Awareness - 2
Most people tell you they want to get
out of kindergarten, but don’t believe them. Don’t believe them! All they want
you to do is to mend their broken toys. “Give me back my wife. Give me back my
job. Give me back my money. Give me back my reputation, my success.” This is
what they want; they want their toys replaced. That’s all. Even the best
psychologist will tell you that, that people don’t really want to be cured.
What they want is relief; a cure is painful.
Last year on Spanish television I
heard a story about this gentleman who knocks on his son’s door. “Jaime,” he
says, “wake up!” Jaime answers, “I don’t want to get up, Papa.” The father
shouts, “Get up, you have to go to school.” Jaime says, “I don’t want to go to
school.” “Why not?” asks the father. “Three reasons,” says Jaime. “First, because
it’s so dull; second, the kids tease me; and third, I hate school.” And the
father says, “Well, I am going to give you three reasons why you must go to
school. First, because it is your duty; second, because you are forty-five
years old, and third, because you are the headmaster.” Wake up, wake up! You’ve
grown up. You’re too big to be asleep. Wake up! Stop playing with your toys.
Most people tell you they want to get
out of kindergarten, but don’t believe them. Don’t believe them! All they want
you to do is to mend their broken toys. “Give me back my wife. Give me back my
job. Give me back my money. Give me back my reputation, my success.” This is
what they want; they want their toys replaced. That’s all. Even the best
psychologist will tell you that, that people don’t really want to be cured.
What they want is relief; a cure is painful.
- Anthony deMello SJ
