第26部分(第2/6 頁)

d　to　the　splendor　of　it　all。

The　insight　gleaned　from　that　experience　is　really　as　monplace　as　was　the　experience　itself：　life’s　gifts　are　precious—but　we　are　too　heedless　of　them。

Here　then　is　the　first　pole　of　life’s　paradoxical　demands　on　us：　Never　too　busy　for　the　wonder　and　the　awe　of　life。　Be　reverent　before　each　dawning　day。　Embrace　each　hour。　Seize　each　golden　minute。

Hold　fast　to　life；　but　not　so　fast　that　you　cannot　let　go。　This　is　the　second　side　of　life’s　coin；　the　opposite　pole　of　its　paradox：　we　must　accept　our　losses；　and　learn　how　to　let　go。

This　is　not　an　easy　lesson　to　learn；　especially　when　we　are　young　and　think　that　the　world　is　ours　to　mand；　that　whatever　we　desire　with　the　full　force　of　our　passionate　being　can；　will；　be　ours。　But　then　life　moves　along　to　confront　us　with　realities；　and　slowly　but　surely　this　second　truth　dawns　upon　us。

At　every　stage　of　life　we　sustain　losses—and　grow　in　the　process。　We　begin　our　independent　lives　only　when　we　emerge　from　the　womb　and　lose　its　protective　shelter。　We　enter　a　progression　of　schools；　then　we　leave　our　mothers　and　fathers　and　our　childhood　homes。　We　get　married　and　have　children　and　then　have　to　let　them　go。　We　confront　the　death　of　our　parents　and　our　spouses。　We　face　the　gradual　or　not　so　gradual　waning　of　our　own　strength。　And　ultimately；　as　the　parable　of　the　open　and　closed　hand　suggests；　we　must　confront　the　inevitability　of　our　own　demise；　losing　ourselves　as　it　were；　all　that　we　were　or　dreamed　to　be。

賴以生存的兩條真理（3）

But　why　should　we　be　reconciled　to　life’s　contradictory　demands？　Why　fashion　things　of　beauty　is　evanescent　？　Why　give　our　heart　in　love　when　those　we　love　will　ultimately　be　torn　from　our　grasp？

In　order　to　resolve　this　parado