What Are You Doing Now?

This short tidbit from Anthony de Mello's The Song of The Bird provides enough food for thought to feed an entire town for a year.

The industrialist was horrified to find the fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking a pipe.

"Why aren’t you out fishing?" said the industrialist.

"Because I have caught enough fish for the day."

"Why don’t you catch some more?"

"What would I do with it?"

"Earn more money. Then you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Thai would bring you money to buy nylon nets, so more fish, more money. Soon you would have enough to buy two boats... even a fleet of boots. Then you could be rich like me."

"What would I do then?"

"Then you could really enjoy life."

"What do you think I am doing now?"

Ah, that's the question, isn't it? "What do you think i'm doing now?" What are you doing? Are you working to make a living? Or, working to make a Life? Does each paycheck set you a little more free? Or, does each one add more bindings that tie you down?

When you look in the mirror each morning as you get ready for work do you see someone who is living or someone who is existing? Look again, can you see the face that sees you? If you hid in the mirror for a few minutes it would certainly make it's appearance. Can you do that?

In order to live life there are times when you have to know when enough is enough. How much enough is enough is different for everyone, but if you're not sure about your case, hide in your mirror in the mornings and ask for advice as soon as your original face shows up.