"We are what we repeatedly do." Aristotle
Sisyphus, in Greek mythology, is condemned to roll a massive stone to the top of a hill, only to watch it roll down, and repeat the exercise endlessly. He was condemned by the Gods because he revealed divine secrets to mortals.
We sympathize with Sisyphus. We rebuke the Gods for being unduly harsh and would do what is possible to reduce the severe punishment the condemned man has to suffer. We are ready to help, but do not know how.
The irony is that we do not help ourselves. We too are condemned; punished - not by the Gods, but by our own mindless ways. Sisyphus repeated an exercise endlessly; we repeat willful acts over and over again. Sinful thoughts, unkind words, foul deeds and vengeful acts are repeated, not because we are punished into performing them, but because we choose to; because we will not have it any other way. We condemn ourselves. And who watches? Our children, who should be edified by our example are scandalized. At first they are confused. Then they learn to imitate us, and in time it becomes their response to the challenges in life - hit back, acid remarks, pride and vain glory, deceit, and an unkind way of life.
Sisyphus could blame the Gods. Who will our children blame?
Sisyphus, in Greek mythology, is condemned to roll a massive stone to the top of a hill, only to watch it roll down, and repeat the exercise endlessly. He was condemned by the Gods because he revealed divine secrets to mortals.
We sympathize with Sisyphus. We rebuke the Gods for being unduly harsh and would do what is possible to reduce the severe punishment the condemned man has to suffer. We are ready to help, but do not know how.
The irony is that we do not help ourselves. We too are condemned; punished - not by the Gods, but by our own mindless ways. Sisyphus repeated an exercise endlessly; we repeat willful acts over and over again. Sinful thoughts, unkind words, foul deeds and vengeful acts are repeated, not because we are punished into performing them, but because we choose to; because we will not have it any other way. We condemn ourselves. And who watches? Our children, who should be edified by our example are scandalized. At first they are confused. Then they learn to imitate us, and in time it becomes their response to the challenges in life - hit back, acid remarks, pride and vain glory, deceit, and an unkind way of life.
Sisyphus could blame the Gods. Who will our children blame?
