As 2015 rolled into 2016, we lost a number of iconic figures in rapid succession. As one generation gives way to another we are reminded of our own mortality and we are touched deeply by the passing of influential figures that form part of our personal narrative. People who we do not know personally but who are nonetheless part of our life journey, become extended family. It is all the more poignant when they have left behind a legacy and have added some value to culture.
The lessons that we may take away from this are that we cannot escape the cycles of life, everything is in motion and without this Universal Law there can be no growth, there would only be stagnation. We cannot escape this fundamental Law and all we can really do is use our time wisely. Perhaps not all of us can achieve our fullest potential and leave behind a lasting legacy that leaves a significant imprint on civilisation but even the smallest well intentioned action can create a ripple in the vast ocean. It is never too late to make even a small difference, life is growth and every choice we make is significant. We should live our lives with this mindfulness.
We can't all paint a masterpiece, create music that births a genre or be revolutionary in some way, after all we are products of our environment, we are shaped from conception, through to birth and experience. Some people are born to lead, others to follow and if we are fortunate enough to have an epiphany, some of us can become more than we could have thought possible.
For those of us who have been enlightened in the Autumn of our years, when the vitality of youth has waned, the least we can do is pass on our wisdom to the next generation. There is an old adage that states, "Youth is wasted on the young." Another states, "You can't put an old head on young shoulders."
However we have a duty to the young, to inspire them and give them the tools to maximise their potential. A child is a blank slate when it is born. He or she may have an inate personality, inheriting certain genetic traits from both parents but an analogy I like is that of a computer. You buy a new computer and it comes with a basic operating system, how well it works is dependent on the software you input into its hard drive memory and without care and maintenance it may become corrupted.
In sentient beings, memory is a connection and strengthening of neural pathways through learning, experience and reinforcement. Nurture plays a far more significant role than nature for innate nature is further developed,shaped and moulded by experience.
If we wish to make any contribution to this world, nurturing the next generation is something we can all do. Teaching morals, encouraging learning, developing inherent abilities and most of all encouraging critical thinking are among the tools that equip the young to fulfil their true potential.
The cycles of life may be inescapable but we can give the next generation a head start, thus avoiding some of the pitfalls of the former. Life is short if we would but know it as youths. When we are young and full of vital essence, we feel invincible and have all the time in the world. Only in the Autumn of our years do we begin to realise that time has slipped by and we regret things we have not done, some things that we have but most of all wonder where all the years have gone. Time is too precious to waste.
Life should be embraced and lived to its fullest, particularly when we are young and have abundant energy. As elders, we must allow our children the opportunity to grow in a nurturing environment. One of the gravest mistakes is to live our lives through our children. Parents who use their children to fulfil unrealised ambitions of their own. This is not nurturing, it is selfishness. They must find their own way, our job is to gently guide them through the pitfalls.
On a lighter note, BBC Alba recently aired a four part series about The Callanish Stones over the course of a year. "Calanais" was filmed in 2015. In Part One, the Handfasting Ceremony that I conducted for Melissa and Jens back in May was featured in a positive light.
Issue 1 of our periodical magazine 'Exegesis' will be published very soon. We hope to engage you with some thought provoking articles on a quarterly basis.