I Have Peace of Mind
Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008
by David Tanguay
At 59 years old, some might call me old. I certainly do not get around as well as I did when I was younger. However the older I get the better I feel i.e. emotionally and mentally.
It seems when we're young we try reaching for goals which are far and beyond our means. Ever since I was a child, our way of life the way we as a people live in society was a major concern of mine. Of course, we are often told to live and let live. i.e. to put it bluntly "mind your own business"
Other people's problems were and are my problems I believe one man cannot be free until all men are free. I refuse to live by the law of the jungle where the strong eat the weak, but rather by moral laws where the strong protect the week.
I served in Vietnam and saw many good men die in battle on both sides. Yes, both sides our enemy "The North Vietnamese Army" was made up of human beings just like us only had different philosophies to live by.
When I was released from military duty back in 1969, I went straight to work however; the world was very unstable back then. Those old enough to remember the turbulent times of the 60s know exactly what I mean here.
I use to believe after the fall of the Nixon administration the country, the world was on a brighter course, and the healing of an ailing world was under way.
What happened to us? Today we are entering into a recession, moral values have declined, in fact although I believed in the late 60s the world was coming to an end I thought then we broke all barriers of discrimination, hostility, and hate and we were on the verge beginning a completely new chapter in the history of civilization.
Why then with the problems we face today do I say I feel better than I did when I was younger? because our problems today are superficial, they don't have fiber behind their existence. In the past, the wise had the serenity prayer to comfort and console them, the prayer went like this:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen." Reinhold Niebuhr
In today's world, I don't believe we have to accept things as they are. What I mean is we can change our way of life if we really want to. The wall so to speak as been brought down and we can walk in peace with our fellow man if we have the courage to try. "I have peace of mind"
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)david, this article was excellently constructed. it had depth and feeling and emotions, as well as clear, focused honesty and truth. there are no words to convey how sorry i am about your viet nam days, so i will leave it at that. my best regards, suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting SusanPlease log in to respond to this comment.
You are a "Bodhisattva." Best.........ePlease log in to respond to this comment.What is a Bodhisattva, e?Please log in to respond to this comment.
The spiritual path of the bodhisattva is the central teaching of Mahayana Buddhism (Tibetan Zen), a vow to attain supreme enlightenment for the sake of all beings. The bodhisattva does not aspire to leave the round of birth-and-death (samsara) before all beings are saved. . . . The practice of a bodhisattva consists of the six "perfections" or paramitas: charity (dana), morality (sila), forbearance (ksanti), diligence (virya), meditation (dhyana), and wisdom (prajna). Ref: Farlex Dictionary on line. Yep, that's you David!Please log in to respond to this comment.
David do you remember a few years ago when you were just starting you were wondering if you could write and now look how far you have come giving wisdom and advice. Good job David. You are turning out good stuff. RTM PS: I'm glad E clarified that word, I was lost myself.Please log in to respond to this comment.Well thank you for the encouraging compliment Mr. Melaccio. Yes when I found search warp in July of ‘05 it was the first time I ever tried writing. My grammar was really bad then so I bought a book on writing style which helped be get my thoughts on paper so others could understand what I was saying. Thanks again for commentingPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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