Bro. Nobuhiko Yagi, OMI – Back when I was a student, I had a summer job at a circus – not as a performer, but as a lighting technician. Behind the big main tent where everyone watched the show, there were animal cages, small tents for the troupe members to stay in, and a medium-sized tent that served as their dining hall. We part-timers would enjoy lunch there together with the troupe members, sharing a friendly, communal atmosphere.
One day, a fellow troupe member I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with kindly offered to teach me the secrets of tightrope walking. I thought it might involve some difficult training, but he explained that, surprisingly, the secret to walking evenly on the rope comes down to just two simple things.
The first step is to gently focus your gaze on a single point directly ahead on the rope and try to keep your eyes there – it’s important because looking away might cause you to fall. The second step is to hold onto a long bar for support, which helps keep your balance. It might sound tricky at first, but I assure you, it’s actually quite straightforward and manageable.
I realized that this might be the key to navigating life – especially now, as we’re walking on uncertain ground: with the threat of war, natural disasters, economic ups and downs, health worries, and the weakening of social and family bonds. It feels like delicately balancing on a rope hanging in the air.
It involves gently fixing our gaze on Jesus, who radiates with glory, keeping our eyes on him and staying connected. When we momentarily look away from Jesus – the moment we lose that precious connection – we might feel ourselves falling. Perhaps the comforting handrails we hold onto are the protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit, along with the caring intercession of Mary and the saints; trusting ourselves to them is so important. By entrusting ourselves, they help us maintain that beautiful balance between being active and contemplative, external and internal.
I’ve started to believe that if we carry on living our lives in this balanced way, we might find a way to get through even the toughest times. Together, we can support each other and face challenges with hope.
I’ve realized something really beautiful. While we were walking and trying to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as our main focus, it was actually Jesus who was constantly looking at each of us individually. He never took His eyes off any of us; He was always there, protecting and supporting us so we wouldn’t fall. Whenever we were about to stumble, He reached out and gently lifted us up. It’s not just us looking at Jesus, but Jesus lovingly gazing at each and every one of us.
Maybe this is the key to navigating our uncertain world with more confidence and hope.
That’s why I believe that “deepening our spirituality” might be the key for us to get through the tough times ahead. It might sound challenging, but maybe it’s really quite simple.
