Jimmy Beh

I have always been fascinated by stories– particularly stories that dig deeper into an individual’s motivations. This has drawn me to (auto)/biographies, professional documentaries, amateur documentaries on Youtube, spiritual readings, and even self-help literature. In these different forms, you get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to someone’s journey– their humanness. You also get to see how certain relationships impacted them and their development. 

Take, for example, Marcus Aureilius, who is arguably the greatest ruler of ancient Rome. His ability to embrace Stoic philosophy in his role as emperor is, in many ways, thanks to his relationships with his tutor, his adopted father, and the work of a former slave (Epictetus). As a philosopher king, Marcus is a revered historical leader that has influenced countless individuals over the last 2,000 years. At the same time, we know Marcus struggled with his anger and experienced tremendous sadness due to the death of some of his children. Marcus also raised a son, Commodus, who became one of the worst rulers in Roman history and ended the Pax Romana (Rome’s time of peace). Such a life is hardly perfect, but what is clear is that Marcus’ motivation during his life was to live up to the example and teachings of his mentors by meeting the adversity and suffering of life with virtue.  

A different and more modern individual that I am fond of is the Australian surfer, Torren Martyn. Torren and his good friend Ishka have made a couple of documentary series called “Lost Tracks,” which tell the stories of their multi-month road trips around the world. Some take place on motorcycles across New Zealand, and others take place in a converted work van that takes them from Scotland to Southwest Africa. While their successes and setbacks are far less influential than that of a Roman emperor, they also have their ups and downs (which are perhaps a tad more relatable). While one part of their films may highlight a beautiful experience with newly made friends in an exotic location, there are far more instances of mechanical issues followed by bad weather and uneventful days. Their motivation is to live simply and sustainably while appreciating the little things in life like friendship, travel, and good waves.

While Marcus shows us how to lead a virtuous life despite chaos and adversity in our duties, Torren and Ishka show us how to embrace nature, simplicity, and sustainability in a culture that is focussed on possessing more. It is important to understand that one is not better than the other– rather each is an authentic attempt to respond to the important questions that life asks of us. 

However, in our own attempt to respond to life’s questions, we must not think that we are in search of some magical right answer. In fact, I don’t think the most important questions in our lives have right answers– especially not static ones. Such a perspective would lead one to think that a meaningful life is something that you can achieve and possess rather than being something you co-create and are in relationship with. In this way, our responses are never a complete answer because our meaning comes from wrestling with these questions not answering them. 

In Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke wrote, “do not search now for the answers, which cannot be given you, because you could not live them. That is the point, to live everything. Now you must live your problems. And perhaps gradually, without noticing it, you will live your way into the answers some distant day.”

So that is my hope for you and me this day, this week, this year. That we are willing to honestly face these unanswerable questions with intention and curiosity. Not in an attempt to solve them, but with the vulnerability and humility to live them.