The Spiritual Puzzle
by Joan Marques
Published on this site: July 16th, 2005 - See
more articles from this month...
Depending on which side of life's philosopical spectrum we
reside, we can find the appropriate team of guru's to exemplify
that we are on the right track and doing well.
If we decide to be inquisitive, inventive, ambitious, and
driven toward eaving a legacy, there will be an illustrious
legion of examples at hand to strengthen our convictions that
we are on the right track and that we should definitely persevere
in the realization of our mission.
This is where names of great ones such as Edison, Bell, Einstein,
Napoleon, Columbus, Bolivar, are presented to us. We get inspired
by stories of these assiduous spirits that did not quit, even
after 10, 100 or 1000 failures, but emerged time and again
to prove their points and reach for the recognition they were
after. With these role models in mind, life is painted to
us as a torch that has to be passed along after accomplishing
our share of the course. And the greater the distance we can
cover during our lifetime, the greater our legacy, which as
is portrayed in this perspective is the ultimate essence of
life: contributing toward the betterment of future generations
of our kind.
Yet, if we decide to be content with where we are: serene,
quiet, dependable, and subservient as grass in the wind, there
is another powerful set of prototypes available to contribute
toward the conviction that this is the proper attitude of
enduring the short journey of life we are now experiencing.
This is where spirits of an entirely different greatness
are presented to us: Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Gandhi,
Mother Theresa; people who did not necessarily sought eternal
fame and fortune but obtained an immortal reputation in spite
of their humility, simplicity, and deliberate dwelling among
the least fortunate in their lives and times. Their greatness
emerged through the devotion with which they engaged in trying
to obtain complete peace with- and acceptance of the circumstances
in which they were placed by destiny. Yet, their heroism in
history books is by no means of lesser caliber than the previous
cohort of icons mentioned under the first presumption of the
right attitude toward life.
So, now that these seeming extremes have been presented,
which one would YOU prefer to identify with? Outgrowing the
status quo with an inexorable desire to make a difference,
and continuing to explore roads toward establishing that difference;
or quietly participating in the community where you happened
to be end up, and trying to make the best for yourself and
others for as long as this short adventure called life lasts
for you?
The answer has not yet been given, and probably never will
be. It can only be formulated by your nature, experiences,
and moods. The answer may even alter every time you read this
article. And regardless of your choice, it's always right,
since no one has ever returned from the death to explain which
road is the better one to take in order to guarantee sufficient
reward in the hereafter.
Your best bet may be to go with the only true and timeless
leader to be recognized: your gut feeling. What else?
Joan Marques emigrated from Suriname, South America,
to California, U.S., in 1998. She holds a doctorate in Organizational
Leadership, a Master's in Business Administration, and is
currently a university instructor in Business and Management
in Burbank, California. Look for her books "Empower the
Leader in You" and "The Global Village" in
bookstores online or on her website: http://www.joanmarques.com
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