What Exile Leaves Himself Behind?

It is apparent that at times the pressures of life are upon us all. Anxieties, difficulties, decisions⎯even opportunities weigh heavily under some circumstances. And, collectively, we meet pressures and problems in many ways. We sometimes ignore them or seek to evade them. We sometimes face them full in the face, with the faith to know that, as we do what we can, help and strength come from sources both inside and outside ourselves.

Certainly one of the least likely ways of solving any situation satisfactorily is by refusal to face facts. In one of his writings Montaigne implied the ineffectiveness of trying to evade issues⎯of trying, in a sense, to run away from ourselves or our obligations or our opportunities, and from Horace he quoted the classic language of this lesson: “Reason and sense remove anxiety, Not houses that look out upon the sea. Why should we move to find countries and climates of another kind? What exile leaves himself behind?” When, indeed, did anyone ever leave himself behind?

There are times when all of us need a change of pace, rest and recreation, and time to step aside and think things through. But no one ever leaves himself behind. And changes⎯repentance, the altering of attitudes, the meeting of problems and of opportunities, and all personal improvement, these have to happen inside ourselves, in addition to whatever help we may receive from other sources.

We must move on from wherever we are, knowing that there are problems and decisions, consequences and compensations in all endeavors⎯that there are scares of battle, in a sense, in all we undertake to do⎯and that life isn’t altogether easy for anyone.

We have to learn to live through; to hold on; to believe; to try; to trust. And peace comes⎯personal peace⎯with the courage to repent, to improve upon the past, to meet the problems and opportunities of the present, and to have faith in the future.

“Reason and sense remove anxiety, Not houses that look out upon the sea. Why should we move to find countries and climates of another kind? What exile leaves himself behind?”