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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?