On Life 172 – Is It Possible? – May 19, 2017

   “Is it possible to achieve this?” These words kept echoing in his mind like a storm that would uproot something that has been within him throughout his life. He does not know whether we are born with fear or if life brings it about: that even simple laughter can be prognostic of pain. Can he emerge victorious in this decisive battle, though success seems far-fetched? Can he prove to himself and others that he can succeed in life? Should he proceed or retreat? These words kept reverberating in his head!

   During our lifetime, we sometimes feel we are almost defeated, and try to give up dreaming and striving to achieve our goals, especially when we are part of a team which members gave in. Allow me, here, to advise you not to stop, lest it be up the way down! I will clarify this by a video clip that a friend sent to me after tackling the importance of hope in man’s life.

   The video deals with two teams who used to participate in contests that take place in clubs and conferences. The red and yellow teams were holding a long rope. Each was trying to pull the other to pass the dividing line that it might win. They continued doing so. At a point of time, the yellow team was about to win; at another point, the red was. Eventually, the yellow team was able to pull the entirety of the red team’s members across the dividing line, except one who had to decide: either to give in to failure, being alone, or continue pulling the rope and save the whole team!

   Nobody knew what the boy was thinking about or whether he had conflicting thoughts. In all cases, the boy persevered and held the rope firmly. So much so, that when he approached the dividing line, he mobilized his efforts, refusing to give up. It seems like his trials inspired hope within the team members’ hearts. They became stronger. Finally the match ended up in the red team’s victory: for one of its members had a strong faith in what he was doing, and that defeat springs from man’s heart; so, he did not give it a chance to overcome his will and ambition.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center