Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born on February 27, 1807 in Portland, Maine. His famous works include “Paul Revere’s Ride”, “The Song of Hiawatha”, “Evangeline”, and “Christmas Bells”. Of course, his immortalization of Paul Revere is by far his most famous. What American school child in the last 130 years has not memorized:
Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April in seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year…
…One; if by land, And two; if by sea
And i on the opposite shore will be
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
To every middlesex village and farm
For the country folk to be up and arm.
Today, however, we feature another of Mr. Longfellow’s most stirring works. It’s a poem and and an affirmation all at the same time. The final stanza is often quoted as an affirmation, but the whole poem will light a fire under your mid winter Wednesday.
“A Psalm of Life”
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Life is but an empty dream!-
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled dreams are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act – act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and learn to wait.
Be peaceful Be prosperous!
Ray
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You’re a member of the “Pepsi Generation,” right? Do you, “Think outside the bun?” By the way, “What’s in your wallet?” And, of course, you know where to go if you want, “Always low prices. Always.”
These professional marketers are extremely good at what they do. They often drive what’s hot and what’s not. Who’s in and who’s out. They do it using a simple equation:
What Ray’s reading right now:
Today’s post is short and sweet.I want to know who you believe is the most positive major presidential candidate in this year’s race. I’m trying to get a sense of who people believe is the most positive (not necessarily who they plan to vote for) presidential candidate in 2008.
Are The Beatitudes Realistic in Our Modern World? – The Affirmation Spot for Thursday January 31, 2008
January 31, 2008 — Ray DavisRay’s Daily Affirmation:
“God’s love flows through my entire being each and every moment all day long.”
(Download this or 100s of other mp3 affirmations at The Affirmation Spot)
Scholars generally regard the statements as spiritual assurances of reward for those who suffer for their faith in this life. However, I believe they represent far more than that. Clearly, Jesus believed the characteristics he describes are the hallmarks of a spiritual and happy person. I concur.
2000 years later they remain a measuring stick by which we can evaluate our own development as people.
Do we bless and encourage the attributes described by Jesus? Do we encourage our children to embody these values? How about those we place in positions of authority over us? Do they bless and promote these values? Or, do they exhibit behaviors that are the polar opposite?
Do we too much extol the virtue of the warrior and deride the peacemaker? Do we thirst for justice or have we become content with a comfortable corruption? Do we comfort all who mourn or only those on our side? Have we so divided the world into “us” and “them” that mercy is no longer an option? Do we see these ideas and the people who promote them as weak and unrealistic?
Are they just nice words or are they traits we should seek to develop in ourselves and our children? Do we mean to create a society based on these ideals or continue to be led down paths going the other direction? These concepts are grounded in love while hate, anger, and fear are the engines driving our world today.
I am not here today to answer these questions for you or for our society. I am simply asking the questions.
However, I will offer this. Whether you are a Christian, a spiritual seeker, or just someone trying to see the world in a more positive and hopeful way, the logic and compassion of these virtues is inescapable.
Many earnestly believe in these words, but have been taught that such a world is not and will not be possible. To them, I suggest that as long as you hold that mindset; you are correct. But the moment enough of us are willing to release that mental block, a whole new world is born.
Just as people must grow and grow up societies must do the same. The opportunities are there for us every day. The question is only whether we will choose a new course or remain on our present one.
Here are Jesus’ words. As you read them, consider, for at least one moment, what the world can be instead of just what it is today.
Follow your bliss! Experience your bliss! Become your bliss!
Ray
Ray Davis is the Founder of The Affirmation Spot and focuses on empowering minds to think positively, achieve goals, and live dreams. He is author of the ebook The Power to Be You and the forthcoming The Power to Be You 2.
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