Page 194 - Built For God Handbook (Annotated and Explained Edition) - The Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching - The New Evangelization - Pope John Paul II

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Chapter 64
Journey of Faith

When things are still and quiet, situations are easy to control
a
b
When there are yet no problems, it is easy to plan
When things are fragile, they can easily break
When matters are small, they can easily scatter

b
Prepare before problems begin
Get things in order before they get out of hand

c
A tree trunk as wide as a man’s arm span grows from a seedling
A tower nine stories high begins with a mound of earth
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a footprint
beneath the feet

Those who interfere will fail
a
d
Those who find their life according to this world will lose it

a
Thus, the wise do not interfere
And yet they never fail
They do not find life according to this world
d
And yet never lose it

d
In handling affairs, people often fail at the point of success
e
Keep the faith to the end no less than at the beginning
And the journey will have no failure

d
The wise do not desire what men desire
They do not store up treasures of this world
They learn to be rid of worldly knowledge f
They redeem us from what was lost
d
They restore the nature of all things
e
They can do this without interfering