“Birds of a feather”
Faults and virtues arise from our companions. – Sanskrit proverb
According to this ancient saying, what is good in us and what is bad, our strong points and our weak points alike, develop because of constant association. When we associate with calm people, we become calm; when we associate with agitated people, we become agitated. When we frequent the company of people who are wise, we become wiser; when our company is otherwise, we become otherwise too.
We’ve all experienced this. When we have spent an evening with someone who is overwrought, we come home so agitated ourselves that we can’t get to sleep. But there is a positive side of the power of association: we absorb good qualities too, by spending time with people who embody them. Whenever we associate with people, we participate in their mental states.
I know this to be true, especially because I seem to be calmer and more centered when I am regualrly meeting with a spiritual formation group. As it being with those who agitate, and stress me out, I try to make sure this doesn’t happen…but invariably it does…maybe this amongst all challenges is hardest to overcome…and remain centered. The most daunting challenge comes from family members. If I ever am able to overcome this agitation by association, I feel as if I will have “crost o’er the bar”…even though its not physical death.
Help me, Jesus.
According to this ancient saying, what is good in us and what is bad, our strong points and our weak points alike, develop because of constant association. When we associate with calm people, we become calm; when we associate with agitated people, we become agitated. When we frequent the company of people who are wise, we become wiser; when our company is otherwise, we become otherwise too.
We’ve all experienced this. When we have spent an evening with someone who is overwrought, we come home so agitated ourselves that we can’t get to sleep. But there is a positive side of the power of association: we absorb good qualities too, by spending time with people who embody them. Whenever we associate with people, we participate in their mental states.
I know this to be true, especially because I seem to be calmer and more centered when I am regualrly meeting with a spiritual formation group. As it being with those who agitate, and stress me out, I try to make sure this doesn’t happen…but invariably it does…maybe this amongst all challenges is hardest to overcome…and remain centered. The most daunting challenge comes from family members. If I ever am able to overcome this agitation by association, I feel as if I will have “crost o’er the bar”…even though its not physical death.
Help me, Jesus.
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