You have this One Life

I was out in this field taking pictures of these gorgeous wine cups and pondering the savageness of our existence. We have this one short life! It's over in a whisper. When I think of it in those terms, there's no way I'm going to allow someone to mistreat me, to cause me unhappiness in my existence on this massive marble. For many years I was married to a man who was not worthy of me. I say that with absolutely no ego. It is truth, plain and simple. He did not appreciate what I brought so I left. 21 years of hard work and I walked away in a moment. After that I began to examine my life and look at relationships, friendships, and what was serving me, and I don't mean this in a selfish way, but rather, if I'm going to live this One Life to my utmost, I can't afford to have people hanging on to me much in the same way barnacles and parasites hang on a turtles shell as he makes his way through the waves. If someone truly needs me, I will grab on to them and pull them along. If they pose dead weight and unfruitfulness, I have to cut them loose. I absolutely must! In the same way a gardener goes about his trees and prunes them, I have to be ruthless in my cutting at times. I ask you to consider today your One Life. How will you make it beautiful? How will you make it meaningful and fruitful? What serves you and your purpose here? And after asking, have your pruning shears ready.