We are
interesting organisms, us human beings. We look out at the world around us with
a jaundiced view. We see patterns, where there are none. We see plans, when it
is the unplanned that beckons. We see answers, where questions reign supreme.
Why do we do this?
Richard Dawkins surmises that it is because we are the descendants of the
humanoids who saw the tornado, the hurricane, the storm, vested them with
agency, and ran. The humanoids who did not, just thought about it, and engaged
in deeper analysis, did not run, and so were wiped out. So we really need to
fight our evolutionary tendency, just to help us face reality. However, if we
are able to do so, this can lead to greater appreciation and gratitude, for the
good fortune we have found.
So, even though
Marcie says that not meeting her beloved, "almost seems like an impossible
outcome because I can’t comprehend a circumstance where I wouldn’t be spending
my life with Matt," this does not mean she imbues anyone with agency for
having made that happen. In fact, that
would have cheapened it for her. Instead she sees in her life, "an
overarching theme... of luck, gratitude and appreciation," of her good
fortune.
Matt too talks
about how lucky we are to be here, that that is to be cherished, and that that
is what makes life magical. As Matt
reminds us, "If I rewound the clock 100 million years ago and told you
what would have to happen for you to be standing here today, you’d say that
would be impossible." "Based on that alone," Matt reminds us,
"we should wake up every day feeling very special, insanely fortunate, and
immensely appreciative that we get to take part in another day of life. How incredibly lucky we are to simply be
breathing and can experience love, joy, happiness, fulfillment, and even the
negative feelings that make us appreciate the good ones."
And arguably,
the greatest fulfillment and joy you can feel, is in Matt's words,
"walking down the aisle about to marry your best friend," not because
someone pre-ordained it, but because you have hit the jackpot. Indeed, in
Marcie's words, living life, "as fully as possible means so much more if
you get LUCKY enough to have your best friend by your side to share it all
with."
Marcie and Matt,
what we wish for you, is that as the years go by, and your love evolves, you
continue to feel as fortunate as you do today, because in the words of the song
by Jason Mraz, each of you can say, "Lucky, I'm in love with my best
friend."
No comments:
Post a Comment