Living With Grace

Inherent in the human design there is an urge and a propulsion to learn, to explore and to grow. Let’s, for the sake of argument, call this the green urge, because it is similar in nature to the urge of the grass and planetary foliage, as it appears in spring and continues to grow into the summer months—it is driven by an unseen power into expansion and fulfillment. Unless a human overrides this natural urge, it will become active and can be seen in the young child as it learns to crawl, walk and speak. A baby knows not failure as it starts to literally find its feet, and giving up is not part of its mindset. It simply keeps on trying again and again, until it can stand up and move forward, or until it can pronounce individual words to his or her satisfaction, and begin to string those words into sentences.
This urge pushes us all the days of our life toward new learning, new understanding, new experiences, new businesses, new jobs, new hobbies, increasing wealth, new relationships, new skills, new everything. Providing the basics are taken care of, our preoccupation moves out of the realm of maintenance into the real of “what next,” which can lead to development and progression. There are those who manage to silent this urge and seem to be devoid of ambition, usually due to poor health, drug abuse, depression, lack of education, mourning or any other reason that can pull a person away from their naturally inbuilt curiosity and need for advancement. But when it is there, this green urge is continuously causing a person to take a step away from their maintenance life into initiative, discovery and adventure, where the unknown awaits.
When a person becomes employed in a new job, at first everything is new and interesting, as one finds one’s way to the coffee machine in the morning or learns about the phone system, or where the copier machine is located. Then there is the need to learn the names of one’s co-workers, to understand the filing system and get inside the computer programs. Once a routine has been established and the employee begins to feel comfortable with the ways and means of the office staff, the familiar green urge will set in, unless a person enjoys the routine they have established and finds way to advance within the job. Otherwise they might start looking around for better, more interesting employment with better pay and prospects. What was once a gratefully received position, full of promise and challenge, can become boring and routine.
So why do people often destroy or lose the very thing they say they love? Why do they not appreciate their health until they lose it or are in danger of losing it? Why do we become familiar with what we already have? How can we safeguard against compromising what has already been achieved, to make sure that with each new adventure one does not jeopardize what has already been achieved?
The main destroyer of past achievements is familiarity. If we can safeguard against it, perhaps we will be able to value what is already part of our life, so we do not destroy or neglect our existing relationships every time something or someone new and stimulating turns up. What we already have is our platform upon which we can continue to build our future life. Do not forget the bird in hand, whether it is your home, your health or your relationships, or simply the fact that we are able to put food on our table for one more. An appreciation for what is already in place will provide the strength and security to venture safely into new territories, thus satisfying the green urge, as well as fostering grace as a way of life.