Many years ago, I saw in a bar a banner that said: “Free beer, tomorrow!” I remember someone asking the bartender, more jokingly, than seriously, how many people got the promised beverage the next day. “None”, the bartender replied, “because no one can come tomorrow. When someone asks for something, they do so today, now, not in the future, which is why no one can drink beer tomorrow.” I marveled at the bartender’s ingenuity, and I repeatedly mentioned him in conversations with those whom the good Lord brought to me.
Since then I’ve dealt with several people who have asked for my support in their life journey. Most of them were upset about the past: it’s simple enough to make peace with the past (I did not say it was easy), forgiving everything (starting with my own sins, then others). But more and more people were disturbed by what may, or may not, happen in the future. Peace cannot be acquired tomorrow, just as no one can drink beer tomorrow, but only now, in the moment. Again, theoretically it’s simple, but it’s not easy, because the uncertainty of the future makes us lose our peace.
Continuing the discussions, as I was not clear what they really wanted, I invited them to take into account some dictionary definitions of the word peace; such as, a lack of disorder, conflict, or hostility; harmony, reconciliation, or understanding; peace of mind or a state of calm; quiet, rest, calm, silence, etc. Almost everyone agreed with those definitions, but I experienced great despair when I found that too few were willing to change their vision, continuing to suffer in a mulish way because of the noise of their own critical thoughts and prejudices.
“If you judge people, you will not have time to love them”, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
If the war between us can be triggered by a single malicious bullet that hurts or physically kills a person (including one’s own person), in the same way, the interior war can be triggered by a single malicious thought that hurts the person who sends it. Isn’t it clear that we are responsible for what is happening to us and that it is enough for one single malicious thought to disturb our inner peace?
“Who got burned with hot soup, blows even in yogurt” , goes the Romanian proverb (or, the English, once bit, twice shy), it is used by many, in an attempt to justify their own misery. We think that if we got hit once, we’ll keep getting hit every time… and so, we do not know where the smell of complacency comes from, and we continue living with our own suffering. Many, including myself, try to stop the noise of our inner thoughts through prayers, meditations, breathing techniques, and so on but even if by some miracle we would have succeeded, within a short time, the riot of our thoughts is resurrected in our minds, as though it were stronger than ever, shattering our powers. What is there to do? Is there a way to deliver lasting results, or are we bothering for nothing?
After many tries, the most effective strategy that remained (for most of those I spoke with) was that they had to answer the following questions; “Why do you do what you do?”, “What does it mean (for you, others, God, the universe)?”, and “What do you really want?”.
Naturally, people who are serious about these questions attain the meaning of life and the inevitable end of their own earthly existence, which leads to another question: “Are you ready for your own end?” – I do not expect a positive answer from those who are just waiting to get rid of problems…
‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’- says Jesus (cf. Luke 12:20).
“Long talk, man’s poverty”, goes another Romanian proverb. In conclusion, I invite you, dear reader, to ask yourself: “If I can never drink beer (which is optional) tomorrow, but only today, can I die (which is obligatory) today and not tomorrow. Is it worthwhile to continue living the way I do, or should I change my mind, in peace?”
Thank you for reminding me.