T. A. Barron - The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life

To the wizard who inspired the words

P HILOMEL B OOKS

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Copyright 2015 by Thomas A. Barron.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Barron, T. A. The wisdom of Merlin : 7 magical words for a meaningful life / T. A. Barron.

pages cm Summary: A fictional guide to life and values, as told from the imagined perspective of Merlin, for graduates and othersProvided by publisher.

1. Barron, T. A.Philosophy. 2. Merlin (Legendary character) 3. Conduct of life. 4. Gift books. I. Title. PS3552.A737W57 2015 814'.54dc23 2014015977

ISBN 978-0-698-18490-9

Version_1

W elcome to my Crystal Cave.

I do love visitors! Just as I love to explore the world outside my cave, visiting others near and far, as Ive done for many centuries. (Dont get me started on how much I enjoy todays ice cream parlors and bakeries.)

Shall we talk about whatever questions you might have? Perhaps something small and simple. Like...

What is the meaning of life?

And...

How can I possibly find it?

Well, the answer to both those questions is surprisingly brief. Its the same answerand it has only seven words.

Thats right. Only seven. And they are the most magical words in the universe.

Now, my friend, follow me and Ill explain.

H oldinghis staff, Merlin walks into his cave. Whenever he passes near the sparkling crystals, they grow brighter, shift colors, or do something even more surprising. A deep purple amethyst releases an aroma of lilacs; an especially large ruby makes the sound of a gong that echoes around the cave.

Finally, he reaches an ancient, gnarled oak tree that looks even older than the wizard himself. Every leaf on every branch shimmers with magic. As Merlin approaches, the tree twists into a seat, opening its branches to welcome him.

Merlin sits down, breathes a grateful sigh, and speaks.

G RATITUDE is first among the magical words, for it is a good place to begin to make a meaningful life. To be wholly alive is to be gratefulfor every breath we take, every song we sing, every person we love, every day we discover.

Just being grateful helps us to notice and appreciate all the blessings and opportunities around us. Some people like to start their day with a bowlful of cerealbut for me, its a bowlful of gratitude!

All we havetruly all we haveis our time and our souls. Even if you live as long as a wizard, that time is really very brief. Its never long enough to do all you can do and be all you can be.

My friend Methuselah (an old friend in every way) once told me that the only time we have is now. So lets be grateful for that timeand live it well.

Each day, take a moment just to be. To love a person, a place, or an idea that has touched your heart. Cherish those blessings through all the seasons of a yearand all the seasons of your life.

Now... a truly radical thought: Sometimes, turn off your electronic equipmentall of it. Why do such a rash thing? Because being serene and quiet now and then gives us the space to feel grateful. You see, being fully scheduled is not the same as being fully alive. As I heard in Saint Pauls Church a few centuries ago, in a poem called "Desiderata": Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

My favorite place to feel grateful is in natureunder a starry sky in the Scottish Highlands, by the vast ocean at the Great Barrier Reef, or in a grove of towering redwoods in California. Or, let me add, in a meadow of wild heather right here outside my home.

Heres the miracle of such places: With natures wonders all around, I feel both very small and very large at oncediminished and humbled by my own insignificance, while also enlarged and inspired by the vast sweep of creation. And both you and I belong to that creation! For we are all made from miracles, no less than the stars themselves.

One of humanitys great challenges is to embrace nature without suffocating itto treat our natural home with appreciation, not exploitation. We have been given the garden planet of the universeand we can either nurture or devour it, protect or destroy it.

Fortunately, we have one great advantage in facing any challenges: ourselves. We can accomplish anything if we truly devote ourselves to the task.

And that, my friend, is worthy of our gratitude.

A nowl hoots from somewhere in the shadows, then glides over to land on Merlins hand. The little fellow sighs longingly and twists his round face toward the cave entrance. He seems to be asking Merlin whether or not to leaveto venture outside the Crystal Cave.

The old wizard lifts the owl closer and peers into the birds wide golden eyes. Quietly, he says, If you stay here, you will never find her again. Thats certain. Yet if you take the risk and go... you just might.

With another hoot and a rustle of wings, the owl takes flight. He floats away, leaving only the fading echo of his voice.

Merlin watches him depart and whispers, Courage, my friend.

C OURAGE is essential. How else can we dream of who we can become and what we want for the world? And it also takes courage to turn those dreams into reality.

You see, life can have great meaningbut only if we discover that meaning for ourselves. Meaning cant be bought at any store. And it cant be handed down like a coat that someone tells you will fit perfectly before youve even tried it on. Meaning must be sought and earned and made ones own.

All of which requires courage.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we have free will to make our own choicessome wise and gracious, some just plain foolish, some catastrophically bad? Because our choices matter. They define who we are, what values we live by, and what aspirations we honor. And if our choices matter... then we ourselves matter.