Words and Actions by Barbara

Leeza's meaningful quote is profoundly true if we consider the saying;
"MAN PLANS AND GOD LAUGHS"; OR MORE GENTLY STATED, "GOD MANAGES."

I was wondering where this proverb originated. I was raised Jewish,(respecting all peaceful belief systems); my first inquiry was the bible, and not surprisingly found the reference there as: "Man plans, and Man proposes; God disposes. Man freely devises; God powerfully directs. Man willingly plans; God masterfully dictates. The commentary was, Man acts as he pleases; there is no "perfect" anything, so don't look for it.

The bible and commentary continued with, "We live in a sinful world; everything is imperfect. God has not revealed perfect choices for us. You will waste your life searching; and you will always be frustrated."

I was speaking with my Christian friends and asked about original sin;(as Jews we don't believe in the concept of original sin); we concurred however that although Christians do embrace this concept and Jews do not, we generally all believe we are born into a world that can constantly be improved upon. There is much work to done, and we must all participate in the healing of our world.

As Leeza offers:
"Life is most profound when we can give up the need to know what happens, the need to have an answer, or even to form the perfect questions."

I believe she is speaking of the beauty and exuberant place of being in the moment, of genuinely experiencing spontaneity. I do not believe that she is suggesting that we live every aspect of our lives without planning, without conscious forethought about our present or future; or without reflection about how our past has impacted our path moving forward. I know Leeza as a savvy businesswoman, a devoted mother, a successful entertainer; a thinker, planner, and a highly evolved woman of mindful living. I feel that what Leeza is trying to convey is that some of the deepest, most powerful and life changing moments happen when we simply allow life to unfurl its long, graceful arms and broadly reveal its mysteries. Some of those moments may not always be the happiest, others may be touchingly sad; others may be epiphanies of self-knowledge,(not all pleasant), or acceptance and overflowing gifts of love and respect. Whatever they may be, they were not planned, nor expected, and they perhaps could never have been negotiated to transpire even if we assertively tried. They just come to be: circumstance, or kismet, connections, or prior preparation that just allows this flow of energy, recognition, opportunity to wash over you if you can be open to it all. Give permission to yourself to accept it, embrace it, and feel gratitude.

As the bible says;
"Nothing is perfect", if that is so, and I believe that completely, then there cannot be any perfect questions, nor perfect answers. We must proceed with good will, kindness, and a desire to be the best we can for ourselves and for others. Expect surprises along the way. We can try to live meaningful, and happy lives of purpose; we cannot know for certain what will happen. We can hope for the best, and strive with earnestness and integrity to positively affect the outcome. However, we have no control over earthquakes, tsunamis and often even the complexities of the fickle heart. Plan but be flexible. Plan but know as human beings we must be prepared for sometimes finding profound light in the darkness moments; and when we are blessed with sunshine, share it, for those are the most profound moments of being alive.