Last month, while sitting near a lake in the beautiful town of Füssen, Germany, a thought crossed my mind. Have you ever noticed how still water can sometimes become dirty and dry up easily, while at other times it remains clean and everlasting? What makes the difference? I believe it’s depth.
When the water is deep and vast enough, it stays clean and abundant. It supports large ecosystems and withstands the changing seasons without drying up. In contrast, when the water is shallow, even a little organic matter can turn it green and smelly, and warmer temperatures can lead to quick drying. Deep water, whether in a lake or the sea, remains unaffected, while shallow water needs to flow like a river to sustain itself.
These observations, although natural phenomena, remind me of us—humans.
When we are knowledgeable and wise through our experiences, we become like an ocean. We can sit back and observe life happening around us because we have gained enough wisdom to know that no experience can tarnish our character, just as dirt or seasonal changes cannot harm the great lakes or the sea. Conversely, if we stop learning early on, like shallow water, we become easily influenced, and our character can suffer.
Thus, it is our duty to keep learning, just as a river keeps flowing, until we become as deep as the sea. This way, no impurity can ever contaminate us, and no season can ever dry us up. Let’s embrace the journey of learning and growing, allowing us to stay strong and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
