All of Humanity’s Problems Stem from Man’s Inability to Sit Quietly in a Room Alone
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Blaise Pascal (1654)
Blaise Pascal was a prodigy, a scientist, a philosopher who contributed immensely to the field of science and mathematics especially in the theory of probability. In his essays called the Pensees on Human Predicament- Pascal shares words of wisdom on human limitation and the inability of man to achieve happiness on his own.
Pascal, through his own pursuit for happiness, noted that man is constantly looking for distractions and is never content with just being in the present. Man is always looking for happiness in the future. He explains that even after a man attains what he desires, he is not content and is looking for new pleasures, which promise happiness.
He adds that man does not attain happiness by living and satisfying himself but rather by renouncing himself of the pleasures that obstruct his relationship with God. He wasted a lot of time on gambling and trivial pursuits and was not happy. He finally found true happiness during his solitary moment with God. – ‘all that is quiet is not unbearable ennui but true happiness’.
He concludes with two options that we either surrender to Christ and his teachings or we live in uncertainty, anguish and despair. All the pursuit of happiness by oneself only leads to more despair.
Does Pascal’s wisdom apply to us today? More so than ever. Look at our lives, even with the social distancing, how many of us have really taken quiet time to be by ourselves without the distractions of social media? We are constantly keeping ourselves occupied more now with our gadgets since we are unable to find distractions elsewhere. The world also tells us more is better- we are never content – always aspiring for more!
Well, this week, Jesus invites us to “Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while” (Mark 6: 30-34). It is a blessed invitation and one we should all consider accepting.
“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.”
St. Gianna Molla
Take time just to be in the present- to immerse yourself in the quietness of your soul – where your heart connects with the heart of Jesus and experience true freedom and happiness. Let the soul relish the moments you have now- be it sitting in the garden admiring you blossoms, or looking out of the balcony of your apartment at the beautiful sunset or just gazing at your loving family. A quiet time in the present- that you are able to look at the moment and see the beauty of God and experience that true happiness.
Bibliography
https://www.biography.com/scholar/blaise-pascal
https://esirc.emporia.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/3025/Wilcox%201968.pdf?sequence=1