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December    6th

THE SWORD   DANGLES OVER    YOU

“Don’t  behave  as  if  you are destined    to  live    forever.    What’s  fated   hangs   over    you.    As  long    as  you

live    and while   you can,    become  good    now.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    4.17

here is an ancient story of a courtier who had made light of the responsibilities of his king. To prove
he was mistaken, the king arranged to switch places with the courtier so he could experience what it
was like to be a king. The king made one other adjustment: he hung a sword by a hair over the throne to
illustrate the peril and burden of kingship as well as the constant fear of assassination. We call that
dangling reminder of death and difficulty the Sword of Damocles.
The reality is that a similar sword hangs over all of us—life can be taken from us at any moment. And
that threat can send us in one of two directions: we can fear and dread it, or we can use it to motivate us.
To do good, to be good. Because the sword is dangling, and there’s nothing else to be concerned with.
Would you rather it catch you in the middle of some shameful, selfish act? Would you rather it catch you
waiting to be good in the future?