In a moment of boredom-even ennui-I decided to go to the local 92128 Community Center where hot, bad coffee is available at thirty cents a cup. As I sipped the java, I noticed a fellow 92128 traveller swimming laps with a laser focus. As he crawled back and forth, I was dropped into a meditation on achievement. The battle with age and entropy, gravity and other laws of nature unfolded before my eyes, my mind was engaged with the idea of human aspiration. Humans are the only creatures that have GOALS and the only creatures that carry a working definition of achievement and the hope and aspiration that sets them on the road to their, “best performance.”
All of the gang of eight have their goals …some are lofty and some are not. One of the group is hoping to install a ceiling fan before it gets too hot; another is looking for a new car and others only hope to clean the house before they are buried in dust bunnies. Earlier in life the goals of The Eight were much loftier, I suspect, yet goal setting is as natural to humans as respiration and sleep….goals will never go away.
We have a hierarchy of goals that is based upon relative difficulty: A marathon is more impressive than a 5K, a PHD is better that an AA degree. Goals are so important that we have created entire industries to celebrate them. If you win a single game you are doing well and if you win the right number of games you are a WORLD CHAMPION. Sports and entertainment is all about the achievement of goals.The bigger the challenge the greater the glory.
Challenges come in a multiplicity of forms and types. Physical, mental and spiritual challenges abound. Higher, faster, stronger, smarter are all there for us to trip over, fail at, go broke in the seeking …and we seek those results constantly. We are trapped in a web of striving. My wife – an accomplished marathoner trains for eighteen weeks for every race she does. Is this sane?
I have goals, too. They are spiritual in nature and I have never completely succeeded in achieving them. Marathons are hard and other goals are harder but the challenges we get from spiritual leaders will chill the blood of the most goal oriented among us. The Buddha’s words on kindness – The Metta Sutta- gives this challenge, ” Let none deceive another Or despise any being in any state Let none through anger or ill-will which harm upon another. ” Try to achieve that state of being. Good Luck. The Jesus message is no easier…” Love your enemies! Pray for those that persecute you.” Sure.
As my neighbor was approaching his mile in the pool and my coffee was almost gone I can only hope to do bette – to progress – without the hope of a trophy or a medal. Michael Phelps said, I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” The goal of being a realized soul will keep you uncomfortable all your days.
My failures in this arena happen every day but I don’t despair of getting better. CS Lewis theologian without portfolio, Oxford professor and prolific author reminds us that, “failures, repeated failures, are fingers posts on the road to success. One fails TOWARD success.”
Is there a gold medal for generosity ?
Olio Folio 