One of the most popular songs of all time is a simple little song called, "Row Your Boat". Now, it never reached the top forty on the pop charts...and it's not exactly a Rock'N Roll classic...however, the lyrics of that song should be the philosophy of everyone's life. In case you've never heard the little tune, it goes something like this..."Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the steam. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream.
It's not Beethoven or Mozart. It's certainly not a Beatle's classic....but could that have been what Paul McCartney meant when he was inspired to write these words? "When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom..let it be. Or maybe "Row Your Boat" inspired Sting to write the haunting lyrics: "My soul is in a cage, swim to the light. Swim to the light." If you listen carefully to the message behind the lyrics of many great songs, the message is the same. There is "A Bridge Over Troubled Water".
You see the same message in great art work. The reason the Mona Lisa, by Da Vinci became so famous was that she dared to SMILE in such a dark age of a troubled world. Why was she smiling? Did she know the secret? Is there a lost lesson that our fast paced culture has overlooked? Is there a subliminal message in the song, "Row Your Boat?" Well, let's examine each line of that song and see if it can apply to your family, your work, your friends, your health, your finances and most importantly your own personal smile.
"Row, Row, Row," life is labor. No one is born to sit on a mountain and meditate. To create, to produce, and to work is an instinct. Watch the world around you. Notice how the ants toil to carry loads.... how the squirrels run to and fro storing nuts for the winter, and how the bees buzz from flower to flower working for a living. So what is the point...Whistle while you work! Row, Row, Row!
"Gently Dow The Stream," OK, so you are not a salmon. Quit trying to swim upstream. Go with the flow. Life should not be a struggle. Some have made this life way too hard. Some have turned their dream into a nightmare! People who battle food and suffer through diets are usually over weight. Tight wads and stingy people usually end up broke. People who struggle to be holy and religious on the outside, usually are not very spiritual on the inside. People who don't like blood should not train to be a doctor. People who are tone deaf should not train to be a musician. Pick an occupation that utilized all of your strengths and talents. Do you smile when you think about your job? Do you whistle while you work? Why not? So what is the answer? Men have searched for centuries in vain attempts to find real happiness and failed. Even Indiana Jones chased clues around the world for 5 movies and never quite found success. So what can the Mona Lisa and you both have in common? Find a reason to smile!
Merrily... Merrily... Merrily... Why? Because... life is good. Think about it. The Ark of the Covenant is not hidden under a stone, or buried in a deep cave. It is inside of us. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy could never find the answer in the Emerald City. So what was it? What did she discover in the end? The wizard certainly did not have it. The answer to her destiny was in her heart all along. She alone had the power to regain her lost happiness. Like Indiana Jones and Dorothy, the SMILE has been inside of you the whole time and you didn't know it was there. Your dormant volcano of power has been waiting to erupt and explode over your circumstances. The power does not come from your bank account or your resume. Success has nothing to do with winning or landing a job. Real happiness comes from knowing that deep inside of you there is a light. Below the mere surface of your personality, there is a powerful connection that you feel to a source that is stronger than you! It's difficult to feel the connection in a crowd or above the noise. The next time you are alone, listen to your heart. The next time you are afraid, be still, be silent, and wait for it...Life is but a dream!