See the grey. Seize the day

Ya, this was one of the subjects of one of the lastest GA episodes. But I only remember that when, for completely different reasons, I found myself thinking about these stuff. And am I talking about what? The importance of see the grey. The “space between” the facts.

Sometimes it is hard to learn that not everything is black or white but, in fact, most of the things aren’t. The things that are that black or white are so few. Like... either you respect people or you don’t, either you love someone or you don’t, either you really want something or you don’t, either you fight for something or you don’t, either you believe in something or... you don’t. But even then, there are so different ways to do and show all that, that not everything is absolutely obvious and... “black or white”.

For instance, when I talk about children’s education with so much assurance, I say that it shouldn’t be any shadow of doubt about the need of discipline, rules, models to follow, authority... that it is a danger that education is sometimes, now, seen as a lack of freedom. But although this position should be taken with sureness and strength, even here, we must see the grey. Because even though every child (and the black and white here is: there’s no exception) needs all that, they all need it in different ways. Each case is a case, each way is a way, each need is a different type of need.

So, when I found people arguing about who is smarter, or stronger, or more or less right, or more or less useful, or deserves more or less.. when their only problem is that anyone there is able to see the grey... I get sad. And I understand so clearly, that most of the problems in people’s lives would be solved if just they were able to see it. Out of proud and ego issues, out of selfishness, out of stubbornness. Just an open mind, soul and heart that are capable to see other perspectives besides our owns, that sometimes will fill other egos that aren’t our owns, that can make a point that isn’t ours. Have a little perspective. Even when you’re absolutely sure about something and... see the grey. From my experience you will find that the grey is sometimes not that grey, but it’s a lot of different types of blue and pink and yellow and red and green and.. all the colours you never even imagined before. A life full of life and full of other lives is what you’ll get. And don’t be scared, you won’t never loose your own because of that.

This week, also, an 11 years old child asked me what does it means the expression “live like you knew it was your last day”. Tricky question this one. I tried to explain what I have been learning since I first asked this myself. That if we are really happy, if we live every day as a gift (that it is) and we seize it, and we live it feeling happy, and with the ones we really love, and doing things important to us.. If we live like God told us to. Not wasting any day, any moment, any chance... If we really lived like that, we weren’t doing this question. Because we would just think that a day just like we use to live ours, would be perfect. If we really live our lives happy with what we have, happy with what we are, happy with our fight for our dreams, happy along the way... we will want each day (even if we knew it was the last) to be exactly as they already are. With all the happiness, with all the tears, with all the fights, with all the things we loose, with all the things we win... We will want to live exactly as we do... Because in the end we know we will just feel that happy.

That... Well, that would be us living in the so famous God’s Kingdom. The one in which He taught us how to live in. Right now. Not one day, latter. But just... now. That.. would be Heaven. And as we all know.. Heaven IS a place on earth. It’s just that... we are all too blind to see it. And too scared to live it, too.