When I read The Second Mountain, it became clear that Jan and I never even attempted to climb the first mountain. We were constantly climbing the second mountain. We had chosen to do work that repaired the world; we both had a faith community and lived in a community. All we were missing as far as commitments when we met was each other. Our love for each other provided the missing link and allowed us to climb to the top of the second mountain.
Game of Life or Life’s Story?
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 3 secondsI have referenced David Brooks, specifically The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, and his essays about life’s essential issues.
His July 22, 2022, column, entitled Is Life a Story or a Game?, is one that resonated with me. A PDF link for those who do not subscribe to the NY Times.
I concur with Brooks’s opinion expressed in this paragraph.
Maturity means rising above the shallow desire — for status — that doesn’t really nourish us. It’s about cultivating the higher desires: The desire for a good and meaningful life that inspires people to commit daily acts of generosity.
My life as a widow has been made easier by writing a daily online journal. Few read it, which is fine as I am not writing for likes or shares.
My posts and streams are part of either a continuous love letter to Jan or the first draft of our love story.
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