Volume 2
INTENT AND CONSEQUENCE - A STORY IN THREE PARTS
A VISION ON LIFE - Part Three of the Trilogy
I have come to the end of these reflections and reminiscences. My tale has now been told and it is only now that I realise that these many incidents, some small and trivial and some momentous, have made up my life. A life, although not yet ended, could already be considered a long one, although it seems to me that I have arrived at this stage, and age, very quickly.
In testing my mind, back over all these years, I have tried to describe in these chapters opportunities created and opportunities squandered and thrown away; resisting at all times the often-used justification, “success was skill, failure was fate.”
That said, however. let me start by recognising how fortunate I have been; fortunate to have been born in a civilised country with caring considerate parents; a country in which food, shelter, education and healthcare are taken for granted. What did I do to be so lucky? I did absolutely nothing to influence the circumstances of my birth.
It has been my intention that in these 23 chapters I have honestly, and to the best that my memory will allow, tried to give a true picture of what I've made of it all.
Did I make the most of my opportunities? I cannot say that I did. Certainly, I wanted to do things my way. I took risks when at times there was no need. In business, I made fortunes and I lost fortunes, I survived recessions, depressions and years of economic chaos but, at least, in spite of all that, I, and everybody associated with me, survived successfully and intact, weathering all the storms.
My real wealth and the one that actually matters is the one that has grown and strengthened over the years. Its roots lie in the love, honour and respect cultivated and nurtured during more than 50 years from a marriage to a wonderful woman. Add four marvellous children and now further blessed with two granddaughters, a large and caring family and a wide circle of genuine friends. Golden memories of wonderful occasions, precious times when our companionship faced the good, the bad and indifference of life. That is where my true wealth lies and for which I will be for ever grateful
It would be easy to suggest that the decisions, incidents and circumstances that contributed to my achievements, (and my failures), could be put down to the Law of Karma but, that would be too easy an explanation. The great prophet Mahatma Gandhi could define Karma but I, for my part, can arrive at no meaningful explanation why I, one of the over-privileged millions that inhabit the so-called civilised, developed parts of the planet, was brought up with the self-satisfying culture that we are entitled to exploit these, our less-fortunate “fellow world citizens.” Come to think of it, my reading of Gandhi sees a man full of contradictions.
At my time of life, I should have found solace and not be troubled with mounting internal conflict. Maybe it is not too late to look again at religion. Could I accept there is a God? From what we know of our solar system, and the violent planets around us, we must accept that our world is a miracle of creation and not some chance happening. Some form of order and structure surviving within our raging cosmo; realising the unbelievable beauty of our planet, so different from all the others. Maybe, just maybe, it needed The Almighty and the miracle of creation to put it all together.
Should this be? I am becoming more and more inquisitive with the passing years and with it more uncertain. It plays hell with one's peace of mind. I envy those that feel no need to question. Is that what blind faith is about?
Posted May 2010 Epilogue