Desiderata: A Simple Humble Way of Life

“Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and 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 the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your 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 critical 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 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 with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Life has felt stormy and loud and aggressive at times of late, both internally and externally. I found myself needing to seek, solace and peace. To find quietness, to be still. I know I am not alone in this, as I have walked and listened and shared with other folk. I have also gone into deeper places of silence, both shared and alone, well apart from Molly. I have been confronted by and revisited some old ghosts too. Seen some of the aspects of myself that I have always struggled with. I am what you might call a “Highly Sensitive Person” for good or for bad. It is who I am and one thing life has taught me is that it is vital that we come to terms with who we are wholly. It will help us understand others and come to terms with who they are too.

We cannot avoid some of the storms of life, but we can find ways to come through them, sometimes alone and at other times together. Often when we come to the other side of the rainbow we find that we are back home but somehow better prepared for whatever the journey might hold. I have felt that powerfully these last few days. The key for each person, I believe, is to find that stillness deep down within each of us, that will sustain us and enable us to be of good use to one another and better accompany each other through the storms of life. Not perfectly of course, for sometimes it is too much for us all. It is important to always remember that.

We don’t need any special power to do so, just the ordinary human kind will do, but we do need to be prepared and this is where spiritual practices comes in. A calm mind and a still heart are the key. It is said that Gandhi loved storms. He began life as a timid child, but he learned to keep his mind so steady that he could face tremendous crises with courage, compassion, wisdom, and even a sense of humour. A sense of humour is vital in helping us through such storms, remember to be in good humour originally meant to be in good health. I have found that again these last few days away with collegues, whilst conducting serious ministry business. We have the capacity to deal with whatever challenges life throws at us, but we do need a calm mind and still heart to draw on the resources deep within us and all around us. I would say in everything. We also need to accompany one another, to encourage each other when it feels too much.

When I consider Jesus’ attempts to teach his disciples I often think that this is where his frustrations came from. I know that this is perhaps an unorthodox view, but I think that this is what he was trying to teach those that followed him, to find that power, that still small voice within. It is certainly something he did as he took time alone, to commune with God. I see this in the extract we heard earlier “The Calming of the Storm”. When he rebukes with “Have you know faith” he is doing so because he knows that they can calm the storm themselves, they just do not have the faith in themselves to do so. He shows them the way. They had after all come through such storms before, this was very common on the Sea of Galilee, where storms would rise up from nowhere. Unfortunately, though they just become enthralled in his ability to calm the sea, rather that having enough faith to come through it themselves. Not alone, but together.

I wonder what holds you, sustains through the storms of life, both internal and external.

I have recently been reading “Desiderata” again. It is something I have come across at different times in my life. I have seen it on people’s walls and always stopped and paused and read. I was given a copy a dozen or so years ago and I find myself going back to it from time to time. It seems to be a beautiful and simple way of living, a design for life.

“Desiderata” is about finding peace of mind in the storms of life. We cannot stop the storms, they are as much a part of life as the sunshine. We may not recognise the storms as being the same. What seems like Heaven to one person may appear as Hell to another. One thing I have learnt and continue to learn is that although we are born of the same flesh and have the same spirit within us, we human beings are a diverse lot. We take in life so differently. I only need observe my brother, to understand this. We are so very different. We are a mass of contradictions too. To badly paraphrase Whitman “Do I contradict myself, very well then I contradict myself, I contain multitudes”. It is important to remember that about ourselves and one another, to understand as the Gospels teach that, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”. That we all have a variety and complex ways of responding to life and to one another. To truly understand this is to become spiritually aware. We are a ball of contradictions and we all possess these contradictions within us all. Our world is large and it contains multitudes and yes we all contradict ourselves. We have to look and listen to these contradictions both within ourselves and each other. We need to look and listen, but not with narrow eyes or hearts or ears closed to the world, no we need to be wide and open. Can we look at the world and see it in each others eyes, those windows of the soul? It is not always easy. I know that there are times when my eyes narrow.

So, I have been revisiting “Desiderata”. It begins with those beautiful words “Go placidly amid the noise and haste” please note it says placidly not passively. In my experience there is nothing passive about living spiritually alive. The spiritual life is an active life. We are not merely observers here, we are active participants and life demands that we play our roles, while not becoming the director and attempt to control the roles that others are here to play too.

“Desiderata” was written a hundred years ago by Max Ehrmann. It was copyrighted in 1927 but was first penned several years previous to this. It has spoken to generations since then. It has developed its own life it would seem, including a myth that attempts to make it timeless, it does have that quality about it. The myth began following a reproduction of it by Rev Frederick Kates for a collection of inspirational works for his congregation in 1959 on church notepaper, headed: 'The Old St Paul's Church, Baltimore, AD 1692' (the year the church was founded). Copies of it were circulated and the myth began to grow. It really took off when a copy was found at the bedside of deceased American politician Aidlai Stevenson in 1965.

I like the myth, it does lend a timeless and universal quality that makes the myth into a true mythos. “Desiderata” is a beautiful and practical poem and in my eyes a wonderful design for living spiritually alive. One that I try to follow, despite the storms of life. It enables me to do what I can. To truly live faithfully and to rest and allow life to be what it can be, while I play my role, the best I can. Whilst accepting my multitude of contradictions and the legion of them throughout the world.

“Desiderata” means something that is desired, something wanted and needed. In the poem what is described is this need to find peace, search for inner peace in an often chaotic world. So, to travel peacefully through the noise, chaos, haste of the world and those around us. It is not about shying away from life, but to do so amongst all that is happening and to remain of use by being who you are, despite your legion of contradictions. The key is to take with you your inner integrity and peace. Call it peace of mind, or call it faith, or freedom from existential angst. By the way no one ever lives like this all the time, well no one I have ever known. To be human is to be aware of our multitude of ways of being in the world.

The key I keep re-learning is to find silence and stillness, to make time and space for it in our lives. This is why it is at the heart of every religious tradition. It is at the heart of religion, of communal spirituality, whether at home alone or coming together in love. The key is to find what works for each of us. For me it is walking or has been at times, but also just simply sitting in silence, without distraction, sometimes with others and at other times alone. My heart needs it, it always had. It is something I have sought out all my life, from my earliest memories. I would often go and wander off alone. It was a time I felt most safe. When I could walk placidly amid the noise and haste.

Another thing I love about “Desiderata” is the very practical advice it offers, you might say much of it is commonsense, suggesting ways to live that will nurture inner peace. Like being on good terms with people; not comparing ourselves to others; taking time to honestly say what is on our mind and doing so quietly and clearly. These seem like good habits to cultivate a decent way of living in the this sometimes stormy world. You see by making the effort to speak truth quietly and clearly, we are in fact choosing peace for ourselves and others and refusing to get caught up the violence and extremism. When we listen to others, to hear their truth we are respecting them as they are, recognising their inherent worth and dignity, we are choosing peace, we are walking placidly with them.

Of course this is not easy, especially in our complex world and in our lives that are full of so many contradictions. Sometime seeking resolution seems too much, sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves. Sometimes it seems all too much and we get weary, as I have been recently.

“Desiderata” offers a path for gently building a better way. It says: do not feign affection; be yourself; accept the changes which come with aging, – “gracefully surrendering the things of youth”; nurture strength of spirit to shield you in times of misfortune.

“Desiderata” is about knowing ourselves, our many multitudes of contradictions and the legions of them in the world. It is about growing to trust what is at the heart of us one day at a time, gradually building upon this, strengthening that inner core so that whatever sudden misfortune happens, you can hope of keeping “peace with your soul.”

Of course, no will be able to always go placidly amidst the noise and haste of life, not all the time. There will be days when we just want the world to go away. I have those days, had them again recently. Remember we are legion, we all contain multitudes of contradictions, as does the world. “Desiderata though offers something to help us keep on going through the storms both external and internal. “Desiderata” to me is to long for that love, that peace Divine. Living by “Desiderata” is one path that can lead us there. I have certainly found it a great solace once again in recent weeks.

“Desiderata” encourages us to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. “Desiderata” offers advice on how to do so by reminding us to be kind and compassionate towards others, be true to ourselves, strive for inner peace, and appreciate the beauty of the world around us. It reminds us to: “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.”

“Desiderata” is about finding that love, that surely we all truly desire, within life and within ourselves, despite life's challenges and uncertainties. It encourages us to seek the good in ourselves and others and to appreciate what we have in our lives. To love what we have. It reminds us that we are all born from the same spirit and the same flesh, despite our seeming differences, it is our multitude of contradictions that remind me of that.

“Desiderata” reminds me that we are all connected, children of the universe, children of this world, children of God and that we should treat one another, including ourselves with the same respect, with kindness and loving dignity.

May we all go placidly amidst the noise and haste.

Please find below a video devotion based on the material in this "blogspot"

When has the night ended and the day begun? Awakening from the Hour of Dog and Wolf

There is a story told of a rabbi in ancient times who gathered his students together very early one morning, while it was still dark. He put this question to them: "How can you tell when night has ended and the day has begun?"

One student made a suggestion: "Could it be when you can see an animal and you can tell whether it is a sheep or a goat?"

"No, that's not it," answered the rabbi.

Another student said: "Could it be when you look at a tree in the distance and you can tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?"

Again the rabbi answered: "No."

After a few more guesses the students said: "Well, how do you tell when night has ended?"

The rabbi answered: "It is when you look on the face of any man or woman and you see them as your brother or sister. If you cannot do this, then, no matter what time it is, it is still night."

The nights are becoming longer, as I am sure you have noticed. This often brings with it a sense within us to seek hibernation, to go into ourselves. We need to be careful here, as tempting as it is. If we hibernate we are not awake, we are falling asleep.

It can become difficult to awake from our slumber on these cold, darkening mornings that the Autumn brings. The temptation is to stay in and not awaken to life, to turn inwards and not to live in the world.

This last Tuesday I experienced a lovely example of this. I regularly attend an early morning meditation. Now when my alarm went off early on Tuesday morning a part of me didn’t want to get up and step into the cold darkness of the morning. But I did. I prayed my morning prayers; I sought inspiration from the great mystery and listened to the birds outside my window. I got ready for the day. I brushed Molly’s hair and took her to the toilet. We then went to join in meditation. Molly shot in and greeted the folk and also greeted each individual as they arrived. We humans greeted one another with humour and coffee and then we enjoyed silence together in complete darkness as Molly settled down in her bed. As the silence ended the light was just starting to appear. We then began to share about our own personal joys and troubles, our own spiritual journeys. As everyone spoke I looked at their faces and connected with them and saw in them as my own brother and sister, I saw myself reflected back at me. I saw a reflection of the Divine in their eyes and heard it in their words.

It is so tempting at times to separate people into those that are for me and those that are against me; that there are those that are my friends and those who are my foes. That we need to keep an eagle eye out for the ‘foes’, because if we do not they may well cause us harm; that these people are dangerous, even “toxic” and you must keep them out of your life. This is not helpful or healthy. We are all formed from the one flesh and we all have the same spirit flowing through us. Divisiveness does not help anyone.

There is a French saying...Please excuse my accent... “L’heure entre chien et loup” which translates as “The hour between dog and wolf”. The saying is basically describing the time just as the sun is setting, the twilight hours when you cannot really differentiate between dog and wolf, between who is a friend and who is a foe.

Has anyone heard this phrase before “The hour between dog and wolf?”

It first came into my consciousness a few years ago because it was the title of a New Model Army album, as well as a documentary film that was made about their strange and enduring career.

“Between dog and wolf, between water and wine, between wine and blood.” This brings to mind some lyrics from a really old songs of theirs “Better than them” and the words of the chorus...

Divided we were born,divided we live

divided we fall,yeah,divided we die

still we tell ourselves over and over again

we're better than them... (we're better than them)

we're better than them..

We’re not like them, we’re better than them...

“Them” are whoever we think are somehow separate from us...

The song is essentially a rant against this sense of superiority and separation that all groups of people and individuals feel from time to time, that sadly some feel permanently; this sense that somehow we are better than, or less than other people. It seems to go on in all sections of society and throughout human history. It is there in religion, but also secular society. Some religious groups talk about the saved and the unsaved, others talk of being God’s chosen people. When they speak this way they are talking of a God I do not recognise. The God I know accepts and loves all universally. Experience has revealed to me that we are all chosen by God, it’s just that so many of us turn away and cannot believe that there is a spirit that is there in all life.

Then of course there are the anti-religionists who reject any kind of faith at all; who see it all as purely infantile projections. They mock, they poke fun, they separate people into the stupid and the wise. They say we are not like them, we’re better than them.

I am no better by the way; I do it too. There are days when I feel superior to other people and there are days when I feel less than them. That said thank God most days I recognise the truth that there is one human family. We are made of the same flesh and we have the same spirit within each of us.

Something I felt powerful as the dark turned into light on Tuesday morning. In that hour of dog and wolf as the night turned into day.

If we see others as separate from ourselves, we see us and we see them. As Walter Kaufmann, who translated Martin Buber into English put it, when we use words like “Us-Them”, “'the world is divided in two: the children of light and the children of darkness, the sheep and the goats, the elect and the damned.' It is this that leads to a lack of empathy for all people and thus their suffering can be ignored. In such a state any form of barbarity and abuse can become acceptable, something we have seen throughout human history. It still goes on today, we continue to dehumanise, breeding hatred and violence.

As the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, author of such greats as “Night” and Holocaust Survivor Elie Wiesel put it " 'Hatred, is a cancer that is passed from one person to another, one people to another.'

There is one human family, we are each other’s keepers. In “Conversations with Elie Wiesel” Wiesel sees the Biblical question Cain poses to God after killing Abel “Am I my brother’s keeper?” becomes a lens to see brother and sisterhood in broadest humanist sense. As he reflects:

We are all our brothers’ keepers… Either we see in each other brothers, or we live in a world of strangers… There are no strangers in a world that becomes smaller and smaller. Today I know right away when something happens, whatever happens, anywhere in the world. So there is no excuse for us not to be involved in these problems. A century ago, by the time the news of a war reached another place, the war was over. Now people die and the pictures of their dying are offered to you and to me while we are having dinner. Since I know, how can I not transform that knowledge into responsibility? So the key word is “responsibility.” That means I must keep my brother.

When the epistle Paul talked of the oneness, the unity in Christianity, he wrote that in Christ “there is no longer Jew or Greek.” He did not say that there are no longer Jews or Greeks more that people are no longer separated by these distinctions; that they are all one in love, in body and in spirit; that if all people are viewed in the light they are brothers and sisters to one another.

As Tenzin Gyatso XIVth Dalai Lama has said “Mentally, physically and emotionally we are the same. We each have the potential to good and bad and to be overcome by disturbing emotions such as anger, fear, hatred, suspicion and greed. These emotions can be the cause of many problems. On the other hand if you cultivate loving kindness, compassion and concern for others, there will be no room for anger, hatred and jealousy.

These words very much chime with that favourite story of mine, which seem appropriate today, “The Two Wolves”

Do you recall it?

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It’s a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, ego and it makes me cynical about life.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith and it fills me with enthusiasm for life. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Where does this sense of superiority come from, this sense that we are somehow better than other people? Where does this fear come from? Well I believe it comes from habit. We are taught to fear the stranger who is not exactly like us, we are taught to separate one another, to see the difference. Habits, especially fear based ones, are hard to break.

So how do we get to the place where we can tell when the night has ended, where when we look into someone else’s eyes we see our brother and our sister. How do we get out of the habit of separating people into one camp or another? Well I believe it begins by us waking up to reverence in one another and to practise loving kindness each and every day. This is not easy. I know this from personal experience. Every day I find myself putting up the barriers of separation; every day I find myself doing all I can to ensure that they come tumbling back down again. It is perhaps a whole life times work and perhaps beyond, this moving from night to day. That said I believe it is possible and we can begin aspiring to it right here right now. We just need to wake up.

Why don’t you try it now? Why don’t you offer a blessing to one another?

Give it a go. Go to one another, look one another in the eye and recognise yourself within each other. Then why don’t you bow in reverence, shake one another’s hand, or if you feel really brave you could even hug your neighbour. As you do why not say to each other...”I honour your sacred humanity, we are made of the same flesh and have the same spirit running through us.”

Now of course this is easy to do amongst friends, people you know. This is perhaps less easy out there in the world outside our window. A hug might be a bit much for a stranger. That said we can practise recognising the sacred in each of us. We can bring an end to the night and a beginning to a new day. We can wake up.

I am going to end today with this story from the life of the Buddha

It is said that soon after his enlightenment that the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the Buddha's extraordinary radiance and peaceful presence. The man stopped and asked, "My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial being or a god?"

"No," said the Buddha.

"Well, then, are you some kind of magician or wizard?"

Again the Buddha answered, "No."

"Are you a man?" "No."

"Well, my friend, then what are you?"

The Buddha replied, “I am awake”.

The night has ended and the day has begun.

We need to be awake.

Please find below a video devotion based on the material in this "blogspot"