On Life 33 – Be Yourself – July, 4, 2014

   In life, man encounters great figures, whom he admires, and admires their impressive works, and some people try to follow their suit in everything they do, it may even reach the point of imitating them exaggeratedly, but life does not require identical similar images of human beings, but rather a variety of personalities and talents enriching it and adding a deep beauty to it. What if the entire life of man is mono colored and of one taste? I think it then loses the most beautiful point in it; difference, diversity and innovative creativity.

   One day, a young man complained to me about his mother, who prevents him from having contact with one of their neighbors, although he is a nice, courteous young man, also committed and successful in his life. After having a conversation with him, I realized that this young man has set a goal in front of his eyes to become a replica of this neighbor; so he began to imitate him foolishly, which urged his mother to prevent him from resuming this, here I recalled a story that I read about a group of scientists who put five monkeys in a cage with at ladder placed and on top of it some bananas were left. As the monkeys began climbing to take the bananas, scientists sprinkled them with cold water, and thus, a short while later, the monkeys began to prevent each another from climbing in order not to be sprinkled with water. Therefore, all monkeys ceased to attempt climbing towards the banana. A new monkey was let in the cage in replacement of an old one, once it saw the bananas and started climbing, the four other monkeys hit it and knocked it down. After several attempts, the new monkey realized that it shall not climb the ladder, yet it did not know the reason! Then the four monkeys were replaced one after another, until all the monkeys in the cage became new ones which were never sprayed with cold water. However, they continued to hit any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder without knowing the reason! This is what foolish imitation without understanding the reasons and motives leads to: even if imitation is useful, it will definitely stop at some phase with problems because it stems from a mind which does not realize the reason behind acts, nor their importance and depth. If imitation is followed in useless matters, it will definitely cause damage to all, especially the doer of these acts.

   Imitation also puts man in several uncomfortable situations, because he acts without realizing the reasons and motives behind his deeds, as was the case with some farmers who visited the USA President, and agreed on imitating every act the president does in front of them, as they were of no awareness of the followed rules and principles in such visits. When coffee was served to them, they waited to see what the president would do, he poured some coffee in a saucer, and they did like him! Then he placed the saucer in front of his cat! Hence, they didn’t know how to behave, the situation was much embarrassing to them.

   In life, be yourself, adhere to your personality, and select what is good in others; as life is filled with many honorable figures, so you shall select what is competent with your personality, conditions and goals in life, so:

• Set your desired goals.

• Keep the company of those who have similar goals, you will encourage each other.

• Learn the skills you need along the path; learn from everyone who possess such skills: whether he is young or old, rich or poor, literate or illiterate. However, you shall not seek to be a replica of someone, but rather adhere to the self which God created for you. It is said: “you can be but your own being, because all other beings are taken by others…” Whenever you wish to acquire a good trait, get it while you realize its dimensions and depths, not while you are a copy of someone else.

And “on life” we are still sailing…

The General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center