Know Jack #514 Life Imitating Art

A line from one of my favorite songs invites the hearer to “call me irresponsible”. If you’ve ever heard me sing it, you might be inclined to call me tone deaf as well. It might be a valid comment, but we’re not here for that today. The point is that while I spend much of my time living in imaginary worlds, I am not immune to opinions in the real world. The world has changed a great deal in the last seventy years, and so have I, just not as much as some would like.

One thing that has remained constant is my reaction to criticism. Whether it’s a knife or a pat applied to my back, I heed the message. But don’t expect it to change my thinking or actions anytime soon. At this point in my life, I heard about every rational opinion about me, evaluated it, adapted as needed, and kept right on walking. Trust me, the eyes of God have picked me apart daily. He knows Jack and has never been shy about His thoughts on the subject of my behavior, nor His demands for change.

Racist, sexist, ageist, misogynic, or the phobia-du-jour, I’ve heard it all before. There are no plans to change short of a voice from heaven. To hear some tell it, given my race, sex, and age, it is impossible for me to change anyway. So as another song says. “I just dream and keep on being the way I am”.

The way I am is content. Contentment is not ease, sameness, safety, nor momentary happiness. I may not act like it at any given moment, but I am convinced that everything is divinely controlled, including my life. The end of that notion is true contentment. I haven’t completely reached the goal. I have a hair-trigger temper and a long memory with which to deal. I have found that repentance, improvisation, and adaptation are God’s tools for getting there.

I’m down with that plan. I get to be the Primadonna character for whom the Author is writing new chapters full of troubles and solutions, leading to a blessed dénouement. Yeah, I’m content with that.