“For some reason I can’t explain, I know St. Peter won’t call my name. Never an honest word but that was when I ruled the world.” - Chris Martin (Coldplay), from Viva La Vida
Christians believe St. Peter, who was one of the twelve original Disciples of Christ, stands in front of the gates to heaven and is charged with the responsibility of announcing, upon our deaths, who is entering heaven and who is not.
The belief is we are not guaranteed a spot in heaven – we have to earn it. Only upon hearing our names called, are our souls allowed to enter into a blissful eternity.
How we live our lives, how we love the ones closest to us, the honesty we demonstrate and the choices we make all determine if we will be included on St. Peter’s list (or some other list for that matter). Conscious self-examination is needed on a daily basis otherwise we run the risk of missing out on something wonderful.
Regardless of your religious beliefs, and even in the absence of any spiritual connection or association, each one us has the responsibility of leaving this world in a little better condition than how we found it. This is because we are all a part of the human condition.
Brother looking after brother and sister looking after sister helps to ease the pain, suffering, oppression and disappointment we experience. To continue to live, exist, and survive in this world, and in the next world, humans need one another.
There are many places we can look to find the code, the answers, we need when its time to pass from this life to the other. However, as complex as life gets at times, the best answers can also be the least complicated.
In the book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, author Robert Fulghum provides a blueprint for this simplification and helps me to paint some context for how I want to live my life so I will hear St. Peter call my name.
Share Everything. Yes, share the cookies and the toys, but also share your experiences, your fears, your accomplishments your love and your heart. Others will benefit from what you have learned.
Play Fair. Remain honest and tell the truth. Seek opportunities for mutual gain with the people in your life. Lift others up and be mindful of their needs as well as your own.
Don’t Hit People. Violence and aggression are only temporary measures to get someone’s attention and obedience. True and lasting respect is earned by listening and responding appropriately. None of us have the right to force our will upon someone else’s.
Put Things Back Where You Found Them. Respect what belongs to others. Care for the things you have in your life and watch them continue to grow and flourish.
Clean Up Your Own Mess. Take 100% responsibility for your actions. We are responsible for the decisions we make and we are accountable to our family and friends for our words and deeds.
Don’t Take Things that Aren’t Yours. Honor the boundaries set by others. Don’t claim ideas or thoughts that are not your own. Allow love to happen naturally. If it goes away, don’t grasp it so tightly you damage, or kill its spirit or potential to love again.
“Goldfish and hamsters and white mice even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.” – Robert Fulghum
Say You’re Sorry When You Hurt Somebody. Be humble and show regret when appropriate. Ask for forgiveness and allow your soul to be cleansed by the healing it offers.
Warm Cookies and Cold Milk are Good for You. Take good care of yourself. Fill yourself up with what gives you the most energy and the most passion. Self-care is just as important as caring for everyone else in your life – you are just as worthy to receive the warmth it provides.
Live a Balanced Life. Work hard and play hard, too. Follow your heart’s desire while you provide the basic necessities.
When You Go out into the World, Watch out for Traffic, Hold Hands and Stick Together. Life is meant to be shared. You have the responsibility to watch over others and to help keep them warm and safe. The human bond, the human connection, requires this from us.
Like everyone else, I not sure how much time I have left. Rather than living with fear or regret, I choose to embrace each day and live each day to its fullest the best that I can. Along the way, however, I’m preparing and getting ready for my eventual reality.
When the moment arrives my hope is I won’t be waiting anxiously to hear if St. Peter calls my name. Instead, I will walk in the direction of his voice. Upon hearing my name, I will stop before going any further. I will take a brief moment to acknowledge my efforts and the efforts of others. I will say a quick prayer of thanksgiving as my soul evaporates into the light to begin its next journey.
Life does continue for all of us. We don’t have to rule the world to make certain this happens; we just have to remember to take care of each other along the way.
“其中缘由我不能讲明,我深知圣彼得不会唤我姓名。从未听过只字真言,但那就是我主宰世界的年月。——克里斯·马丁(coldplay网),来自歌曲《生命至上》
基督教徒们相信基督最初的十二弟子之一圣彼得就站在通往天堂的门口。他负责宣布人们死后能否进入天堂。
但是天堂里没有给我们预留位置——我们必须通过努力去争取。只有我们的名字被呼唤,我们的灵魂才能进入永恒的极乐世界。
如何生活,如何去爱与我们最亲近的人,我们所表现出来的正直以及我们所做的选择都决定着我们能否有幸进入圣·彼得的名单(或者其他一些类似的名单)。自觉地对每天做的事情自我反省是必要的,除非我们不害怕失去生命中的精彩部分。
不管你的宗教信仰如何,甚至即使你没有心灵寄托和宗教信仰,我们每个人也都有责任让这个世界比我们来时更美好。这是因为我们每个人都是人类社会的一部分。
兄弟姐妹的互相关心照顾能减轻我们所承受的疼痛和苦难,排遣我们所经历的压抑和失望。为了继续生在,存在,活在这个世界乃至下一个世界上,人类相互需要。
我们可以在很多地方找到生活不断变化时需要的规则和答案。然而,即使生活变得越来越复杂,对生活的最佳解释可以最为简单。
在《学会在幼儿园》 一书中,作者Robert Fulghum为这种单纯的生活描绘了一幅蓝图,这幅蓝图为我提供了怎样对待生活才能有幸进入天堂的相关信息。
分享一切。是的,不仅仅是饼干和玩具,还有你的经历,你的恐惧,你的成就,你的爱,以及你的心灵,从而使他人从你学到的事物中有所收获。
公平公正。保持正直说真话。寻求能让你和身边的人都能互惠互利的机会。鼓励他人,以关心自己之所需之心去关心他人之所需。
不压迫他人。暴力和侵略只是一时吸引他人注意和迫使他人顺从的卑劣手段。而真实和永久的尊敬来自于真诚的聆听和适当的回应。
把物品归还原处。尊重属于他人的东西。关心你生命中的事物,看着它们不断的成长壮大。
收拾自己的烂摊子。百分百为自己的一切行为负责。我们要为自己做的决定,家人,朋友,以及说出去的话,做过的事情负责。
不带走篡夺不属于自己的东西。尊重他人所划的权限。不要大声发表那些不属于你的观点和思想。让爱自然地发展。爱若不再,不要紧抓不放以致伤害或杀害了爱的灵魂,或以致于毁掉再次相爱的可能。
“把金鱼,田鼠,白鼠,甚至是小种子放入聚苯乙烯杯里----它们都会窒息而死。我们也一样。”-----Robert Fulghum
伤害了他人要表达歉意。要谦逊,适当地表示抱歉。请求宽恕,让你的心灵因宽容的恩赐而纯净透明。
暖饼冷奶有助于身体健康。好好照顾自己。用那些能给你很多能量和激情的东西把自己的肚子填得满满的。关心自己和关心你生命中的其他人一样重要---那些温暖,你受之无愧。
生活要有张有弛。疯狂工作也要尽情玩耍。生活必需品不愁时就跟着感觉走。
外出时注意交通安全,手牵手紧相随。生命意味着分享。你有责任关注他人,让他人感受到温暖和安全。人类的凝聚力,人们之间的关系需要我们这么做。
和其它任何人一样,我不知道自己还能活多久。我选择拥抱每一天,尽我之所能最充分地利用每一天,而不是带着恐惧和遗憾虚度余生。然而,一路上我也在为那最终的现实做着准备。
那个时刻到来时,我希望我不是焦虑地等待圣·彼得呼唤我的姓名,而是循着他的声音走到他面前。听到了自己的名字后,我将稍作停顿才继续前行。我将简短地回顾一下我为自己和他人付出的努力。我将迅速做个感恩的祈祷,因为我的灵魂即将消失在那道开始它下一段旅程的光线。
我们每个人的生活都在继续。我们不必掌控整个世界来确定事情是否发生;我们只要记住一路上要互相关心。