Dualities.

(Originally written on November 6, 2022)

Do you have that one friend who is such a goody good that they won’t break rules even if no one will see it or care? What about that friend that who always pulls you into situations you would have never put yourself in?

I’ve been reading The Second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran. In its pages I found this interesting excerpt I’ve been wanting to share with you all.

“… and many a time I have made a comparison between the nobility of sacrifice and happiness of rebellion to find out which one is nobler and more beautiful; but until now I have distilled only one truth out of the whole matter, and this truth is sincerity, which makes all our deeds beautiful and honorable.”

Interesting right? This duality is something I’ve seen and come up against in my life.

“The nobility of sacrifice”. It could be something as small as letting a person with only a few items cut in front of you at the grocery. It could be as big as a person giving their life and their time to ensure yours is even a little better.

“The happiness of rebellion”. It could be squeezing through that traffic light that was definitely red by the time you got to the intersection. I think we all rebelled at some point in our younger years and have tasted the happiness the author speaks of.

Bringing it all back together, I think that for a long time I glorified the nobility of sacrifice and would internally struggle to feel true happiness in rebellion. But what Kahlil (and me now) believes is that sincerity trumps all.

Whether rebelling or sacrificing, if a person is being true and sincere to their truth of the world then it is beautiful and honorable.

What a life we live.

Stay Warm.

dc