Yesterday, I was sat on a train reading my Bible. A man came into the carriage along with his girlfriend and they sat a few seats along from me. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the man coughed sharply and aggressively at me in a way that was so violent it caused pain in my heart.
I reacted with understandable anger. “You don’t need to attack people mate, just be kind to them – it’s better for you and it’s better for them.”
It is pure insanity what goes on in London. People are continually attacking one another with coughs. It happens all day every day. I suppose when someone coughs at another person, it is an attempt to say, “I’m bigger and better than you” or “I’m feeling vulnerable”. But why not express yourself in words rather than attacking strangers?
As I reflected on this insane behaviour, I thought about how it’s a part of what people call the ‘rat race’. Men and women continually want more wealth and power, presumably because they think this will make them happy. So they fight their way up the social ladder and their angry coughing is one of their weapons.
But they will never find happiness this way. People with more ‘power’ experience the greater stress that comes from putting themselves in a position where they have authority over others. They may gain more wealth, but you only have to look at a child to see that wealth doesn’t mean happiness.
The problem is that it is unnatural to have power over others. We are only happy when there is peace and harmony, and this comes not through battling but through surrender. The happiest, most peaceful people, are those who accept their circumstances, stop striving, live with gratitude, and centre their lives around their relationship with God and nature.
God-centred people aren’t interested in power, though they may be concerned about the peace and happiness of all sentient beings.
It is sometimes the case that people are born into a position of authority or are called by God to serve in a position of authority, and those in that position face the same decisions about their conduct as those with no authority, only they may exert greater influence.
The sacred Scriptures of Christianity and Islam describe a Day of Judgement. It’s important that people know that when they attack and belittle others, this will one day be met with justice.
It is human nature to get angry over injustice and cruelty, and a lot of people in London are suffering. But why not try expressing your anger in words, London, rather than by coughing at people, which is a form of assault?
All human beings ultimately want the same thing. So have the courage to be open, honest and kind.
Perfect Chaos 