マザー・テレサの言葉③

Mother Teresa (3)

　Hello, everyone! There is a saying that "today's enemy is tomorrow's friend," but the reverse is also true. Today's enemy might indeed become tomorrow's friend. Therefore, even if someone says something inconvenient to you, it might be better not to speak ill of others out loud. Being on bad terms a moment ago and then making up is not exclusive to children; it can easily happen in the adult world as well.

From the Quotes of Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you've got anyway.

To Be Able to Say "My Life Was a Good Life"

　Mother Teresa must have been a truly strong person. Holding onto such conviction and carrying it through her entire life is surely why she is called a saint. This human world has more suffering than joy, and many people experience a continuous series of hardships. As Mother's words suggest, what we have worked so hard to build over a lifetime can collapse in an instant. Even so, where exactly lies the meaning of continuing to try so hard?

　Perhaps thinking about the meaning of life itself is just the work of having a little too much time on our hands. What truly matters is how we lived, and whether we can look back at the moment of death without regret and say, "It was a good life." The environment we are born into is something we cannot choose ourselves, so it is a form of "destiny." For instance, being born in Japan as a Japanese person is destiny. Burning our life energy to the absolute fullest within that given environment—that might just be the very meaning of life. Instead of living half-heartedly, carelessly, or thinking "this is good enough," we should dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly, earnestly, and without distraction to the things right in front of us. As Mother says, even if our precious things are destroyed along the way, we must keep going as long as there is life in us. Our capacity may shrink as we age, but within that limited range, we rebuild our stance and keep striving. Until the oil that burns our life runs completely dry.

　I once watched a television special about certain young people. Seeing them do nothing, simply spending the entire day doing only what they liked, made me feel it was such a waste. Leaving the oil meant to burn their life just sleeping away feels like a profound pity. Burning your life makes your heart bright and brings a deep sense of fulfillment. In stark contrast to this image, the business of a person with a severe disability was featured. Although completely bedridden and able to move only their eyeballs, they used a computer operated by eye movements to create and sell their own products. They mentioned making about 300,000 yen a year, but their passionate determination to expand the business was palpable, and I was simply moved by how incredible some people are.

　First, acknowledge the destiny that is beyond your control. Then, keep burning every drop of available oil in that environment. Burning your life is the very proof of the happiness we hold while living right now. No matter how much money you have, it amounts to nothing once you pass away. No matter what unreasonable situations or people you encounter, remember Mother's words and keep on challenging yourself, time and time again.