The Tip-toe that Earns Applause
We often hesitate before taking action. Will my mother think I’ve gone mad? Will the neighbors laugh at me? If we remain too conscious of others’ opinions, we become paralyzed. When you buy land, your cousin next door might feel jealous, but those far away will admire you.
If someone tells me, “I want to put nail polish on my eyebrows,” I would respond: “If it makes you more radiant, if it makes you more beautiful than others, then do it.” “But won’t people think I’m crazy if I walk around with nail polish on my eyebrows?” “Don’t think about that. If you truly want to be radiant and believe nail polish on your eyebrows will achieve that, ignore such thoughts. Those nearby might call you crazy, but those far away will recognize your uniqueness. Perhaps your eyebrow nail polish will become a global trend, with women worldwide following your lead.”
Do what you want to do. If it makes you shine, do it. If your radiance can illuminate us all, do it. Just ensure you clearly recognize how the whole world is moving in the right direction. Though those nearby might curse or mock you, remember that those far away celebrate you. So do it. The nearby mockery will soon change. When those far away welcome you, the attitudes of those nearby will quickly shift.
At Dongdaemun Market, you might see a medicine vendor performing tricks on the ground. When people crowd in front and you can’t see, you stand on tip-toe. You’re not doing this to get a better view of the heads in front of you – you’re trying to see beyond them.
Always remember: Stand on tip-toe when you need to see further. Even if those beside you frown, stand on tip-toe without concern. When you do this with a clear vision and awareness of the whole, the world will applaud you. They will celebrate you.
When Jesus Christ shared his message, those far away followed him. Yet his own family called him mad. Jesus said, “My father and mother are not my brothers. Only those who follow me and live by the meaning of my message are my brothers.” When Mary, Jesus’s mother, came to him, he said, “Woman, step back!” Had Jesus been born in our Joseon era rather than Israel, he would have been crucified much sooner. His crime would have read “Jesus – the Unfilial One.”
Those who remain too conscious of their surroundings rot within those boundaries. They cannot advance. Therefore, don’t be conscious of your surroundings – be conscious of the whole. One who ignores surroundings for self-interest alone is truly mad. But if you clearly see where this bicycle is heading through your actions, you must not hesitate at all.