Residual
leave one
I often think of life in terms of residual. Our lives, loves, and passions are real enough, and seem to be our universe, but they, like us, soon are the detritus in the backwaters of the woods, something to be gazed at in curiosity once every century thereafter.
It’s strange to think that what was once a life, living, breathing human full of hopes and dreams, is long gone; all that is left is a few odd assortments buried beside a river that the spring rains wash out for closer inspection.
A salt shaker, a plate, a cup from 150 years ago that a once warm hand picked up. We ogle these artifacts and wonder about those people long ago, what they were doing here, what their hard life was like when a person had to rely on one’s own wits to make it from one day to the next.
Residue.
Take note.
Far from being a depressing thought, we could take note of some of our stoic forefathers, who found a strange way forward by looking directly into the harsh reality of life. We encounter two very different types of situations in life, and generally we choose the path forward, left or right, up or down, happy or sad, bitter or pragmatic.
One can see the circumstances of life as either a victim, full of doubt and bitterness, or one can see all things as from the hand of Providence, and realize you are alive in that moment to experience them, something to be grateful for indeed.
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Your life should leave a residue
There is probably more than one way to leave a residue of yourself behind when your spirit decides to part from its earthly vessel and all your treaures go into the junk heap. We can leave physical, relational, or emotional residue. Who doesn’t want to leave something behind?
It’s pretty obvious how you can’t leave a residue.
Spending a weekend on Instragram or TikTok will not leave a residue. Worshipping the digital gods and their soul sucking algorithms will leave no trace you of you in the end, as if you never existed.
I mean, let’s be honest, not matter how you try to live your life, in two generations you will have grass growing over your grave and moss on the stone marking your resting place. No one will remember or care about who you were or what you did. Maybe you will get flipped past when some great-great grandchild flips through some pictures.
The best you can hope for as the generation that is nipping at your heels might smile at the occasional thought of you. Friends, family, I mean that’s about it eh.
We can leave a residue by letting others watch how we grasp life by the horns, with a smile, and refuse to let go no matter how hard the bumps get. The world is filled with enough evil and badness to keep most people busy, we can be different.
We can care for those people we find ourselves in contact with.
Be a force for good, not for evil.
Watch the culture carefully, and do the opposite, honor the old things, remember them. Think about the impact maybe your Grandparent had on you, an uncle, cousin, friend, brother, sister. What are those memories that make you smile?
A meal? A fire? A talk? A visit? A hike? A drive?
Leave some residual.