Once upon a time there was a boy who loved to fly around the world using his miles and points. Around the globe he flew, visiting the far corners of the world; meeting new people and surveying new lands.
The boy grew into a man and his eyes were opened to the world around him, to the beauty of nature, the sights and smells of the world’s great cities, and the elegance of the human race. But he noticed something else, something troubling.
Humanity, for all its hints of goodness, was inimitably at war with itself. Not just wars of weaponry and nation states, but deeper wars of ideas and values. Like a cancer imperfectly treated, the pestilence of irreconcilable division ebbed and flowed…but perpetually manifested itself in fierce battles and spilled blood.
The man took this all in, wondering where his place was in all this was. A humanitarian? A missionary? A soldier? A politician? A writer? A peacemaker? Perhaps a little of each. Perhaps none of the above. He married a woman from a different culture and with a different worldview. The challenge of marriage personified the challenge of the surrounding world — putting differences asides to build trust, loyalty, and respect while growing in love and patience. Was this even possible absent divine intervention?
Then one Thanksgiving Day it hit him. He could not change the world. Not alone anyway. But there was one one thing he could do, something so trite on the one hand but absolutely revolutionary on the other: he could love his neighbor as he loved himself.
Just how would that look? Being honest, generous, forgiving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, and faithful to everyone he encountered. He would often fail, but it became a primary goal in life.
The man still ponders his place in this world, but there is one thing he knows — there may be many things he is not, but he is a traveler and that gives him a unique opportunity to put his maxim to practice in venues far beyond the friendly confines of home. Blessed with so much through circumstance of birth, he pauses to reflect upon the blessings he has been the recipient of, many from those who follow a similar maxim.
Perhaps one day you will meet him and he can encourage you or share in your struggles. His goal is to leave every person he crosses paths with knowing that they are loved and respected. Life is often unkind and this goal is insurmountable in all place and it all times, but it is worth pursuing.
Now, he invites you to join him in his journey to put others before himself. One day and one person at at time, humanity can tame the inhumane world it finds itself in.
This post has appeared annually on Thanksgiving Day since 2015.
I love this post.
Really thankful that you are striving to live out these values.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well said, sir 🙂
The sentiment is endearing but that picture is absolutely vile. A disgusting whitewashing of reality. I know you’re a closet Republican but dear god. I know you’ll attempt to claim ignorance but I know you’re not THAT stupid.
Wonderful essay. Thank you!
May the Lord bless the Explorers.
A thoughtful post but you my want to rethink the imagery that glorifies the white colonists…. and presents them as benevolent. thank you for all that you offer to the travel community.
Nice play on The Giving Tree. The book I always loved reading to my daughter when she was young. Lovely, Matthew.
Petula Clark sang something sharing your sentiment :”In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise.
At a moment in my life when the world is new.
And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me,
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.”
Im waiting for Andy K to post a comment here bashing gay people
I will do it for Andy K. Gay men are frequently so gay. They laugh, they know the latest in men’s and women’s fashion. They are the social 1%ers and must be punished! Tax them more. Free People Magazine, GQ, and expensive clothes For All Paid for by the LGBTQIA!
This is a nice essay but I strongly disagree with it.
It seems to describe Matthew. He has changed my world. When I’m short of time, say on a busy morning, only email, home page of a news website, and Live and Let’s Fly is checked. The latter is like a bowl of cereal that gets me through the day.
Similarly, I could point to a few others. For example, my doctor of one specialty (not psychiatrist for those curious) is also important to me…ok, I will disclose…ophthalmologist (eye specialist), not to be confused with chain store optometrists, who don’t go to medical school.
Thank you, Matthew.
You have a rare blend of the inner world (spiritual) and of the outer (corporate) world. To experience their interplay is nourishing. Generally folks have either one or the other.
In a world where so many have sold their souls for ambition, greed and human approval – you are refreshing.
So grateful to meet you daily in your column
Beautiful essay. Simply amazing. Looking forward to reading more such blogs.
As your wife engages in avian necrophilia by fisting a dead turkeys nether regions to stuff it with stuffing and you cheer her on from the side, I wish you all happy Thanksgiving.
Remember every time you fly for no reason other than you can, it pisses off a tree hugging liberal freak. And also know you are doing a great thing by showing them you can do whatever the hell you want because it’s the American way and you can afford it. While you would love to explain to them that they made poor life choices or are just too lazy to succeed like you did, it easier to just ignore or laugh at your critics. Instead of protesting and smoking dope while thinking a politician will make up for their bad decisions, you show it can be done.
So congratulations for living your life the right way and showing hard work and good decisions pay off. Sometimes it’s big things and other times, it’s a little thing like a plastic duck. But in any case, never forget you worked for what you have and most liberals never will. Instead they will be using today to look for a handout for kids they couldn’t afford and try to make us feel guilty about it.
Happy Thanksgiving and Fly on brother!