The things in life that are free

Kim and I attended a gala the other night where “Moonstruck” provided entertainment. A lovely young lady took the stage singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” As she sang, I fell deeply into thought, which immediately filled me with emotion.

You see, earlier that day, a friend was sharing facts about his recent life happenings. This led to what he described as “I didn’t think it could get any worse.” This friend and I have talked about his circumstances, yet with every situation hitting him, he maintains hope. I felt a sensation of feeling his pain while the wisdom of the words from this beautiful artist overtook me. The words are:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

The hope he maintains in his heart is for me, the dreams he still dares to dream, knowing they will eventually come true. Waking up with the clouds behind him is the conviction of knowing nothing will stop his forward momentum. Those troubles melt as lemon drops move on, releasing him from what was discouragement.

Then as the song was finishing, emotion overtook me again with “That’s where you will find me!” I have learned in life that we end up exactly where we believe we are going. This temporary plight for my friend is a simple obstacle to a better life if overcome. Having gone through these times, making it through them, and then becoming better for it will give him tools of understanding to help others.

He has learned that the things lost to this economy are mere possessions that can be earned or purchased. They can be replaced and will be. But the things in life that are free to each of us–our family, our friends, our soul, our hopes, our dreams, our knowledge–were not lost or sacrificed to maintain these acquired belongings.

We can lose things or “stuff,” yet the things which have cost us nothing often can’t be replaced if lost. This friend of mine has lost nothing of true value. He didn’t sacrifice what is most important for the pleasure of the moment. He has maintained in his soul the mechanism that will allow him for a time in the very near future to live his life “over the rainbow.”

Jaren

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