Issue nº 221

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Annotations in Airports

Moses parts the waters

"Sometimes we get used to what we see in the movies, and end up forgetting the true story," a friend said to once while we were looking at the port of Miami, "remember the Ten Commandments?"

Of course I remembered. Moses, played by Charton Heston, at one point raises his baton and with that action the waters were divided and the Jewish people walked through it.

"In the Bible it is different," says my friend, "in the Bible, God orders Moses to do this by saying, ‘the children of Israel are to go forward,’ and only after they start walking does Moses raise his staff to part the Red Sea.

Courage in the path is what makes the path manifest itself.

St. Augustine and the logic

A simple sign converted St. Augustine. For several years he sought a philosophical answer to the meaning of life. One afternoon in the garden at his home in Milan, he reflected on the utter failure of his search. While his mind was on the subject, he heard a child in the street, singing, "Get it and read it! Get it and read it!"

Although he had always been ruled by logic, he decided, on a whim, to open the first book he saw in his reach. It was the Bible, and he read an excerpt from St. Paulo, which happened to contain all the answers he sought.

Thereafter, the logic of Augustine paved the way for faith to participate, and he became one of the greatest theologians of the Church.

The Meaning of Truth

In the name of truth, the human race has committed its worst crimes. Men and women have been burned. The culture of whole civilizations has been destroyed. Those who sought a different path have been marginalized.

One specific human, on behalf of "truth", was crucified. But, before dying, he left behind a great definition of Truth.

It is not what gives us certainty. It is not what gives us depth. Is not what makes us better than others. It is not what keeps us in the prison of prejudice.

The truth is what gives us freedom.

"Know the truth and the truth shall make you free," said Jesus.

Artists Life

I Need to enjoy all the gifts that God gave me today. Grace cannot be saved and put away for later. There is no bank where you can deposit favors you’ve received, to use them according to our will. If I do not enjoy these blessings now, I will lose them forever.

God knows that we are artists of life. One day he will give us a chisel for sculpture, the other day brushes and canvas. Another day he will give us a pen to write. But we will never use a chisel on canvas, sculptures or feathers. Every day, perform your miracle. I must accept the blessings of today, to create with what I have; if I do this with detachment and without guilt, tomorrow I shall receive more.

The Frog and the Water

A lawyer friend of mine, Renato Pacca, sendt me an interesting text: Several biological studies have shown that a frog placed in a container along with water from his pond, he will remain alive while you heat the water. The toad does not react to the gradual increase of temperature (change of environment) and only dies when the water boils, swollen and happy.

On the other hand, if a toad is thrown into that same container when the water is already boiling, he will immediately jump out. He will be a little singed, but alive!

Sometimes we can be like the boiled toads. We do not notice changes. We think everything is good, or that whatever is evil will pass, it's just a matter of time. We are about to die, but we are floating, stable and apathetic as the water warms up every minute. We are dying, fat and happy, without having noticed the changes around us.

There are boiled toads who still believe that the key is obedience, not competence: might is right, and obey whoever is sensible. From all this, where is the real life? It is better to emerge from a situation, maybe a little singed from time to time, but alive and ready to act.

June 2001

Life is like a big bike race where the goal is to fulfill you personal legend.

At the start, we are riding together, sharing the camaraderie and enthusiasm. But as the race progresses, the initial joy gives way to the real challenges: tiredness, monotony and doubts about our own abilities.

We notice that some have withdrawn. They are still running, but only because they cannot stop in the middle of a road. They are numerous, pedaling alongside the support car, talking to each other and performing only their obligations.

Eventually we distance ourselves from them and we are forced to face the loneliness and the surprises of the unknown curves with the bikes. And after a while, we begin to wonder if it's worth the effort.

Yes, it is worth it. Just don’t quit.