The oft-quoted passage I am referring to is: 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. This is part of the iconic Sermon on the Mount. (2) These verses denote an important Christian theme: the power of prayer. I would suggest, however, that this metaphor 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 would like to draw a distinction between the mission and its meaning. The mission must result in an intended arrival: You want to become a more educated person, 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. You realize that your jailer or your situation 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.
The meaning of this poem I take to be that reality is of my own construction. 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, I believe, 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 embitterers 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.
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.
An amusing occurrence: Many years ago when I first went to study in Poland, I couldn’t speak any Polish at all. I was young and brash and filled with an arrogance that has been tempered with age and experience. At the time, this was not the case. I asked an attractive young woman out to lunch. Not wanting to show my total ignorance of the language, I indicated what I wanted to order and our conversation continued in English. My food arrived: little tasty pieces of chicken, or so I thought. Excuse me, did I mention that I detest liver, with a special emphasis on “detest.” As I settled down into a comfortable conversation secure in my wit and intelligence, the young woman asked me, quite unannounced, why I liked liver so much. Nonplussed, I expressed that it was not my favorite food. With a quizzical expression on her face, she inquired why I then seemed to be so enjoying my plate of chicken livers.
This week, please reflect on how you can restart your hope and initiative.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: We are totally responsible for our own beautiful space.
Footnotes:
1) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
3) Robert Frost