Reflections on The Daily Stoic:
- The Discipline of Perception
- January's Theme: Clarity
- Topic: See the World Like a Poet and an Artist
- Stoic: Marcus Aurelius
Today's quote:
Pass through this brief patch of time in harmony with nature, and come to your final resting place gracefully, just as a ripened olive might drop, praising the earth that nourished it and grateful to the tree that gave it growth.
- Meditations, 4.48.2
With today's quote, The Daily Stoic focuses not on the substance of the quote, but rather the rhetoric and style. How do we see the world? With what words do we express our perception and observation? Choosing the apply reason and logic in the way one deals with circumstances and choices does not have to be mutually exclusive from creativity, wit, or expressing thought in colorful metaphor.
The Bible is full of examples: David (Psalm 23); Solomon (Song of Solomon); Isaiah (Isaiah 5, Isaiah 64), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 4), and the rest of the prophets; Jesus (John 6, John 8); John (Revelation); even Paul (Acts 17, Galatians, I Thessalonians).
And what of the substance of today's quote? I am reminded again of Paul and his perspective toward the end of his life. "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (II Timothy 4:6-8)
