I received the following message: “When I brought a television, I forgot about reading; and when I brought a car, I forgot about walking; when I brought a mobile phone, I forgot about arranging my thoughts and feelings, so I stopped writing messages, and when I started using the computer only, I stopped worrying about spelling! The smell of fragrances made us forget about roses! With the increase of fast food, I ceased to remember how food is made! With the fast pace of life, I ceased to stop and sense life. A Chinese businessman died, leaving his widow 109 billion dollars, which she inherited all. After a while, she married his driver. One day, the driver said, I thought I worked all those years at my master’s service. But, now, I’ve realized that my master working for me!”
At many times, life moves, and we think we live and enjoy. Yet, in truth, we discover that we should not have led it this way. In fact, a great part of life’s enjoyment does not abide in man’s ownership of several means of luxury or entertainment. Yet, it is about man’s ability to use all the gifts God grants him, be they physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual as well as love which overwhelms his life with joy and peace. Thus, do not make your life a battle that forfeits its meaning. Rather, make it a realm of peace and creativity for you and others.
This is no call for rejecting television or means of luxury, but to not forgetting the things that could grant us more joy and growth, like reading which can be an opportunity for entering an unlimited world and enjoying a conversation in which a book whispers its experiences and feelings to the reader. Likewise, the mind and imagination are trained to move between man’s reality and dream world. Weren’t such creations dreams which became reality?
Thus, you have to live and train your body, soul, and spirit, even if you are too busy. A little time spent on realizing the meaning of life will add to your energy and relish to exert more effort, as well as spending more time in sharing others’ joy or grief, will impart happiness on you as you lead life on your own.
Remember, it is not important who toils for whom. So, try to live simply and happily, strive to succeed and achieve. Yet, life should not pass by without you and others being happy. In fact, I do not know about the rich man’s relation with his driver. But, I believe that those who live their humanity humbly, despite their money or possessions, will make a difference no matter what treasures we possess. In the end, all of us will leave, taking nothing, save our encouraging words to a weak soul, a good advice to someone troubled, our deeds and thoughts, and the traces we left in people’s hearts.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
