Beech Tree News Network

STARTING FRESH: For several months now I have been following a protocol known as target therapy, it is specific to my particular type of cancer and it is still chemotherapy but unlike other chemo protocals I have undergone in the past, which were quite harsh, it specifically inhibits the making of a certain enzyme or something like that, responsible for the prolifiration of the numerous white cells I do not need. It still has it's side effects and draw backs, after all it is chemo but I like this approach better. I do not like the approach of destroying everything just in an attempt to survive. This being almost the start of a new year, I thought it might be appropriate to talk about starting down fresh and untrodden paths, looking for new ways to accomplish goals and possibly even change the world and to reflect on the end of an age gone by.

It is a peculiarity to the western world and our modern time, to associate the, “end of an age,” with destruction. If you peruse history a little bit you will come across several instances of people talking about “ages, and ages to come.” If you examine those instances closely you will soon discover that they rarely inferred that the old age had to violently and abruptly cease altogether, before a new age could begin. Some of you readers may recall a song, which was popular a few years back, talking about, “the dawning of the age of Aquarius.” Now, that was talking about astrology and I personally do not put a lot of stock in astrology but it does illustrate that the coming of something new does not mean the old has to be destroyed; it just means a departure from an old paradigm of living.

The song is a song of rejoicing because it is celebrating living in a new type of world, a world where different ambitions and motivations take over from the previous age (which incidentally is supposed to shift at intervals of every 2100 years, roughly.)

Now, many of us readily accept it when a singular individual changes and begins interacting with the world in a fashion completely different than what had been typical behavior for them. We may call it “turning over a new leaf,” or having an epiphany, but whatever we call it, it means they choose to live differently than before. The motivations for such a change can be varied, usually they have had an encounter with something, or someone, which “opens their eyes,” and changes them down to the core of their being. When this happens we recognize an instantaneous transformation but what many of us may often miss are the more subtle journeys of transformation which are no less profound. Imagine, metamorphosis unfolding by initiating a journey toward completion, instead of instantaneous implementation, for some reason that narrative sounds familiar to me. We are comfortable with the individual changing but what most of us dismiss is the capability of whole societies changing. When this process begins in earnest, then we can truthfully say we have entered a new age, we will be living in a whole new world. It is my hope, mission and passion, to indeed enter a new age; one that has completely different motivations, ambitions and desires for our long time future.

Fresh Beginnings-

Let us enter an age where compassion reigns and empathy shines.

A world where violence is not glorified, nor aggression sought for answers.

Let us enter an age where education is not viewed as a commodity to be bought and sold.

Let us abandon a world where greed is seen as a worthy friend and covetousness a mentor.

Let us enter an age where wisdom and meekness walk hand in hand.

An age where our earth is healed and our babies are not murdered and fools don’t shout that more viciousness is the answer.

Let our mentors and advisors forever be, the ones who know that love has always been the answer!

Let us begin today!

Dedicated to my own two babies; may you see this unfold andmay you even help to bring it about.