Sundance is okay, but in a place where it is difficult/impossible to post. He’s in contact by phone, barely, and suggested that we post something for you to read in the meantime.
This post is one of the first he wrote on this blog, in February of 2011, more than 11 years ago. How time flies! I have always loved it, and I hope that you do too.
WRITTEN BY SUNDANCE, FEBRUARY 1, 2011
I have long felt that life is like a series of links in a chain. You might be driving down the road and you hear a song on the radio, or see a picture, and you feel a memory,…. something that reminds you of a different time and place than where you are right now. You reflect. The memories you consider remind you of a totally different place in your life. Perhaps you lived in a different place. Perhaps you were surrounded by different people. Perhaps a different job or completely different friends. You recognize those memories were constructed like frozen moments in time. They become individual links in the chain in your life.
You never actually realize, in the immediate moment, when one link closes, and another link begins. But when you look back, you can clearly see distinct points where things changed, the link closed, and a new link began. The links are only clearly visible in reflection.
But there are parts of the chain where each link closes and connects with the other. A beginning, and an end. At the point where the links are joined we carry parts of the previous link forward to the next. For many people those connections are bonded by family, or very strong life long relationships. Connections which continue beyond our geographic moments, jobs, or temporary acquaintances. But for everyone, the primary bonding agent brought forward from one link to the next is ourselves, our center, our values and core principles. Our beliefs.
The strength of the steel which comprises the links of our life is determined by forging in the fire of adversity, weakness, challenge, pain, loss, and painful growth. The steel is then cooled with the tears of triumph, hurdles overcome, and resolve. The forging makes the steel stronger and able to withstand the pressures that accompany the additional length. Slowly the chain becomes wiser as it lengthens. Able to reach further, form more significant benefits, and become more useful. Hope replaces fear. Love replaces loneliness. Success replaces adversity. These are successful links began and finished while contributing to the whole.
At times we may manipulate the links with avoidance. We hide from or choose to avoid an issue in our effort to begin a new link before the old one was naturally, and spiritually, prepared to be closed. Eventually as life continues, and the chain lengthens, the weak link can fracture and we are forced to revisit/repair what we originally chose to avoid. You see, in life we cannot control the universal laws that guide us. So if we manipulate circumstances to avoid confronting our own weakness, we cannot fully strengthen our life of links. Eventually, the weakness of our past will impact our future.
So what principles do we carry from link to link? What core values and beliefs stay with us throughout the journey of our lives? The answers to these questions are what makes us human spiritual beings. We possess freewill able to make choices about what we do, and how we define our individual humanity. But can we then define ’right’ and ‘wrong’ according to our individual principles? Or are there principles that exceed our influence and definition? Are there natural laws of right and wrong, good and bad, that cannot be subjected to the determination of man? These are the bigger questions, perhaps the more important questions, and yet perhaps the ones we reflect upon the least.
Consider the example of the ‘Law of the farm’ vs. the ‘Law of the School’. Natural principles vs. those made by man. A student can skip class, take few notes, pay only half attention, then stay up all night cramming for a test and manage a decent grade. It depends on the students goal, grades or learning. The student chose to manipulate the education, by avoiding the learning and capturing the grade. This is possible in the ‘Law of the School’. However, a farmer cannot take short cuts. A farmer cannot avoid tending to the soil, preparing the seed, fertilizing and nurturing the crop, and still gain benefit of an abundant harvest. The farmer must necessarily do all of the appropriate work in order to benefit from it. Such is the ‘Law of the Farm’, the natural law.
When one considers the weakness remaining within a poorly constructed, and manipulated link, perhaps established by selfish choices and driven by avoidance and fear, one can be faithfully be assured those who have dealt dishonestly with us will have to visit the issues of their association again. No amount of manipulation or avoidance is going to improve the frailty of any link without first resolving the lack of character which created the weakness.
So we have choices in our lives. Decisions we each make regarding how we interact, and participate in the lives and links of others; As well as how we choose to construct the links that compromise our own lives. Do we base our sense of purpose around natural principles? Principles based on natural laws of right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies. Do we forge strong links based on following our heart, our values? If we can interact with others absent of a prideful self driven agenda, or manipulative intent, we can then apply such principles and strength to our endeavors.
If we protect the integrity of the soil upon which we build the foundation of our lives, we can live without regret. If we fertilize and cherish our crop, and the crop of our neighbor with honesty and sincere appreciation for the souls we meet along our chosen path, we will live a life of abundance. If we tend carefully to the consideration of everyone, yet holding true to our values and principles, we can strengthen ourselves amid the face of adversity and disenchantment. If we do not hide from, nor ignore, our individual and collective faults, we can build the chain of our life with strength, humility, and purpose.
I wish for each of you a long chain of bold, strong, beautiful links, polished with the reflective brilliance of Love……..
Fantastic Sundance.
May you hit only nails, no thumbs.
Great people on Martha’s Vineyard…, https://archive.ph/RSdoe
Laughing at the dead in Florida…
Wow. Thank you 🤠
I remember this.
I remember it because of what was happening in my family.
It influenced a decision I made at the time.
It was a good decision, and I remain grateful.
Yer knockin’ it outta the park today, Stella.
I remember reading this article once before. It makes me contemplate my life. The beginnings. The ends.
A few years ago my year long Bible study was Genesis and the theme for the study was “Beginnings”. Hardly a week went by that some one would share some thing new in their life – new job, new baby, whatever. I would look for the new beginnings and point them out. It all takes me to this scripture from Ecclesiastes.
It really makes me think about life in general and my life in particular.
1. There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
So beautiful. Thanks for the reminder of that gem from scripture….
So mote it be
No truer words, save the Word of God. Thank you, Sundance, wherever you are; and Stella, … you’re the best!
WOW..as I contemplate my long life’s chain, especially these last 5 yrs since wife has died… your comments are EXACTLY how I would describe ME.. I could never have expressed so well..
thank you SD..
🇺🇸💪😀👍
You keep on keeping on Jim!
😊
Such a timely reprint! The last two years have laid bare the weak links revealing “friends” whose lack of respect for individual sovereignty have forever broken those links. This fundamental breach is irreparable. One wondering how it was that the “Good Germans” could look the other way while genocide took place has only to examine the disgusting conduct of those shaming and virtual signaling with vaccines, isolation and masks. What has been seen cannot be unseen. There is no restoration of those relationships. Onward and forward with genuine relationships. There is no more time to fritter away with the faithless, soulless, transactional nicompops.
The tribalistic hive mind mentality of Good Germans is the Collectivist’s ideal.
One moment they’re your best friend, the next they’re threatening your life and helping dismantle it on the say so of a distant acquaintance or a government flunktionary.
Never going back.
I’ve been visiting here for about 6 or 7 years now. It is literally the first page I open every single day. Sometimes I skim…..this time I read.
Magnificent repost. Can’t help but look back at my life in the context of the post and see the chain. Some tarnished, some shiny, some worn.
May God bless you, Sundance. Stella, thank you for keeping us updated. Treepers-at-large…may God bless each and every one of you.
Our country will begin forming a strong chain once again. May God let the weak links of these last few years hold out long enough to help us forge new links.
Beautiful. Thank you Sundance.
Beautiful
Last night, I watched Kanye West on Tucker Carlson. That was quite a show! It is in line with what Sundance said. May God bless Sundance with health, determination, and happiness in his life.
Thank you for re-posting this. Inspirational words.
This was written at a time when any of us paying attention knew that we were being “fundamentally transformed,” against our will, by one who was never qualified to serve in the highest office in the land, by one who despised us and what we believed, could see that the border was even then being intentionally opened to all the hordes of the world, the economy was being destroyed, the rust belt was getting rustier, and no legitimate or valid criticism allowed by our fake news media.
The Last Refuge served as my first site for, and my sometimes only [and last] refuge for REAL news.
It almost hurts to reread something so beautifully written but from an era of such devastating destruction.
Especially I would imagine as the same usurper on behalf of our enemies accelerates the destruction.
Tree House 🏡 provides many links in the chain. The links increase the longer we trek forward on this rocky, winding journey.
It is solitary, yet we are together. I appreciate the connections!
‘Tis my lifeline.
I for one remain a bitter clinger cheering.
I believe the Law of the School is an arbitrary social construct. When a professor who has written a textbook on Organic Chemistry can be fired as a direct result of a student body petition, it suggests the actual measurement of academic success varies in a way real life does not.
If this is so, the Law of the Farm, which is absolute in terms of inputs and outputs, can not and should not be compared to the Law of The School.
As a retired teacher, that part of the message really hit home. And in light of what we have seen in the last decade or more it is clear that “The Law of The School” is just as you say. It is not natural like the Law of the Farm. Now if you want to talk of “The Law of Learning”, that will align more closely with The Law of the Farm.
Stella, thank you so much for the post, sometimes we need a reminder from the way back machine. My take in Sundance’s 2011 post is take care of the current before it’s the past ir it’s gonna haunt you. I’ve experienced that and SunDance is absolutely right. I’m in Florida trying to take care of two properties in the aftermath but still feel so guilty for not helping the other survivors that have it so much worse than we did. The military taught me (when it was good) that you take care of home first or your mind won’t be in the game if and when you try to help others. I will help my brothers and sisters two hours away once things are shored up here I promise! God definitely spared me and mine because he has a higher purpose(s) for me and I get it, truly.
Humbly youts,
Jim
Links in a chain work. “Sequential Vortex” works too. History works, but changing the course of history is a farce, because nothing is changed but perceptions of what one wanted to continue. Life is usually a sequence that happens. Most of what happens is at the sub-atomic level and escapes view. What we are escapes view of most others, and thus we are mostly unknown. Not to worry over this – continue on your path because it’s yours to take.
That…was …great. Thank you. God Bless you and Sundance and all who make this place possible. Best wishes and prayers for the recovery of your home and community.
Beautifully written and the sentiment was great, I shared it with my family. They loved it also. Thank you.
It is good to see this again, thanks for the timely repost. There is much truth and wisdom contained in those words.
I would differ only in that I believe there are just a few moments many of us may experience where we are starkly, painfully aware that our life has significantly, irrevocably changed forever, even if we aren’t at all certain where the change will lead.
This has been one of those years for me, and my gratitude to have this Last Refuge as an anchor, a waypoint to help guide me forward – overflows.
From the depths of my heart, Thank You.
The question becomes, what happens when those who live by the ‘law of the school’ attempt to control those who live by the ‘law of the farm’.
Thank you! But, I would add this. In looking back at our chain of life, the good, the bad and maybe even the ugly things; remember that they are truly in the past and that there is no going back. And too much dwelling, especially on what may have been “The ugly”, do not give it so much of your “today” energy or life that you lose this moment. Because in Truth…only NOW matters! You can not go back, you can not change it, and you certainly should not give it any power in the NOW, because then that NOW becomes then with the energy you give it. It takes you out of this moment and puts you into that one. My belief is this…you can only truly experience HIM or the PRESENCE within you in THIS MOMENT. The past is gone, the future really never is because it really only ever is NOW! This is a little psychological in a way…but your mind is constantly trying to remove you from the moment you are in! And why do you think that is? One of the most important things in life is…not what is going on or happening around you…buy what is going on and happening within you. This is where God, Christ, Creator, Source, or whatever label man desires to put on it, resides! Life, through suffering unfortunately, is the learning experience that constantly brings us back to our knees and the moment where only you and the ONE you call to is what matters! So our life challenge is this…stay in this moment…NOW so that you remain in HIS PRESENCE. That is why our minds, try to remove us from this NOW. It knows this as well and will always attempt to make us think of the past and hope for the future while this moment passes us by!
Beautiful. Thank you.