Holding his pen, he started scribbling letters which made words that thundered in his head. Though he was not yet twenty-two, he was getting ready to plunge into life: for within a few days, he will take up a job in a company and embark on bigger responsibilities.
This step made him worry: for he knew little about life’s mysteries. He did not have much experience, despite his ability to learn and recall information, thus, attaining excellence. This was fine: for it opened work vistas before him. Yet, what about the future? He stopped for a while, only for his eyes to settle on the phrase, “Life is a tear followed by a smile.”
Tackling life, we discover its familiar and non-familiar aspects. Throughout, we find it limited by a tear shed for pain and frustration, and a smile emanating from good, love, success, and joy. Between these two, we learn how to transcend tears and share smiles.
Many people fear going through pain and tears and try to avoid them, heedless that these are but intervals made by God for their growth and development. After all, fruits do not come, unless seeds die and are buried. Indeed, life’s darkest moments are followed by light. So, fear not pain, and replace by hope.
Likewise, painful times are the best stages of work. In a letter which Gibran Khalil Gibran wrote to a terribly wronged person, we read, “Providence put you in a place where people lack in knowledge, integrity, and freedom, which the best thing it does to good souls that have been created to serve, give, and educate.” Indeed, there are people who God allows to face such times that their abilities to give and serve might extend to whoever they know. Tears generate within them energy for good and sympathy for the weary.
Moreover, painful times could be for man’s acquiring new lessons or defeating something negative within him.
To be continued …
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
