Would you like to have complete control of your life? Although many of us work desperately to orchestrate a plan, and direct our lives, the point is that our situations cannot be scripted or controlled to the extent that some may covet.
I recently enjoyed the “Making of Gone With the Wind”, a wonderful exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The storyboard for the ‘burning of Atlanta’ scene sparked the thought of just how nice it would be if we could know our whole life story and direct it accordingly….just like the movies!
Pictured on the storyboard, the flames lit the sky, while the words read, “close up on Rhett”. The cameramen, crew, actors, and all present knew exactly what was happening and how to plan for the next steps capturing the best angles. There was no mystery, no wondering, and no suspense as to the storyline.
Would or would it not be helpful to see our life stories segmented into frames with the orders for the optimum benefit from each of our life scenes? I’m picturing my life scenes, “divorce – zoom in on forgiveness”; “death of a friend – exhibit love and appreciation”; or “holiday celebration – treasure family times together”. Nothing would be left to chance.
But maybe knowing what lies ahead wouldn’t serve us that well. Would we rush to the next joy leaving the significant present moment in the dust? But on the other hand, we would be able to see the light at the end of a tragic tunnel giving us hope.
We know that nothing lasts forever. The highs eventually sink and the lows move to happier days. There is a rhythm to life.
The lesson I learned touring that exhibit is that although we are not the producer of our lives, we certainly are the directors impacting the choice of our attitude and how we react. The situational scenes that happen upon us are presenting us with opportunities. We need to embrace every moment in the present and meet it with as much light and love as possible, no matter if the whole city is aflame.
Who knows that one day your life could be plastered on the walls, as a movie, with throngs of tourists viewing the “takes”! My advice is to live each day brimming over with as much happiness and love as you can muster.
No one wants their storyboard to read “bad attitude, zoom out”!
What would you find most helpful as the director of your own life? Please comment below.
