“Cock-and-bull story”
Benjamin Teixeira de Aguiar by the Spirit Lucas Desiderium
Make a phone call, to tell a loved one that you love him or her.
Send a text message, an e-mail, a Facebook message, to a distant friend or a friend with whom you have not interacted with for a long time, “just” to say that you remembered him or her.
Approach a coworker or a classmate, smile calmly and ask him or her, “do you need something?”, “are you fine?”… or “just”smile!…
Be kind to the attendant who serves you at the commercial establishment, at least asking him or her, with a welcoming and fraternal glance, “how is your day?”
Cuddle, literally or using words, with your consort or a loved family member; on the way home pick some flowers, a chocolate from a convenience store; or “just” say how important this family member is to your heart.
Do you take part in the group that believes that practicing acts of kindness opens up space to be abused or undervalued? Think twice, if someone, because you were kind, even if moderately, distances themselves from you or behaves in an unjust manner, would it not be good to reconsider the system of relationship you keep with this person or, eventually, question the value or even the continuity of the relationship itself?
Not being able to live friendship, the spirit of fraternity on the day-to-day life, is to condemn oneself to a barren and bitter existence, in which problems escalate uncontrollably. And, worse: in which solutions reached or milestones achieved — when they occur — neither promote the repercussion of joy that they could foment, nor have a duration that justifies the efforts they cost.
Be careful with the cultural hypnoses and the personal passions of material and social greed. Will what you really wish for, as your “consumerist dream”, bring you the happiness you presume to be associated with such accomplishments? To reach the topmost that you yearn for, how many years of your current incarnation do you suppose you should spend? And until then? Are you not going to live, to be happy, within the range of possibility, in the now, respecting and valuing the people and situations that the Divine Providence granted you, with Purposes of happiness, often inaccessible to human perception? And what if your plan of action can be nothing more than a chimera?… But, even if your goal is all you think about, is it worth refraining from being well and in peace, during the whole process until you reach the reward? Does it cost you anything to share your available time now, between the future and… the present? After all, what do you have of certain besides the present?
“Do not let your hearts be troubled”, said Our Master and Lord Jesus, teaching, in the same speech: “each day has enough trouble of its own.” And, lastly, in regard to vain everyday concerns, He added: “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Unfortunately, Jesus, often, is interpreted as a founder of religion or as an ordinary moralist. The Christ was the supreme Master of happiness, of the deep realization of the individual, of plenitude. Try to understand Him from this point of view. Follow His methodological guidelines for the solution of problems and existential crises. Listen to His answers to the most stunning and complex philosophical questions and dramas, which come to the mind of any person who has some degree of intelligence or a minimum of awareness and psychological maturity… such as: “What for do we exist?” or “How to have a satisfactory purpose to live?”
Service, friendship, solidarity, working to be useful to the common good, with the talents and resources you already have, seeking to live your own vocation – there is no other way to happiness, friend, whether in professional activities, within family, in social interactions of any kind. The rest, no matter how well elaborated the argument you present is, will be nothing but a dangerous fib, to distract you from focusing on the essential, or, as Braguinha (1907-2006) — the Brazilian composer of unforgettable Carnival songs of the last century — said in his famous play Bullfights in Madrid(*), “a cock-and-bull story.”
(Message received on September 10, 2014)