And so, with personal tragedy. Complete
ACCEPTANCE of it-with humility and submission-
quietly, but surely, gives you the mastery of survival and
the inner resources to deal with whatever consequences
may result.
Noone is given a burden without, at the same
time, being given the strength to bear it.
Willingness to ACCEPT the inevitable misfor-
tunes of life transcends almost every other human power.
It is useless to fight the inevitable-or to reject it, or curse
it, or hate it. On an ancient cathedral in Holland is
inscribed the eternal truth: celt is so. lt cannot be other-
w'tse.. "
We can deal with such finality only through
ACCEPTANCE, as philosopher William James advises,
ceBe willing to have it so. ACCEPTANCE of what has hap-
pened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of
any misfortune."
And, in the philosophy of Schopenhauer, ccA
good supply of resignation is of first importance in pro-
viding for the journey of life."
By ACCEPTANCE you attain a spiritual tran-
sition from sorrow to tranquility.
But what then?
If we (1) ADMIT and (2) ACCEPT, we
achieve peace of mind. But then must we, like Buddha,
lose ourselves in idle, serene contemplation?
Believing there is more to make of life than
that, we move forward, taking Step Number Three-the
third ceA":