Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Life - A Quest for Greatness
Its amazing how often we get caught up in the little things opting to forget the big picture. I, myself, have been guilty of so many times that I have lost count now. Sometimes we feel that one failed exam or one bad assignment has changed the course of our lives. In our search of greatness, we try to measure ourselves to that 'person with straight 4s' or 'that person with a lexus' or 'that person with a dream job.'
But the question that everybody eventually asks is what is greatness?
Some define is as the point in life where you realize that you cannot go any farther and declare that you have achieved it what you set out for. I tend to think of that as the cynical and pessimisstic view. But the question still stands.
To one person, being a surgeon epitomizes the definition while to the other its the impression you leave upon people with whom you meet just once or everyday. It was once said that 'some people are born with greatness, some achieve it while others have it thrust upon them.'
But then again the decisions we make define our life, which in the end we use to measure our 'greatness.'
If one believes in God, than a natural thought progression leads to a belief in life after death. Since no one in history has come back from it, from the great philosopher Aristotle who died 4000 years ago to Yasser Arafat whose death occured a mere few months before, the place they reside in now seems to be permanent. And whatever one thinks this place is, who ever goes there seems to be spending an 'eternity' (sorry for the bad pun) compared to 70 or 80 years that we might end up living.
Very few of us will be remembered thousands of years after we have died like Aristotle or Socrates, but what I just thought of right now is if either Aristotle or Socrates have achieved 'greatness' in the place where they are now. I wonder if they could come back and choose again, which 'greatness' would they opt for? A safe bet is they would choose the place where they have spent the last 4000+ years.
"And a soul will not die but with the permission of Allah the term is fixed; and whoever desires the reward of this world, I shall give him of it, and whoever desires the reward of the hereafter I shall give him of it, and I will reward the grateful." (al-Imran v:145)
" And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life-- did they but know!" (al-anqaboot v:64)
But the question that everybody eventually asks is what is greatness?
Some define is as the point in life where you realize that you cannot go any farther and declare that you have achieved it what you set out for. I tend to think of that as the cynical and pessimisstic view. But the question still stands.
To one person, being a surgeon epitomizes the definition while to the other its the impression you leave upon people with whom you meet just once or everyday. It was once said that 'some people are born with greatness, some achieve it while others have it thrust upon them.'
But then again the decisions we make define our life, which in the end we use to measure our 'greatness.'
If one believes in God, than a natural thought progression leads to a belief in life after death. Since no one in history has come back from it, from the great philosopher Aristotle who died 4000 years ago to Yasser Arafat whose death occured a mere few months before, the place they reside in now seems to be permanent. And whatever one thinks this place is, who ever goes there seems to be spending an 'eternity' (sorry for the bad pun) compared to 70 or 80 years that we might end up living.
Very few of us will be remembered thousands of years after we have died like Aristotle or Socrates, but what I just thought of right now is if either Aristotle or Socrates have achieved 'greatness' in the place where they are now. I wonder if they could come back and choose again, which 'greatness' would they opt for? A safe bet is they would choose the place where they have spent the last 4000+ years.
"And a soul will not die but with the permission of Allah the term is fixed; and whoever desires the reward of this world, I shall give him of it, and whoever desires the reward of the hereafter I shall give him of it, and I will reward the grateful." (al-Imran v:145)
" And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life-- did they but know!" (al-anqaboot v:64)
Faraz Ahmed 9:00 p.m.