I regularly have wee chats with a guy named Mike at the gym. He is probably in his seventies, quite fit, and very faithful in his workouts. I discovered a couple of years ago that he and his wife are members of St. Joseph's, one of the Roman Catholic parishes in town, and that they were involved in their congregation's sponsorship of a Syrian refugee family. Recently I kidded Mike about being at the gym "in the middle of the day," which was actually 8:30 AM. He told me that other mornings he meets his wife for morning mass at 8:00 after his workout but on Thursdays there is no service, so he has some leeway. Impressive!
Today he told me that he'd sought out a poem or manifesto or...who knows how to describe it...called Desiderata. It was written in the 1920's by Max Ehrman and largely forgotten until the late 1960's. Some of you may recall that is was very popular in the 1970's with copies on university dorm walls and a spoken-word version which was near the top of the charts in the United States and Canada.
Mike just wanted to reacquaint himself with Desiderata's principles, so when I came home I sought it out, and here it is. In retrospect the "child of universe" bit fit the "cosmic man!" spirit of the times, but the opening stanza works for me. I'll leave it to you to decide whether it stands the test of time,
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
By Max Ehrmann © 1927 Original text
Please take a boo at today's Groundling blog
https://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-wild-remedy-spiritual-life.html
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