An ancient Exhalian Proverb says, “It is better to see a goose than a swan”. Spoken by a 21st century philosopher, it is a phrase of timeless wisdom, which should be heeded by all. As the story goes, the philosopher, observing nature from a quiet country road, spied a glassy calm pond surrounded by fowl. Among the fowl she noticed beautiful white birds of serenity. Thinking they were Swans to be admired and cherished she cried out in wonderment, “Swans!” Having a mind of keen scrutiny, however, a closer look revealed that the birds were not Swans, but rather Geese. The philosopher said to herself, “Ah! It would have been better to see the Goose as it was and accept it than to see a Swan only to realize the truth and be disappointed”. This brought about a profound revelation to the philosopher: In life it is better to see things for what they are than to see them for what one would wish them be.
The experience drove the philosopher into a period of seclusion from which she emerged and opened her own monastery. She called the monastery “The Way of Nature’s Realism”. On a plaque above the door was written: This world has no room for the idealist or the dreamer. Even nature has its way of kicking the idealist to the curb and delighting in it. Only the realists survive.
The monastery attracted many followers who, like the philosopher, had finally been crushed by life’s repeated mockery and disappointments. They devoted the rest of their days to living realistic lives free from the poisonous venom of idealism.
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2 comments:
No ideals, no dreaming, no reaching. No reaching, no forward movement. Just cold lifeless realism stagnating into apathy.
Maybe we're not disappointed if we don't dream or have ideals, but how many wonders do we miss by not even looking for something grander & greater than simple realism? What if she just saw the white birds in the distance and with realism ruling her heart assumed they were geese, but actually they were swans and missed enjoying their graceful beauty?
In order to be a realist, don't you need to follow the rule "seeing is believing"? Isn't that what realism is? Where does God's Word fit in this, and faith? According to Him "believing is seeing", so if I look with a realism viewpoint will nothing change? Seeing things as they are is good, but without dreaming and idealism, will anything change? Is there even any motivation for change?
Maybe it's better "to see things for what they are than to see them for what one would wish them to be" but this is the point where idealism and dreaming steps in. To dream of something better and have ideals of something better is our motivation to change "what is" to something better. Of course we can't change a literal goose into a swan, but figurative geese can be changed into swans. Believing is seeing.
Beautiful, Colleen.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Life, without the hope and dream of something better, is no life at all.
I hurt for those who have lost their dreams.
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
God does have a plan and there is hope.
Don't give up!
What if...what if it's just around the next corner? One more corner, just one more corner and God reveals himself to you. Hope a little longer.
Dear God,
We need your dreams and your hope today. Please fill our hearts with joy.
Help us to cling to you and to trust you. I know that all good things come from you and that you desire to pour out blessings upon blessings upon your children. Please help us to believe that and to prepare for it.
We give you praise today, we thank you for what you are doing and for what you are about to do in our lives.
Amen.
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