Tradition: Maker and Breaker

Tradition! The word rolls of my lips, seemingly lifeless, and yet brimming with power. What does it mean? Dictionary.com brings across the idea of passing down beliefs, statements, customs, legends, practices, or information from generation to generation. A customary method or manner, a long-established way of thinking or acting. It is what was always done for no reason other then it was always done. On the surface it seems empty. Pointless. Why do something just because it was done that way in the past? Are we not creatures of logic?

And then we turn to the source of power behind this word. Tradition. The smell of freshly cooked egg burritos on Christmas morning. The feeling of the first snowball slowly forming into a snowman. Buying a flimsy tree with Charlie Brown. Going to that one park to look at the sunset like you did with that special someone.  It could come in the form of a 25 cent piece of candy, or a 250 dollar TV. A frozen pizza, or a brand new car. Tradition can come in every form imaginable, depending on the individual. So what is the common factor? Memories. Doing what was always done, because it was always done that way, is a way we can connect with the past. It puts us back in the arms of loved ones to walk alone a path that was once walked together. It is a form of bonding when one shares the same experiences with others year after year.

I don't think anyone will argue that traditions in the above sense is bad. But what when we are ripped away from such things? When what is the normal, becomes painful? When the sunset becomes stained with memories of what once was, but is no longer? When loneliness sweeps in like the wind and poisons our new experiences with want for the old? Traditions that once made memories, no break us. We watch the sunset over the lake of old, but now we lack the warmth that made the memory special.

Tradition. Maker and Breaker.

Walls: Defense or Destruction?

Do walls help? Do they hurt? Are they meant for keeping things in, or keeping things out? Do all walls have gates? If a wall has a gate, will it be able to serve its purpose?

Walls. If you never ever let anything get around your defenses, then you will be safe. Or will you be? Is it safe to be inside your walls, with noone to keep you sane, save yourself? Is it possible to prevent anything from entering your haven? With physical walls, perhaps not. With mental walls though, anything is possible. There is always those who are able to penetrate even the highest defenses you throw up however. I think the only real way to ensure victory, is to also mitigate access with others. Create a barrier between your wall and others. Otherwise, even the tallest wall has a chance of being scaled.

On the flip side, if you allow everything to enter your realm, you are destined to have much more fun and pleasure-for a time. For while a wall blocks all, so does a lack of wall allow all. You will be open to all, and this includes pain. Every time you allow something in, it will bring pain. It seems to be a part of the curse of human nature. The saying 'no pain, no gain' comes to mind. While seemingly just a false bravado, the saying seems to hold much more relevance here. If I seek to gain anything from a lack of defense, I will also be subject to pain. Maybe it's worth it. Maybe not. I know nothing worse then losing what you hold dear. And yet, it happens again and again.

So what then? Should I isolate myself from all of humanity? I am obviously the problem. I am the common denominator, and as such, the weakest link. I play the part, but do I fit the role? Apparently not.

Building walls. Unlike physical walls, it is much easier to build mental walls then to tear them down. the stronger the mind, the stronger the wall, and the faster it will be rebuilt. I have lived my life as of yet with no defenses. How much more pain can I take? I do what is right, always striving to hear God's word in all I do. But I need to build. build. build. I need a wall. To let know one in. Safety. Whoever it was that said 'It is far better to love and to lose, then to never have loved before.' was probably someone who has never loved before. Because it is far worse to lose then to have never known. I now wish to possess that which I used to think a waste. Irony.