Wisdom

Was trawling internet for some photographs of SNCF workers who might have carried my recently acquired French railway lamp. Not much success, but did come across these three images.




Chef de manoeuvres principal.

Lens

This third image, come across by accident, is of a place which we have often visited, Hossegor, in the Landes region of south west France. And that very graceful and enjoyable to watch team game, pelote basque. It is true to say that every small town there has one of these courts.

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Wisdom:

As I grow older, I wish more and more for wisdom - just in the way that Solomon requested it of God.

I'm not sure if this passes for wisdom, but I often think about the following piece of advice that I was once given and am interested in the degree to which it can be expanded in its application to a wider set of events.

The context was this: "Several years ago I was working as a bookkeeper for someone (who is now a friend). In addition, there was an accountant who oversaw matters - it was a complex business. "

Anyway, an  Inland Revenue form was not returned on time and as a result a £500 penalty was imposed. I knew that the form should have been returned but presumed that my then boss was on top of it. He presumed that the accountant took responsibility for it and the accountant thought that it was my responsibility."

I didn't really think that it was my responsibility but felt pretty awful about the whole thing because I could have spoken up and at least reminded someone to submit the said form."

On reporting my feelings to my boss, he told me not to worry about the situation; or as he put it, "There's no point feeling shit and being fined £500." "

I find this fascinating advice. How widely can one adhere to it in one's everyday life? I have been successfully applying it recently to a variety of circumstances.

For example: expensive roof repairs - no point feeling hellish AND having to fork out thousands of pounds.

Painful eyes: no point losing one's sight (bit of poetic licence here) AND feeling anxious about it.

Disappointing meal: no point doubling the disappointment by feeling aggrieved as well.

Being insulted by someone: no point ruining the rest of one's day after the insult has been given.

And one could go on and on and on.

But, can there come a point where this act of dislocating emotion from circumstances undermines one's humanity.

For example, can one apply it to the death of a loved one. Can one sensibly say that there is no point losing a loved one AND grieving about it?

Perhaps a Buddhist might draw that conclusion. But, in my present state of wisdom I find it hard to believe that the phrase "losing a loved one" can have any meaning if it does not include as part of its meaning the experience of grief.

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Scriabin:

Once again, Mustonen plays Scriabin.