“Calm’s not life’s crown, though calm is well” (Matthew Arnold).
IF OUR INWARD CHARACTER IS ONE THAT CAN BE CALLED “TRANQUIL,” THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING TO ENJOY. Our individual characters are the result of our choices, of course, and unfortunately, we may not have made choices that lead toward tranquility. If we haven’t, perhaps we should consider doing so. As Matthew Arnold suggests, a calm, peaceful state of mind is not the highest goal that should claim our attention, but rightly considered, it’s an honorable thing, worthy of our pursuit.
It’s not the highest goal in life simply because many things would be worth sacrificing our tranquility for. For example, suppose a house is burning down and there are young children inside who need to be rescued. No one in their right mind would say, “Well, I’d like to get involved, but I prefer not to disturb my peace of mind.” No, we would courageously sacrifice our tranquility in a moment like that. So, peace of mind is like any other kind of peace: it is right for us to want peace, but we shouldn’t want peace at any price. Emotional feelings are fine, but life involves considerations more important than how we feel at any given moment.
Come to think of it, one of the things that’s more important than our own tranquility is being an agent who influences others to enjoy that quality. We live in times that are agitated and stressful, and most of the people we meet need more calmness in their lives. The most practical reason, then, for pursuing tranquility is so that we can have a peaceful influence on those we love.
There is no possibility of being tranquil, however, if we look for it in the wrong places. It doesn’t come from diets, exercises, self-help seminars, faddish lifestyles, or hip philosophies: it comes from having characters that are aligned with true-north principles. As La Rochefoucauld said, “When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” In a world of disturbing ups and downs, tranquility must come from living on the basis of truths that don’t change.
“To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals — that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him” (Honoré de Balzac).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com
