The Man Watching – Rilke
“What we choose to fight is so tiny
What fights with us is so great
If only we would let ourselves be dominated as
Things do by some immense storm,
We would become strong too.
When we win, it’s with small things
And the triumph itself makes us smaller
Winning does not tempt that man –
This is how he grows – by being defeated decisively
By constantly greater things.”
Perhaps our human nature is a reflection of the Trinity that created us. Not in a Freudian sense (id, ego, superego) or that of Plato (the emotional horse, the appetite horse, the soul-driver), or Jonathan Haidt’s wonderful metaphor of our nature being like a rider on an elephant. Instead, maybe we are at our core a trinity. We are a soul who walks with two friends. Like on the road to Emmaeus, a resurrection revelation comes through two anonymous people, that have news of Christ’s aliveness, are messengers, but are not named. Maybe, even these two are friends, born beside each of us are also called to be with our soul, “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be present.” These two companions?
One is called Forgiveness, ever whispering, crying screaming for companionship, to know infinite grace for us;
One is called Mission, a presence ever wanting companionship through the sacrament of purpose, “Take up your mat and walk”, it says. Or, “go and sin no more”, but GO. Not a judging voice, not superior or condescending, but of celebration; a brotherly presence that says to keep rising, to go on, to spend your life on something that outlasts it; that you are a blessing and that that is not a Hallmark card nicety, but a universal fact.
These two companions, so often forgotten by me at least, are the sail and the rudder on the ocean of being alive. They make possible - when they are known not as strangers, not as enemies, but when they are known to be friends in life’s way – the surrender to let “the wind blow where it will” and move and transform us.
“What we choose to fight is so tiny
What fights with us is so great
If only we would let ourselves be dominated as
Things do by some immense storm,
We would become strong too.
When we win, it’s with small things
And the triumph itself makes us smaller
Winning does not tempt that man –
This is how he grows – by being defeated decisively
By constantly greater things.”
Perhaps our human nature is a reflection of the Trinity that created us. Not in a Freudian sense (id, ego, superego) or that of Plato (the emotional horse, the appetite horse, the soul-driver), or Jonathan Haidt’s wonderful metaphor of our nature being like a rider on an elephant. Instead, maybe we are at our core a trinity. We are a soul who walks with two friends. Like on the road to Emmaeus, a resurrection revelation comes through two anonymous people, that have news of Christ’s aliveness, are messengers, but are not named. Maybe, even these two are friends, born beside each of us are also called to be with our soul, “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be present.” These two companions?
One is called Forgiveness, ever whispering, crying screaming for companionship, to know infinite grace for us;
One is called Mission, a presence ever wanting companionship through the sacrament of purpose, “Take up your mat and walk”, it says. Or, “go and sin no more”, but GO. Not a judging voice, not superior or condescending, but of celebration; a brotherly presence that says to keep rising, to go on, to spend your life on something that outlasts it; that you are a blessing and that that is not a Hallmark card nicety, but a universal fact.
These two companions, so often forgotten by me at least, are the sail and the rudder on the ocean of being alive. They make possible - when they are known not as strangers, not as enemies, but when they are known to be friends in life’s way – the surrender to let “the wind blow where it will” and move and transform us.
