We tackled in the previous article the importance of balance and modernity for one’s view of the situations as concentrating on one perspective only would lead to taking unbalanced decisions, hence leading chaotic life. Thus man has to train himself on seeing the different shades of life so he becomes closer to reality and more moderate in judging matters.
Two factors will help man to do so:
First: To think rationally and quietly of a problem and reason it while taking the regarding decisions. Second: Viewing all the solutions and studying them carefully so one can reach the right one.
While I am writing this, I recalled a situation I witnessed. While a teacher was explaining the lesson to his high-school students, one of the students arrived late. He rushed to enter the class out of breath as if he was coming from a so far place. His rush was full of worry that his teacher’s reaction won’t be good. Indeed the gasping student was stopped by his teacher who looked at his watch then raised his stick to hit the student on the palm of his hand. The incident reoccurred; the student kept coming late everyday and the teacher kept checking his watch and punishing the student. So far this is a usual story that indicates the recklessness of the student and the punishment he received for it despite our total disagreement with the sort of punishment.
One day, while the teacher was having his daily run, before heading to his work. He saw the student riding a bike that carried magazines and newspapers. The teacher decided to follow him, and to his amusement he discovered that his reckless student distribute newspapers to houses before going to school. Hence he discovered his misjudgment and cruelty toward the kid who started shouldering life’s responsibilities since young age, while his kids his age were leading an easy life.
In that morning, the student came late as usual and extended his hands to the teacher to receive his daily punishment, but instead the teacher hugged him in a no-word apology for one-perspective judgment.
Some may ask, “Should we stop behaving our children or setting rules?!”My answer is: All what we need is to realize and consider the motives, attitudes, circumstances and behaviors. Delve into the deep instead of remaining confined to shallow side of the matters. Thus we will be more positive and influencing in lives of people.
The great writer and poet “Gibran Khalil Gibran” once said that he learnt he wouldn’t shun a friend before investigated the matters so carefully.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
