If the strings of an instrument are always taut, they go out of tune.
Warriors who spend all their time training lose their spontaneity in battle. Horses that are always jumping fences end up breaking a leg. Bows that are bent all day no longer shoot arrows with the same force.
That is why, even if he is not in the mood, the warrior of light tries to enjoy the small everyday things of life.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
108. Warrior of Light
The warrior of light gives before he is asked.
Seeing this, some of his companions say: ‘If someone wants something, they’ll ask for it.’
But the warrior knows that there are many people who simply cannot bring themselves to ask for help. Alongside him live people with such fragile hearts that love becomes a sickness; they are starving for affection and yet are ashamed to show it.
The warrior gathers these people round the fire, he tells stories, shares his food, gets drunk with them. The following day, everyone feels better.
Those who look on other people’s misery with indifference are the most miserable of all.
Seeing this, some of his companions say: ‘If someone wants something, they’ll ask for it.’
But the warrior knows that there are many people who simply cannot bring themselves to ask for help. Alongside him live people with such fragile hearts that love becomes a sickness; they are starving for affection and yet are ashamed to show it.
The warrior gathers these people round the fire, he tells stories, shares his food, gets drunk with them. The following day, everyone feels better.
Those who look on other people’s misery with indifference are the most miserable of all.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
107. Warrior of Light
The warrior of light learned that God uses solitude to teach us how to live with other people.
He uses rage to show us the infinite value of people. He uses boredom to underline the importance of adventure and spontaneity.
God uses silence to teach us to use words responsibly. He uses tiredness so that we can understand the value of waking up. He uses illness to underline the blessing of good health.
God uses fire to teach us about water. He uses earth so that we can understand the value of air. He uses death to show us the importance of life.
He uses rage to show us the infinite value of people. He uses boredom to underline the importance of adventure and spontaneity.
God uses silence to teach us to use words responsibly. He uses tiredness so that we can understand the value of waking up. He uses illness to underline the blessing of good health.
God uses fire to teach us about water. He uses earth so that we can understand the value of air. He uses death to show us the importance of life.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
106. Warrior of Light
A warrior of light shares with others what he knows of the path.
Anyone who gives help also receives help and needs to teach what he has learned. That is why he sits by the fire and recounts his day on the battlefield.
A friend whispers: ‘Why talk so openly about your strategy? Don’t you realise that, by doing so, you run the risk of sharing your conquests with others?’
The warrior merely smiles and says nothing. He knows that if, at the end of his journey, he arrives to find an empty paradise, his struggle will have been a waste of time.
Anyone who gives help also receives help and needs to teach what he has learned. That is why he sits by the fire and recounts his day on the battlefield.
A friend whispers: ‘Why talk so openly about your strategy? Don’t you realise that, by doing so, you run the risk of sharing your conquests with others?’
The warrior merely smiles and says nothing. He knows that if, at the end of his journey, he arrives to find an empty paradise, his struggle will have been a waste of time.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
105. Warrior of Light
One day, for no apparent reason, the warrior realises that he does not feel the same enthusiasm for the fight that he used to.
He continues to do what he has always done, but every gesture seems meaningless. At such a time, he has only one choice: to continue fighting the Good Fight. He says his prayers out of duty or fear or whatever, but he does not abandon the path.
He knows that the angel of the One who inspires him has simply wandered off somewhere. The warrior keeps his attention focused on the battle and he preserves, even when everything seems utterly pointless. The angel will soon return and the merest flutter of his wings will restore the warrior’s joy to him.
He continues to do what he has always done, but every gesture seems meaningless. At such a time, he has only one choice: to continue fighting the Good Fight. He says his prayers out of duty or fear or whatever, but he does not abandon the path.
He knows that the angel of the One who inspires him has simply wandered off somewhere. The warrior keeps his attention focused on the battle and he preserves, even when everything seems utterly pointless. The angel will soon return and the merest flutter of his wings will restore the warrior’s joy to him.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
104. Warrior of Light
When he wins a battle, the warrior celebrates.
The victory has cost him anxious moments, nights racked with doubt, endless days of waiting. Since ancient times, celebrating a triumph has been part of the ritual of life itself: celebration is a rite of passage.
His companions see the warrior of light’s joy and think: ‘Why is he doing that? He might be disappointed in his next battle. He might draw down on himself the wrath of his enemy.’
But the warrior knows why he is celebrating. He is savouring the best gift that victory can bring: confidence.
He celebrates yesterday’s victory in order to gain more strength for tomorrow’s battle.
The victory has cost him anxious moments, nights racked with doubt, endless days of waiting. Since ancient times, celebrating a triumph has been part of the ritual of life itself: celebration is a rite of passage.
His companions see the warrior of light’s joy and think: ‘Why is he doing that? He might be disappointed in his next battle. He might draw down on himself the wrath of his enemy.’
But the warrior knows why he is celebrating. He is savouring the best gift that victory can bring: confidence.
He celebrates yesterday’s victory in order to gain more strength for tomorrow’s battle.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
103. Warrior of Light
Jesus said: ‘Let your yea; and your nay. nay.’ When the warrior takes on a commitment, he keeps his word.
Those who make promises they do not keep lose their self respect and feel ashamed of their actions. These people spend their lives in constant flight; they expend far more energy on coming up with a series of excuses to unsay what they said than the warrior of light does in honouring his commitments.
Sometimes he too takes on a foolish commitment which will in some way harm him. He does not repeat his mistake, but he nevertheless keeps his word and pays the price for his own impulsiveness.
Those who make promises they do not keep lose their self respect and feel ashamed of their actions. These people spend their lives in constant flight; they expend far more energy on coming up with a series of excuses to unsay what they said than the warrior of light does in honouring his commitments.
Sometimes he too takes on a foolish commitment which will in some way harm him. He does not repeat his mistake, but he nevertheless keeps his word and pays the price for his own impulsiveness.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
102. Warrior of Light
When somebody wants something, the whole Universe conspires in their favour. The warrior of light knows this.
For this reason, he takes great care with his thoughts. Hidden beneath a whole series of good intentions lie feelings that no one dares confess to himself: vengeance, self-destruction, guilt, fear of winning, a macabre joy at other people’s tragedies.
The Universe does not judge; it conspires in favour of what we want. That is why the warrior has the courage to look into the dark places of his soul in order to ensure that he is not asking for the wrong things.
And he is always very careful about what he thinks.
For this reason, he takes great care with his thoughts. Hidden beneath a whole series of good intentions lie feelings that no one dares confess to himself: vengeance, self-destruction, guilt, fear of winning, a macabre joy at other people’s tragedies.
The Universe does not judge; it conspires in favour of what we want. That is why the warrior has the courage to look into the dark places of his soul in order to ensure that he is not asking for the wrong things.
And he is always very careful about what he thinks.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
101. Warrior of Light
The warrior of light knows how to lose.
He does not treat defeat as if it were a matter of indifference to him, saying things like ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter’ or ‘To be honest, I didn’t really want it that much’. He accepts defeat as defeat and does not try to make a victory out of it.
Painful wounds, the indifference of friends, the loneliness of losing – all leave a bitter taste. But at these times, he says to himself: ‘I fought for something and did not succeed. I lost the first battle.’
These words give him renewed strength. He knows that no one wins all the time and he knows how to distinguish his successes from his failures.
He does not treat defeat as if it were a matter of indifference to him, saying things like ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter’ or ‘To be honest, I didn’t really want it that much’. He accepts defeat as defeat and does not try to make a victory out of it.
Painful wounds, the indifference of friends, the loneliness of losing – all leave a bitter taste. But at these times, he says to himself: ‘I fought for something and did not succeed. I lost the first battle.’
These words give him renewed strength. He knows that no one wins all the time and he knows how to distinguish his successes from his failures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
