notice the family and friends gestures of love and care, and the smiles and expectancy in the eyes of little children. Naturally, everything we see, dark and gloomy, darkens our personal perspectives, affecting somehow all those who surround us. And we end up forgetting to live to the fullest extent.

In 1979 the singer Julio Iglesias with these lyrics and melody portrayed a vivid image of what our family life had been until then when our lives went through one of the most radical political up to down tumbling that separated us, as a family, for almost a year.

“Because of so much running through life without restraints I forgot that life is lived in a second! Because of so much shouting my songs to the winds, I am not as I was yesterday. I do not know anymore what I am feeling”. And we cried out and we felt as life would never again be the same

Naturally, the consequence was a period of years of frustration and attempts to regain what was lost and considered ours. Until it was inevitable reached the recognition stage, that there was no other way but to turn to higher goals and different masters than the ones that failed so miserably, because of the world imposed changes!

Turning to God was not an easy choice because of human pride and stubbornness. But one step at a time, and through the passing years, we finally understood that we could not go anywhere but to the Lord to keep our balance and sanity. And believe, this change required quite a lot of resolve and strength.

Time inexorably faded away while striving to raise the family in foreign environments that, bit by bit, became a stronger and steadier home than the one of the biological roots, irremediably uprooted.

There comes the times where longing to go home, not the earthy one but a perennial and unchanging one, overcomes our human spirit. In what humanly could be considered a feeble escape to safer grounds, we long for God to take us by the hand and lead us to His promised land, which would be our eternal solace and home, by his freely and by grace giving it as our birthright.

But His purposes for our lives are not to turn us into runaways, failures or weaklings, but to teach us how to live our lives to the fullest, despite any shortcoming, disturbance, challenge or trial.

He wants us to stay aware of the richness of life, if truly and righteously lived, learning to recognize and enjoy the blessings poured. Especially in the married life! Life that is the cradle of the future, and the example to follow by our siblings, friends and relatives, as they focus themselves in the real purpose of marriage!

This emphasis becomes clearly evident in these times of the blatant distortion of man and woman becoming one flesh for the purpose of life reproduction, mutual love, care and protection.

He show us how, in a balanced way, and an harmonious one that do not preclude disagreements and dissention as a maturing tool, He chisels and perfects the supporting pillars of the oncoming individual and communal lives of the future.

It is so comforting to be able to enjoy still being together and dancing as a younger lover, with the wife or the husband of so many years of sharing and caring. Especially when you are at home and your son rejoices while recording your joy while pirouetting around in the cozy living room of his house

This is one of the most comprehensive lessons and examples we can leave behind. And as a grown man who had tried his best to support his family in all types of circumstances, I can only desire, wish and pray for the little girls of today and the future wives of the future, that they find the rightful mate and companion, on due time, and with due respect, love and appreciation.

May God bless them with a richer life and many years to enjoy it, as He has done and keep on doing for us!