Midweek.  A few days remain until Christmas. The to-do list is short.  To live is to act, to do.  It is good to have a list, the illusion of control.  I believe there is no control, that all is at “the mercy” of the state of things that immediately preceded this moment.  Still there is no reason to think that events are as “a gun to the head,” that existence is always under the gun of circumstance, blind fate.  Why not greet the day, one’s fate with thanksgiving, anticipation of good things to be experienced, and evaluated?  Which is it to become the connoisseur or to become the executioner who is waiting his turn to go to the block?

I read this poem a few minutes ago.  The poem was written in 1862 or 1863 by Friedrich Nietzsche when he was eighteen or nineteen.  He had just lost his father.

To The Unknown God

Once more, before I move on
and set my sights ahead,
in loneliness I lift my hands up to you,
you to whom I flee,
to whom I, in the deepmost depth of my heart,
solemnly consecrated altars
so that ever
your voice may summon me again.

Deeply graved into those altars
glows the phrase: To The Unknown God.
I am his, although I have, until now,
also lingered amid the unholy mob;
I am his—and I feel the snares
that pull me down in the struggle and,
if I would flee,
compel me yet into his service.

I want to know you, Unknown One,
Who reaches deep into my soul,
Who roams through my life like a storm—
You Unfathomable One, akin to me!
I want to know you, even serve you.

—Friedrich Nietzsche, 1864

How about some music. How to live without music?  We’d be lost without lyric and melody. When It’s Love by Van Halen will carry us to the other shore.

When It’s Love

By Van Halen

Everybody’s lookin’ for somethin’
Somethin’ to fill in the holes
We think a lot but don’t talk much about it
‘Til things get out of control
How do I know when it’s love
I can’t tell you but it lasts forever
How does it feel when it’s love
It’s just something you feel together
When it’s love
You look at every face in a crowd
Some shine and some keep you guessin’
Waiting for someone to come into focus
Teach you your final love lesson
How do I know when it’s love
I can’t tell you but it lasts forever
How does it feel when it’s love
It’s just something you feel together
Oh oh oh oh
Oh when it’s love
Oh oh oh oh
You can feel it yeah
Oh oh oh oh
Nothing’s missing
Yeah
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Nothing’s missing
How do I know when it’s love,
I can’t tell you but it lasts forever
How does it feel when it’s love
I can’t tell you but it lasts forever
When it’s love
When it’s love
It’ll last forever
When it’s love
You and I
We’re gonna feel this thing together
When it’s love
When it’s love
You can feel it
We’ll make it last forever
When it’s love

Lyrics by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony