And So It Goes...

 I like the phrase, “And so it goes…”, it reminds me of C’est la vie… I’m aware that it expresses resignation or acceptance that things will continue to be as they have been, and continue to happen repeatedly or persistently, despite our best efforts to change things; but we can only do our best. We can continue to do our best even if we are not completely able to change the world, no matter what. It may be part of the “plan.” To me, the world is like a school. We come here to learn many lessons — how to be a truly caring, loving, kind, compassionate, patient, and a peaceful human being.

I appreciate the teachings of many religions, like Buddhism. The Buddhists believe in the principles of acceptance, non-attachment and surrender. I’ll explain them here:

Acceptance refers to our ability to stay present. When life presents us with something we find painful and difficult, our tendency is to resist, avoid change or generally push against that. We need to learn to let go of the idea that we can control everything — we can’t! Some things are just meant to be… Yes, we can try our best to improve things, to do our part to help others, to bring awareness about injustices, to teach others about our beliefs and our commitments, to inspire them; but that’s it! We have to learn to let go of the belief that we can solve all of the world’s problems. We can change some things, of course, and make a difference in small ways, and this is perfectly fine. Our efforts do matter! And when many work together towards a common goal, things do happen. There will always be challenges, of course, and this is why we need one another to work together and help each other. We can also learn from the teachings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the "Little Way" idea; which is a simple approach to our spiritual life—seeking to do ordinary things, little things, with extraordinary love. Performing “little virtues,” not seeking grandiose sacrifices to God, but little acts of holiness. Let us practice the “Little Way.”

The Buddhists also believe in the principle of non-attachment. The Buddha said that attachment (and its opposite, aversion) is the root of all suffering. We easily attach to things, to people, even to ideas and desired outcomes, resting our happiness on external factors that we ultimately cannot control. The practice of non-attachment —of letting go of our ego’s constant grasping and clinging— helps alleviate our suffering and increases peace of mind. Non-attachment doesn’t imply that we let go of our plans, pursuits or goals; rather, we practice changing the energy or tone of our pursuits, focusing on the journey rather than the destination.

The third principle is surrender. Surrender is closely related to the notion of acceptance. While this principle, like acceptance, encourages letting things “be,” surrender takes it one step further. When we surrender, we simply let go… we leave it to God, like they say. No matter what we surrender to, the key is that we no longer take ourselves to be supreme and in control. Surrender will feel like relief (or like grace).

Let us practice letting go of what should have been or what should be. The Buddha said, “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

The song “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel starts, “In every heart there is a room, a sanctuary safe and strong.” Let us remember that that sanctuary is God within. God is always with us! Always present… And let’s not forget the simple and powerful words by Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.” And so it goes…

Karol Feld (January 16, 2024)

"Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. …get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed. Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and he gave it to me. Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge. The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living."

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

"Remember that there is meaning beyond absurdity. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power… Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art."

— Abraham Joshua Heschel