A bunch of guys got together in
the 6th century and tried to figure out when Christ was born so
they could establish a new calendar. Now how accurate could they
have been - sitting around the campfire in those Timex-less days?
And we still don’t know if they started the whole deal off
with the year 0 or the year 1. And besides, anybody over the age
of 50 knows the difficulty of figuring out their own age year to
year. But going back 500+ years? Then there’s the new
report: Modern scientists and historians have recently estimated
the age of the universe to be approximately 15 billion years old.
Who knows? Maybe a Billennium Celebration is right around the
corner!
Somehow I don’t think God cares about the great dating game.
The more important question is what are you going to be and do
this very day, this very minute.
When the great basketball player Larry Bird and his Boston
Celtics lost the NBA championship, what did Larry do? He went
back to his hometown of French Lick, Indiana, got some local
buddies together and played basketball. The following year when
he WON the NBA championship, what did he do? He went back to
French Lick, Indiana, got some local buddies together and played
basketball! You see, Larry was committed with passion AND
discipline. He found what he loved to do and lived a life that
showed it.
January 1, 2000 may seem like a big deal for examining our
commitments and our values. And I am very thankful if we use it
that way. But I am just as interested in what happens February 3
or May 13 or in the year 2005. Because the true warrior gets up
every day and commits fully to his or her purpose, acknowledges
the endless excuses and stories that show up daily to hold him
back, and then goes for it anyway. If our commitments are going
to be powerful in the new Millennium, then they can be powerful
right now. And, instead of doubting our friends’ commitments
and then sympathizing when they aren’t met, maybe we should
become the truest of friends and support them fully in doing what
it takes to manifest their vision. Tough love and telling the
truth is the true warrior way.
One thing I’ll be doing this New Year’s Eve will be
what I’ve done often over the past years - Cathy and I, and
hopefully our aging dog Maggie, will put on our telemark skis and
headlamps and climb up Aspen Mountain, step by step. For me, it
beautifully drives home the moment by moment choices we have;
reminders to get centered and to live the examined life, and to
give to Mother Earth and all living beings the compassion and
love they deserve.
May you all discover the True Warrior spirit within you; live it
moment by moment today and into the New Millennium.
Tom Crum
Co-founder of The Windstar Foundation
Founder and President of Aiki Works
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