“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. — Thomas Aquinas
Recently, I found myself in a heated exchange with several individuals concerning circumstances that many of us have experienced regarding our personal lives, our families, our careers (i.e., either gainfully employed or looking for a position), our relationships with friends, associates, colleagues or where our lives might be in five years. As you might guess, the prospective, perception, experience, and projected expectation of this group of people, ran from one end of the spectrum to the other, given the orientation and environment of the participants involved. No surprise there. I listened very carefully to what everyone shared, because I knew that listening just to react wasn’t listening . . . it was being disingenuous to the group. I listened to respond thoughtfully remembering the words of Werner Erhard . . . “The essence of communication is intention.”
Some reflected complete frustration with their present circumstances, others recited fractured disillusionment, and yet a select few spoke quite lucidly about what was happening in their lives on a myriad of levels, yet were either incapable, unwilling, constrained, conflicted or habitually fearful of what to do or accepted the circumstances without the possibility of resolution. It takes a great deal of honesty, courage and objectivity to see ourselves as others might see us, and even more inner fortitude to make a decision to do something constructive about it. Experience has taught me through this wise quote of J. Kennedy Shultz from “A Legacy of Truth,” that “The only thing we really have to offer each other is inspiration. We cannot give people anything. We can only awaken them to something within themselves, and this is not done with argument, but by example.”
Of course, we can all be phenomenally shocked and surprised with truth and honesty no matter from what source, may arrive. This exchange took place during a recent discussion concerning someone I have known since childhood. During a very quiet conversation with just a simple flow of give and take regarding nothing in particular, this person shared an extremely lucid perspective that reflected a great deal of introspective thought, coupled with contemplative consciousness about who they were. It was such an easy, honest, statement that seemed to hang suspended in air and remained there when I listened to . . . “well, in the last analysis, some of us are not as strong as others.” It was probably one of the very few times, I was at a loss for words and remained silent.
Reflecting on the earlier heated exchange I experienced with a number of individuals, when asked what confounded, perplexed, infuriated, or caused me angst at this plateau in life’s journey . . . I thought quietly and said this . . . “I have come to experience, learn and understand that we ultimately have control over practically nothing. Without grounded, unshakable faith we are navigating without a compass and bound to be lost in the turbulence of fear, frustration, hatred, anger and weakness. Faith will sustain us, when we embrace who we are without fear or consequence.” JLR