MEDITATION TIPS for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
February 9, 2025

“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” (Luke 5:5)

　These words of Peter reflect our daily cries: “I’ve worked hard until now but achieved nothing. Should I give up?” However, what’s crucial is the mindset of “But at your command, I will lower the nets,” meaning, “Let’s give it one more try.” Despair and hope, failure and success are two sides of the same coin; neither remains forever. “Those in adversity should always say ‘just a little more’ and keep moving forward. Eventually, light will surely shine on the future” (Inazo Nitobe).

　Human beings learn a lot from failures. On the contrary, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose” (Bill Gates). Sometimes, it is important to change our perspective and ask, “What was good about this failure?” It is important to take failure as an opportunity. Failure is a living thing, and failures hold the seeds of success within them. It is also necessary to question whether it was not due to a lack of effort but a wrong approach. There are multiple routes to climb a mountain; you can ascend from the east, west, north, or south. In other words, by changing your perspective, many new possibilities can open up. “On cold days when nothing blooms, extend your roots deeper. A large flower will eventually bloom” (Marathon runner Naoko Takahashi’s motto).

　Inventor Thomas Edison was also a man with humor. Even after failing 10,000 times in his experiments, he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” giving meaning to his failures with humor. If you learn something new from a failure, it is no longer a failure but a “valuable experience.” Failure gives birth to hope, and hope gives birth to new courage. “He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he who loses courage loses all” (Cervantes).

　There is, however, another perspective. Many of the problems we face in life can often be resolved within our hearts. Zen master Ikkyū Sōjun, before his death, entrusted his disciples with a will, instructing them, “Open this will only when this temple faces a major problem in the future. Until then, do not read it under any circumstances.” This instruction was faithfully followed for generations, and the will was never opened until 100 years after his death. When the will, expected to contain solutions, was opened, it simply said, “Let things happen as they may, do not worry.” This brief message, while initially surprising, has the power to make one’s heart look forward positively. Rushing because of a problem often prevents the resolution of things that can be solved. The real issue is not the problem itself but the heart that gets flustered and emotional about it. I believe many of us can relate to this.

 　　　　　(Contribution by Father Yutaka Akabae)