SUFFERING, JOY, and HOPE

When we are put to test, or unwanted events happen, we drown into the sea  of tears, and sadness. Suffering never comes alone. It comes as a legion - one after another. We will not have time even to count them. We suffer so   much that even the good things seem as bad. We do this, and then a little while later do that unfortunately they turn against us. We keep on doing it, nothing seems to work well, nothing seems to be on our favor.

But 

On a sudden day, it is very bright. That gentle breeze that enters the room in the window seems to bring everything fresh. From that time on everything seems to fall in its place. Everything works so well. Good things, like the bad ones, do come in group - one after another. Even the bad events look good - they seem a blessing in disguise now. How happy one is when everything happens as expected.

What we often forget is the link? 

The efforts that we took to set things right. The hard work that we put in to straighten things up. 

Unless one makes such an effort, will he taste such a honey. Could it be possible that things fall on their places, if there had been no such efforts? Without our efforts nothing happens. But they are forgotten in the sudden transition.

That is why it is good not to get drowned in sadness - not good to sit idly without any efforts - keep on trying, Hoping that things will fall on their places.

I have gone through such difficulties ... I hoped ... and I hope ....

Being Unmarried ...

I came in contact with a ‘Greek Catholic’ from Romania three years back. Although we have not been meeting often, we did exchange views and opinions on some interesting issues of the Church, when we met. He was married and has a son. He is a jolly good fellow. 

I enjoy chatting with him although I do not understand many things, because he speaks fast and I do not understand much a foreign language when people speak fast. People tell me that I speak very fast and they do not understand. But in many places I see that others speak faster than me and I do not understand. 

This is an irony of life. We become the victim of the same thing by which we victimize others.

He was sharing with us, there was another one this time, so that I can be sure that I understand him, about his difficulties in life. His wife wanted to leave him and the son, only to live with another one. The son wanted to move away from Italy and desired to live in his home land. He had to leave Italy to take care of his son.

I told you that he is a ‘Greek Catholic’. I did not tell you that he is a priest. He has decided to live alone with his son. When we were listening to him, I do not know what he thought, he patted my cheek and said:  ‘I am happy that you are not married’.

Does this mean ... No more Discussion ...

AUGUSTINE - A MAN OF OUR TIME

Augustine is a name that many will remember. He has been leading a life that is humanly. He has enjoyed the human life following the desires that was considered by him as the inner voice. There was a moment in his life in which he listened to the true inner voice, at least as claimed by Augustine.

For him God’s voice can be heard only when one turns to oneself. God cannot be seen outside of us. Our human structure becomes the source of our intimate relationship that we can establish with God. Probably one can understand this inner voice when she first follows her desires and then listens to the true inner voice.

He became a strong opponent of Manichaeism which was his house earlier. A strong supporter becomes an antagonist. Great people always have two views. The later views are juxtaposed to the former views. St. Paul was a strong believer and ardent supporter of Judaism. And on a sudden day, he becomes the supporter of Christianity. I also think of Wittgenstein – the best example of the early and later writings. Now every philosopher is claimed to have such an early and later… A before and After… If we want to be famous, if not philosophers, should we have to have an early and later life that is opposed to each other?

The division is not only between the before and after, but inner and outer, between the secular and the religious – The two cities of Augustine are very famous and continue its influence one way or the other in the contemporary discussions. Can we not live without binaries?

Augustine’s influence has been tremendous that one can learn from his personal life or his philosophical writings. He may have lived in the 4^th and 5^th century, yet he is not far from us. Many of the contemporary thoughts can be traced back to him. He is so close to us, may be also because Plato who lived earlier than Augustine is closer to us.