Thursday, January 27, 2011

The world does not pause to heed your cries


I have met countless people who endlessly talk about their tribulations. While I do not object to people opening up, and sharing what bothers them, I am a little disturbed by those among us who think we should stop what we are doing and listen to them.

The world does not, cannot, must not, will not, stop to heed the cries of any one of us. Yes, life is difficult. But wait a minute, who said it would be easy? Who promised you that upon your entry into the world, only the good things awaited you? If nobody promised you anything in particular, why are you complaining? What premise do you have?

That sounds tough, even irrational but I do contend that it is how things are as I see them. We cannot go on complaining of how bad the situation is, for complaints alone, wont change the nature of things. We must proactively engage ourselves in those activities that have for their express purpose, the extermination of those things we find disagreeable.

The theory of the survival of species makes known to us that only those among us who can muster this "difficult" life will survive today to breed tomorrow! Those of us who will die in the battlefields of today's problems might as well start preparing for the world to come. Perhaps there, you will be given a second chance!

Therefore, in lieu of complaining, crying, lamenting e.t.c about the unfairness of today, let us pause to think of how best to resolve the issues that are before us.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Worry not over that which you cannot change


When Jesus saw his disciples troubled over what the next day had in store for them, when he realized that humanity was struggling even with the unknown, when he saw that people were wasting a lot of their energies with that which they had not in their control, he told them something that may appear to be very simple: he told them not to worry about tomorrow for it would take care of itself. He categorically told them that enough for the day was its own troubles.

Interestingly, paradoxically even, since his time to date, the people of this world have not fully comprehended the wisdom of his words. They have been troubling themselves with things which they did (don't) have control over. Anxiety of what is before each one of us seem to dictate the nature of the lives we live.

I have watched an interesting movie on Tibet (I don't remember the title) in which one of the actors gets very philosophical. Thinking of the nature of the nature of reality surrounding him, he opines that one should not worry over that which they cannot change for no amount of worrying can change anything. He adds that if you can do something, do it; if you cant, let it be.

The words are surprisingly simple. perhaps that explains why most of us dont take them seriously. We rubbish them as common sayings that mean nothing beyond the words themselves. However, the philosophy in them is profound and can impact greatly on the life of the person who takes them seriously.

The challenge therefore is for each one of us to see the amazing wisdom in the apparently simple utterances. The choice before us is to choose to struggle today and live it to the fullest,or to die slowly today worrying about tomorrow.

As for me and my house, we have made our choice. Have you?