When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.
I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.
But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
Saint-Exupéry writes in The Little Prince of the Little Prince visits planet Earth. He finds himself in the desert.
“The little Prince crossed the desert and met only one flower. A flower with three petals, a flower of nothing.“Good morning,” said the little Prince.
“Good morning,” said the flower.
“Where are people?” The little Prince asked politely.
The flower, one day, saw a caravan passing.
“People? There are, I think, six or seven. I saw them some years ago. But we never know where to find them. They move with the wind. They have no roots, it bothers them a lot…”
NOTE: We all come from someplace. We all have a mother and father and a place of birth. Having a sense of roots and place gives us a foundation on which we can build. They are a source of strength in times of trial. When we have a sense of roots and place, we know who we are and where we are going. I heard a radio host on a gardening show in Texas say, “Give your children a nest and wings.” When we have a sense of roots and a foundation we soar.
Saint-Exupéry writes in The Little Prince of the Little Prince visiting another planet, this planet is inhabited by a drinker. The Little Prince asked the drinker why he is drinking,
“To forget,” replied the drinker.
“To forget what?” asked the little Prince who was already complaining.
“To forget that I am ashamed,” confessed the drinker lowing the head.
“Ashamed of what inquired the little prince who wanted to rescue him.
“Ashamed of drinking!” Completed the drinker who definitely shut himself up in silence.
And the little Prince went away, puzzled.
NOTE: some years ago I read a book written the Harvard Negotiating Team on decision making. One of the key points they made has remained with me. They said, in the book, often the best decision we can make is to stop making a bad decision. It takes awareness to know that we are making a bad decision. Once we are aware of our bad decision, it takes heaps of courage to admit it and stop making the bad decision. In its place, we can make a better decision.
Saint-Exupéry writes in The Little Prince of the Little Prince visiting another planet, this planet is inhabited by a vainglorious man. The Little Prince asked the vainglorious man a question,
“But the vainglorious man did not hear it. The van glorious man only hears praise. ‘Do you really admire me a lot?'” he asked the little prince.
“What does admire mean?”
“Admiring means recognizing that I’m the most handsome, the best dressed, the richest, and the most intelligent man on the planet.”
“But you’re alone on your planet!”
“Do me this favor. Admire me anyway.”
NOTE: Have you ever been in the presence of people like the van glorious man? I have and it’s not a pleasant experience. They only talk about themselves and their interests as they drone on. Those who are like the vainglorious man are unable to learn from the vast diversity of people that surround them. When we open ourselves to listening to and learning from the vast diversity of people who surround us our worldview broadens, and we grasp a greater understanding and compassionate feel for other human beings.
And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.
