Winners and Losers

       Question for the day: Are some people born to win and others born to lose? Is it possible that one genuinely pure soul may live his entire mortal life with his face pushed into the dirt beneath the foot of another man who has never been refused? My mother brought this concept to my attention and, while I gave a fairly immediate answer that seemed to make sense, it appeared that the circumstances may always be argued in favor of either side and I've been forced to continue contemplating the idea.

       Here is roughly what Mom asked me: "Do you think that, in this earth life, there are some people who have absolutely everything they could ever ask for?" Since I'm disgustingly clever, I told her that if the person who seems to have "everything" isn't humble and grateful for what they have been blessed with, then they have nothing. If it's worth nothing, it is nothing. However, I ventured the possibility that there have been a select few individuals in the history of this world who were born into a loving, wholesome family who had plenty of money and high but attainable standards, worked hard for their own fortune as adults but found the work satisfying and fulfilling, married the right person, had a beautiful, happy family of their own, enjoyed outrageous success and flawless health, seemed to achieve every goal they ever set their minds to, and still managed to be thankful to God for giving it all to them and charitable to the less fortunate. Could that really be?

       After some strategic debate from Mother, I reevaluated my answer. No, I don't think it is possible. There must be opposition in all things. With no trial, we would know no triumph. With no sorrow, we would feel no joy. A few hours prior to the discussion with my mom, my father gave me a call and during the course of our conversation he enlightened me with a glimpse into the life of the late author Ernest Hemingway. He dealt with bipolar, or manic-depressive disorder, throughout his lifetime. This involves dramatic high and low moods (the high, manic stage and the low, depressive stage) that are ever-changing and can be nearly impossible to control, depending on the severity of the illness. When Hemingway was at a high point, he could write for days on end. He was extraordinarily focused and clear of thought. I haven't read any of his work (yet), but Dad says that Hemingway's writing is not ranting or wild or complex; on the contrary, it is simple and to-the-point. When Hemingway was diagnosed with manic depression, he underwent a series of therapeutic methods which included taking a prescribed drug that "basically doped him up so he wouldn't have such dramatic mood swings." Unfortunately, upon using this drug he found that his creativity vanished and he was not able to write the way he knew he could and should. So, he cut off the drug and the therapy and wrote some of the best work of his entire life. Until he committed suicide seven years later. There were pros and cons to the decision...

       My aim is to express that an unwavering lifelong situation, whether it be way up on Cloud Nine or deep down in the Marianas Trench, cannot truly be either happiness or misery. It would be only numbness and nothingness. The struggles we endure challenge us to progress and become closer to the perfect form of ourselves. Each valley we trudge through and each hill we conquer is a checkpoint on the journey.

       A person may be raised on tissue paper and be fed his every desire with a gleaming silver spoon, but he does not know what it means to be happy because he has no sadness to compare it to. He does not know the glory of a job well done because he has never had to work for his glory. Be grateful for hardships. They allow you to recognize and appreciate true joy.

Happy climbing!