目標を立てて、その実現に向かって努力していくことは大切なことだと思う。将来を見据えて自分の目指す道を切り開いて行く様は、その人の人生そのものの姿かもしれない。外見や肩書きなどを聞いただけでは、その人の“人となり”は分からない場合が多いと思うが、何を目指し、その為にどのように自分を傾けているかを知れば、随分と人格に近づくことができると思う。
　しかしもう一方で、人生の目標を失ったときにこそ、その人の本質が現れる場合もあると思う。何をして良いか分からない、何もしたくないと無気力・無関心の状態に陥り、或いは周りの人や環境に満足できず不平不満をまき散らす人もいることだろう。夢に破れたり、大切な人と死に別れたりした時などに目標を失いやすいかもしれない。そういった何かのきっかけで絶望してしまったときに、その人の心の拠り所が明かされる。その人の人生の意味が問われるときなのだと思う。

　順風満帆に人生を送ることができているなら、それで良いのかもしれない。何の問題も起こらず、死ぬまで悠々自適に暮らすことができる人もきっといる事だろう。またすがりつくような対象を必要とせず、自分の力だけで逞しく生きてゆける人もいるのかもしれない。しかし多くの人々がそれぞれに何かしらの問題や悩みを抱えて生きていて、何とか対処しながら生活しているのではないだろうか。富裕層のことはよく知らないが、お金に困らない人たちでも、それなりに問題はあるのだと思う。違うだろうか。
　悩みの中にあるときに、前向きな目標を掲げようとしてもなかなか難しい。そんな時は無理をする必要はないように思う。人生には目標が必要なのだと思い込み、自分を追い込んでまで人並みに振る舞おうとしなくても良い。辛いときは辛いと告げれば良い。それがなかなかできないのが現実だが、できることなら心を開いて助けを求めるべきだろう。人生において“良い時”ばかりが続くとは限らなく、私は何があっても揺るがないような精神を育てる方向を目指したいと思っている。

　時には苦しみにジッと耐えて、待つことも必要だろう。心に受けたショックからの回復を待つ。怒りが収まるのを待つ。望みが叶うことを祈って待つ。時間が経つことで自然と解決される問題もある。
　“時”を待ち望みながらもすべき事は、置かれた状況で耐え忍ぶということ。新しい目標が持てずとも、今いる場所で立ち続け、与えられた仕事に一心に取り組む。辛いときこそ運命も願いも全て神さまにお委ねして、ジッと待ち続けるのだ。そしてやがて訪れるだろう飛び立ちのときのために、忍耐しようではないか。

　私は順風満帆などと言う言葉からはほど遠い人生を送ってきたし、そしてこれからも苦難の旅路が続くだろう。神さまに依り頼み、すがり付かなければ生きていけない。それで幸せだ。私には苦しさの中にこそ生きるべき人生があるように感じられる。あえて苦しみの中を目指して歩き、神さまに見守られる道を進もう。そうすることがきっと、私をさらなる幸せへと導いてくれる。

　“順風満帆”て、そんな人いるのかな？

////////////////////

Especially when you are in trouble

　I think it’s important to set goals and work towards achieving them. The way a person looks to the future and carves out a path for themselves may be a reflection of their life itself. I think that, in many cases, you can’t understand a person’s character just by looking at their appearance or their job title, but if you know what they’re aiming for and how they’re working towards it, you can get a much better idea of their personality.
　However, on the other hand, I think that it is when a person loses sight of their life goals that their true nature often comes to the fore. There are people who fall into a state of apathy and disinterest, not knowing what to do or not wanting to do anything, or who are dissatisfied with the people and environment around them and complain about it. It is perhaps easier to lose sight of one’s goals when one’s dreams are shattered or when one loses a loved one. When a person becomes desperate because of something like this, their true nature is revealed. I think that this is when the meaning of that person’s life is called into question.

　If you are able to live your life without any problems, that’s probably fine. There are probably people who can live a comfortable life until they die without any problems. There are also probably people who can live a tough life on their own without needing to rely on anything. However, I think that many people are living with some kind of problem or worry, and are somehow coping with it. I don’t know much about wealthy people, but I think that even those who don’t have money problems have their own problems. Am I wrong?
　When you are in the middle of a problem, it is difficult to set a positive goal. In such a situation, I don’t think you need to force yourself. You don’t need to believe that you need a goal in life, and you don’t need to try to act like everyone else by pushing yourself too hard. If you are having a hard time, just say so. In reality, this is not always easy to do, but if you can, you should open up and ask for help. In life, there are no guarantees that you will always have good times, so I think it is important to aim to develop a spirit that will not waver no matter what happens.

　Sometimes, you need to endure the pain and wait. You wait for your heart to recover from the shock it has received. You wait for your anger to subside. You wait and pray for your wish to come true. There are also problems that will naturally resolve themselves over time.
　While waiting for “time” to pass, what you should do is to persevere in the situation you are in. Even if you don’t have a new goal, you should keep standing in the place you are in and focus on the work you have been given. In times of hardship, you should entrust your fate and wishes to God and wait patiently. And let’s be patient for the time when we will finally be able to take off.

　I have lived a life far from the term “smooth sailing”, and I expect my journey of hardship will continue. I cannot live without relying on and clinging to God. I feel that it is in the midst of suffering that I have a life to live. I will walk boldly towards the suffering and continue on the path that God watches over. I am sure that this will lead me to even greater happiness.

　I wonder if there are people who have it all?