A Moment of Truth

Those malicious clouds were coming this way sooner or later, regardless of the present state of peace. That soothing consistent wind which makes the silence peaceful, is also the harbinger of the ensuing opposite. Thus, the wind physically represents the constant flowing of time, and the dark clouds represent the inevitable future of what is to come. Although one could predict, the unfortunate truth is that it is unknown. Those clouds may very well blow past, but conversely, the may stay and unleash the forces of nature. With that thought, I realized how (if I were to stay outside) I could be caught in whatever those dark clouds had in store. I would be wet, cold, and miserable. Fortunate for me, though, I have quite the optimistic resolve.

Much like how that storm represents negative events in a life’s timeline, the fact that the storm could and would not last forever and if I stood my ground and weathered it like the stones of the earth has for countless millennia, the storm would pass and the sun would shine again. So even if life tosses you the crumbs, you should never lose your stance and remain strong and confident in whom you are, the moment will pass and one of glee and contentment will replace it. As is the cycle of life. However, you must see life clearly, one moment (good or bad) after another, in order to grasp and hold onto this perspective soundly.

Life is too short to allow negative things to worry and deeply disturb you, as well as allowing the indulgence of good times to blind you to any future distress that may and most probably will occur. You must always be prepared for the inevitable, as unrecognizable as it may be, but cherish and enjoy every moment of bliss as though it were to never end. Only than, can you live life as you should until the day you must pass, and carry onto henceforth.

The great Roman military strategist, Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, managed to sum all this up in one simple verse: “Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum”. In english, this means: “If you want Peace, prepare for War”. Nothing could be further from the truth, for one who eludes ignorance. The idea is if you want one thing, always be prepared for the opposite. This is an excellent motto to live your life by, and to think, it was written nearly two thousand years ago.