Principles – “Gentle words of reproach” – 31/10/2015

   I got a message from a dear reader and I thank him for sending it. He wrote,” Your Grace, Anba Ermiah, I am following up the series “Principles” which you write at Akhbar El-Yom newspaper. Pardon me, but principles are no longer found in our world. Where can we found wisdom, justice, honesty, mercy and generosity? .They are no longer found and humans are no longer holding on these principles. They become part of the sweet past, in our current time, we are losing everything.

   The message brings to mind the trend that people are adapting today that principles and goodness are no longer found in our real world. I may agree with my dear reader that the changes the world is going through and the tendency to materialism make many people lose their belief in good principles. Some also consider principles of the past as an obstacle in their way to success; they give up on them considering them an old fashion. However, we should know that many of us realize the importance of good principles to them and to the social conscience in general. Good principles have their effect in the process of progress and some people believe they are keeping the world away from the brink of destruction.

   People who don’t believe in the value of good principles resemble those who lost their sight and can no longer see the sun which doesn’t mean it is not there in the first place as man feels the warmth of sun even if he can’t see its light. The problem lies within the deep souls of people. Those who refuse good principles want to achieve success without exerting efforts and toiling for their goals.

   God created man and gave him a mission to achieve and good principles to walk in their light in order to achieve his mission. Giving up on justice, mercy, wisdom and honesty resembles giving up on factors of success and achievement. Resorting to indirect ways may lead to initial success, but in the end it won’t get the person anywhere but to failure and destruction as these ways are not blessed by God.

   In life you have two ways to choose from, to resort to good principles or not, to work sincerely to do your mission supporting and encouraging others or work for your own self ruining anyone in your way. In the end, each one will be rewarded according to his deeds. Thus, we must realize how serious our choices are and how important it is to follow our hearts and good intentions which is the hardest battle in this life. The English playwright, William Shakespeare says, “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” which means not to follow the good values and principles you believe in. Dear reader, be what you want. Hold on to your good principles without giving any consideration to people’s appreciation. Don’t change you self or wear a mask that doesn’t belong to you. As they say, your outer appearance is not important, what really matters is your heart.

  Anba Ermiah,

General Bishop& President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center