"A thirsty man is happy when he is drinking, and he is not depressed because he cannot exhaust the spring. So let this spring quench your thirst, and not your thirst the spring. For if you can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring, then when you thirst again you can drink from it once more; but if when your thirst is sated the spring is also dried up, then your victory would turn to your own harm.Be thankful then for what you have received, and do not be saddened at all that such an abundance still remains. What you have received and attained is your present share, while what is left will be your heritage."
Saint Ephrem
My life is a lot simplified when I am content with what I have at the present moment because, in reality, I have what I need to live this present moment well. My present moment could be a moment of fear, of doubt, of sadness, of solitude, of sickness, of contentment, of peace; no matter what it is, I have what I need to live it.
One of my realizations in life is that, by instinct, we human beings want to horde, to accumulate, to "save for the rainy day", to "invest". We are like that fool in the Gospel who, after accumulating so many treasures says to himself "now I can just relax and enjoy my life". But he doesn't even live the next day to enjoy what he has accumulated.
I have often wondered how come people want to have so many houses, so many cars and so much cash, etc. It's like our wish list just gets longer and longer. What will we do with so many houses and cars? I don't know. But one thing I have discovered is this: it is like a vertiginous spin that will just suck you.
So I need to be aware. To be aware means to live this moment and to be grateful that I have what I need for today. Paraphrasing Saint Ephrem, I will be happy that I can satiate my thirst from the spring. I will not desire to exhaust the spring because what is left is still my heritage.
My life is a lot simplified when I am content with what I have at the present moment because, in reality, I have what I need to live this present moment well. My present moment could be a moment of fear, of doubt, of sadness, of solitude, of sickness, of contentment, of peace; no matter what it is, I have what I need to live it.
One of my realizations in life is that, by instinct, we human beings want to horde, to accumulate, to "save for the rainy day", to "invest". We are like that fool in the Gospel who, after accumulating so many treasures says to himself "now I can just relax and enjoy my life". But he doesn't even live the next day to enjoy what he has accumulated.
I have often wondered how come people want to have so many houses, so many cars and so much cash, etc. It's like our wish list just gets longer and longer. What will we do with so many houses and cars? I don't know. But one thing I have discovered is this: it is like a vertiginous spin that will just suck you.
So I need to be aware. To be aware means to live this moment and to be grateful that I have what I need for today. Paraphrasing Saint Ephrem, I will be happy that I can satiate my thirst from the spring. I will not desire to exhaust the spring because what is left is still my heritage.
No comments:
Post a Comment