Blog 56 – 6.23.15

Someday when my words reach tens of thousands of people I would like it to be remembered that from the very start when I was just starting to hone my word craft I felt it was a great privilege to share with you. Everyone I have ever met or ever will meet is my friend and my family and the prayer, the hope, the highest and best intention of my heart is that my words will ever be an encouragement to each and to all.

Sometimes when people become famous they are tempted to lose the attitude of gratitude that actually helped them get there and trade it for an attitude of superiority and entitlement. I do think quite highly of myself. I am a handsome, an intelligent, and a magnificent being. But no more so than any one of you. And when I am recognized as a famous writer it will be because of famous readers like you. To be famous one must have fans and our best friend and our best fan should be ourself. I mean if you don’t love you how can you expect anyone else too.

Many people live long lives and are never widely known outside there immediate family and small circle of friends. There is nothing at all wrong with that. But I have chosen a path to touch as many people as I can with the encouraging word. Time will tell how successfully I accomplish this goal but if you are reading this and feel the least bit encouraged I am already a success.

This present moment is all we truly have and if we live it fully and focus our incredible powers of visualization on what we want not on what we don’t want life will get bigger and better for us each day. To dwell on passed mistakes or tragedies or to fear trouble tomorrow is to miss the glory of the now, the eternal moment.

It is not just my privilege but it is our privilege to know this day and to drink of its fullness. Many Christians these days use the expression, “Have a blessed day.” Not realizing that the word blessed in Jesus Beattitudes, “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God.” etc. just means, “Happy.” So they like the rest of us are just wishing all our friends and family a happy day.

The title of this piece, The Privilege Is All Mine comes from a particular response when someone says Thank You. The Spanish speaking people have a friendlier way of saying a lot of things. Like when you ask someone their age in Spanish, You are literally asking, “How many years do you have?” That, I think, is much more polite than, “How OLD are you?” But the standard reply to “Gracias” or “Thank you” in Spanish is, “De nada” literally “For nothing.” Not so polite, sort of belittling the act which we often try to do in English, “Oh, don’t thank me. I did not do much.”

If a person notes something you did or gave enough to say thank you you should graciously accept their thanks and praise if they offer it, I can think of no better response to a sincere Thank You than an equally sincere The Privilege Was All Mine.

Your fellow traveler and privileged friend,
David White