Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday February 8, 2008

I read rapaciously and as a result I pick up numerous little gems which I save for these articles. I use quotes a lot because as far as I know I have never had an original thought, therefore I share the encapsulated ideas of others, in order to be of help to those who read my meager efforts at the literary calling.

Today's gem is one that I wish I had thought up, but then I don't sit around dreaming up things others will quote, but I am hopeful of saying something that will cause someone, perhaps you to get up and do something worthwhile.

A well meaning friend sent the following to me and when I fired back asking for the source I have yet to receive an answer, so I am faced with the dilemma of giving credit to him and thus having a living person to blame if it is not correct, or fudge a wee bit and pass it off as my own. I know had I done the latter many would heave a sigh and whisper, at last Larry has said something worthwhile. Being well known as a coward I opted for the first, so here goes:

"Ad Astra per Aspera"

Do I know what the above means, can I translate it? Not on your life. I am certain it is Latin, such as would be used in the Catholic Church, which is only one reason I opted not to become a Roman priest, another being their idiotic spelling of celebRate. So the dear police dispatcher who sent this to me is at risk with his translation now going all around the known world. I am thankful that in this country we have policemen who can read, therefore if the Latin is rusty, hey we can live with it.

Ad Astra per Aspera according to my source translates into a beautiful phrase that reaches down to the heart of every man woman and child on the planet who wants be, as the Army ad states, "All you can be."

"To the stars through difficulty."

Reaching for the stars is the epitome of the human dream. One of my favorite characters is Cervantes' hopeless dreamer Don Quixote. Yet we all have a part down deep inside that dares to dream the impossible dream, to reach the unreachable star. In all honesty I cannot reach the note let alone the star!

Having arrived at the point in life oft referred to as vintage, I know in the innermost part of my being, euphemism for heart, that my star in life, Latin or American, is to ascertain the will of God for me today. Not as easy as you may think. Simple? Yes. Easy? No.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran Clergyman martyred by Hitler wrote:

"The will of God is not a system of rules established from the outset, it must be found new each day as we walk in God's presence."

Larry Lilly Copyright (C) 2008 Use with credit.

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