“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” This is from Matthew 7:7–8, the seventh and eighth verses of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, (1) in the New Testament, an important part of the iconic Sermon on the Mount. (2) The theme is the power of prayer.
This metaphor, however, can be used in a much wider context. By our very definition as human beings, we are seekers. We are searching for our mission in life. I distinguish between the mission and its meaning. The mission must result in an intended arrival: you want to become more educated, for example. The meaning will be how your intellectual growth will benefit those around you. In other words, there must be a symbiotic connection between your life journey and its value.
It is a great tragedy to pass the multitudes of homeless in large urban centers in Western countries. I always ask myself if this could be me. After a great deal of “soul searching” I conclude, “No, this could not be me.” Then falls the inevitable question, “Why not?” By my time in life, I have experienced my quotient of successes and failures attributed to human consciousness. I, along with many, many people, know that it is hard to think and be alive. That being said, you also realize that life is a choice. Yes, sometimes a poor choice, but still a choice. Whether you are enslaved or at liberty is ultimately inconsequential because what remains inside your own mind is free.
Acquainted with the Night by Robert Frost (3)
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
It is for me to take up the mantle of my being and forge on to my completion: the display of my magnificent self. Each human being has this capacity within them. What happens, unfortunately, is we get fooled that “my world” is actually real and not solely created by my own mind, which it is. In your moment of deepest despair, the moment that embitters you to the world forever, we can take solace in these thoughtful words from Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): The future depends on what you do today. If I really adopt this belief, my world can change, I believe. All my angst is in the past, it will not accompany me into the future unless I carry it with me in my satchel filled with remembrances: foolish. The way forward is through action and positive ideas.
The great thinker and philosopher Eckhart Tolle (b. 1948) leaves us with a thought: See if you can catch yourself complaining, in either speech or thought, about a situation you find yourself in, what other people do or say, your surroundings, your life situation, even the weather. To complain is always non-acceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.
A closing thought: I believe that this theme of human freedom is not fanciful. We can create the world that we desire. This does not mean that our material well-being is suddenly blessed because of a change in thinking. No, the acquisition of physical wealth takes time and planning. It is well documented, however, that there is no direct correlation between lucre and ecstasy. This peace is associated with an understanding of your higher self, whatever that means to you. (A part of this essay was first published in 2017)
To sum up: This week we spoke about action. We discussed that the self must take responsibility for any situation and change it if so desired.
To be noted: From William Shakespeare — Do not be like the cat who wanted a fish but was afraid to get his paws wet.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWDlaxvEZo&ab_channel=TheCure
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BpzsOsIlE8&ab_channel=ApexMotivation
This week, please reflect on how you can restart your hope and initiative.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: We are totally responsible for our own beautiful space.
Footnotes:
1) http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/0