As I was beginning to write today, I fired up the ol’ iTunes on my computer and decided to listen to the great Rolling Stones album, “Sticky Fingers”.  The album, of course, is great.  There’s not a bad song on the whole album CD, in my humble opinion.

As I was going through my pre-writing ritual of mimicking Jason Alexander while he’s at his computer on the Brad Paisley “Online” video, the song “Sway” started to play.  When I quickly realized that I couldn’t “do the Jason” and listen to “Sway” at the same time, I thought I’d better get down to “bidness” and write.

Darn it!  I can’t help but listen to the words of “Sway” and wax philosophical (or, at least as philosophical as my simple mind will let me).  The song starts off with these lines:

Did you ever wake up to find

A day that broke up your mind

Destroyed you notion of circular time

Have you ever had one of those life changing days?  If you haven’t, you will.  You will have one of those days where, either by thought or event, you’re view of the world will change.  Maybe, like me, you’ll drag yourself to the mirror one morning, barely open your eyes, and wonder who that pasty white, beached whale of a middle aged man is staring back at you.  If you’re a woman and thinking that, you better make sure that you woke up in your own home!

More seriously, perhaps you wake up to find yourself alone or that, somehow, life has just past you by.  The Stones continue to sing, “It’s just that demon life has got me in its sway.”  Faced with your mortality, you begin to wonder what you’re going to do during the rest of this roller coaster ride called life. 

What to do, what to do?  People who are faced with the reality of time and its affects will often attempt to turn back its hands.  Others will try the gold chain/sports car/Barbie doll mistress route. You ladies may even think that enjoying the company of some young stud will stop that clock of yours.  We all know that it’s all been tried before and, so far, fairy tale endings via these routes are near impossible to find.

I personally know of cases where relatively good marriages went up in smoke because of a spouse being convinced that someone else would make them happier.  Statistics abound of the long range affects of these decisions.  Multiple marriages, angry kids and ex’s, financial ruin are often the side affects often tied to divorce.

I’m convinced that with each divorce, a large chunk of each family member’s soul is almost irreparably damaged with hurt, anger, and bitterness.  I’ve seen this in several marriages and it rips my heart out every time I’ve witnessed it.  Though I know of some incredible examples of healing through forgiveness and reconciliation, those stories are few and far between.  I’m sure that you know a few stories, too.

It is human nature to think that the grass is greener somewhere else and that happiness can be found with someone else or something more.  However, it is within our power to resist and avoid such musings.  Just because the thought enters our minds doesn’t mean that we have to dwell on it.  Harboring and developing those thoughts can only cause us to pull away from our mate or focus more on acquiring stuff.

Maybe we should think in terms of yet another line from “Sway”:

One day I woke up to find
Right in the bed next to mine
Someone that broke me up

with a corner of her smile

So, boys and girls, resist developing a wondering eye and a wayward heart, asking questions that we shouldn’t.  But, if you are asking those questions, in all likelihood, the answer is right before your fading eyes.  If so, make the investment of time and heart, break away from the temptation of growing further apart, and begin to get into the rhythm of each others heart once again.

Relationship advice from the Rolling Stones.  Who woulda thunk it?