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* * *
And, this becomes what gives meaning to your life, sacralizes your every step of the Way. You know your dreams may not come true. If a dream comes true, it can become untrue in a moment. Everything is in flux. Who knows?
So, one may say, "What you are saying is nihilistic?" Or, "You are depressing me, I cannot live like that. I must have control, to feel able to live amid chaos."
First, this is not nihilistic; as long as you row, life has meaning for you. Second, you can live this way. This way is a relaxed way of focusing on what you can control and enjoying that: rowing. So, whatever you give yourself to do, you do it wholeheartedly. Life becomes sacred, a holy, reverential act of gratitude to Life, a response to the opportunity to be alive.
As to, "I cannot live this way." This meaning, "I must have certainty, I must have control." Well, you are already living without having control. The idea that you can control anything other than your wholehearted engagement with Life, the Way, is the illusion, the lie. See, too much is happening for control. And, the only place you can act is in the boat, at one place. There, you cannot control the shores, the sky, the other persons rowing, other boats, weather changes, ... You can, however, row.
And, too, there is no God to promise you that due to His or Her favor, you can escape or be exempt from being a human with other humans rowing out on the water. You may feel very close to your God, and disaster can happen, anyway. You may even blame your God, like you had been a good boy or good girl and, hence,this God should have protected you; He, or She, owned you protection from the misfortune common among humans. But no one is, finally, to blame. And, in loving your God beyond blame, you discover an amazing grace supporting you, as you row without a need to be other than present to the rowing. Grace arises from the Way. You discover a Love, furthermore, free of superstition and manipulation, a certainty deeper than the felt-need you had for personal security, for you are living as part of the whole and its need, not merely your felt-needs, and, certainly, not your personal wants. This does not mean having wants is not okay, only that personal wants no longer are your priority, Life is, communion is.
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