This past week I was once again suffused with thoughts and observations of interpersonal relations. It is a topic which I enjoy and consequently spend countless hours analyzing themes that I find intriguing. Human nature is so intricately designed that it is easy to dismiss a person’s actions with the phrase “He/She is just like that.” Perhaps there is a point in time when knowing all the answers truly isn’t worth the time it takes to investigate the issue, but I can’t shake the idea that there must be a certain thread of logic that holds everything together.
I’m neither a scientist nor a psychologist so for me to make absolute conclusions regarding interpersonal relations would be unprecedented. The first objective of any research project is to define the scope, but how do you determine the outermost limits of the human psyche? We are continuously amazed by the endearing spirit of those who have pioneered in the midst of exceedingly difficult circumstances. Yet, we’ve also witnessed the horrendous execution of great atrocities on members of our own species. How do you begin to distinguish nobility from wretchedness?
We must then examine what motivates a man to carry out his intended action. The short answer is that the pursuit of our own goals and objectives is almost always motivated by personal benefit. This statement may at first seem ludicrous, but it isn’t that far from the truth. However, we also find the greatest pleasure and joy, in life, when we give without expecting anything in return. I think the Hebrew mindset can handle this paradox better than western philosophies.
Here are some quotes that I thought were fitting:
“A man is great if he thinks himself to be great.” It is a statement that is quite easily agreed with, especially in our westernized way of thinking. However, like most things there is also truth on the other side of the equation. “A man is like a fraction whose numerator is what he is and whose denominator is what he thinks of himself. The larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction. - Leo Tolstoy
Life is bigger than one’s self. If it is not lived with a sense that you are insignificant, on your own merit, then it is not worth living at all. -Nelson
The theme that I seem to be constantly reminded of is that “the way I see it isn’t necessarily the way it is, it’s just the way I see it.” In some ways it’s the most sobering reality that can possibly be embraced. I am convinced that life is designed in such a way that it can be navigated successfully. It’s interesting to think about the differences between commoners and nobility… once you strip away all of the flash and glamour… the single most significant difference is discipline. Three things that will aid in the process: Interception of entropy. Purposeful living. Reliance on the grace of God.
