But men must know that in this theatre of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on. -Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon has been quoted here before. He flourished in late 16th and early 17th century England and was a varied thinker writing, among them moral philosophy, theology and English law. From time to time he also wrote about his fellow humans getting the most out of their lives, albeit in a fancy, 17th century English manner.
Regular readers of the Thought for the Day know we like talking about that, too. I believe the ultimate bottom line in our human experience is when our time comes to die, we are going to be forced to exam our lives. I don’t have specific first-hand experience in this matter, but it is probably reasonable to conclude we will ask ourselves if we did well, or did we waste our time on this planet.
Instead of waiting until it is our time to die to examine our lives, we should do so now. Today. As soon as you are through reading this. We must ask ourselves if we are living the life we are meant to live. The happiest lives – regardless of circumstances – are lived by those who look inside themselves and answer “Yes”.
And it doesn’t have to be anything great, either. A personal example is my high school officiating career. I am mostly retired now, but for many years I was an accomplished high school official. I did my work hard and well and worked more than my share of big games. Now, there were a billion Chinese, as the saying goes, who could not have cared less about my big games, but they were important to me. Each one was hard earned. I became the best I could and was content with what I accomplished, life’s great prize.
…it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
Your example may be equally non-Earth shattering but equally important to you. Exactly what it is your look out. It can’t be anyone else’s. All it really has to be is a journey to the center of your being, a discovery of what you were meant to do with your life. If it is, you will be center stage in the theater of your life, letting others look on.
