Emptying Our Cups - Carter Jobe

I was watching the movie 2012, a slightly cheesy thriller about the end of the world, when an unexpected, profound quote caught me off guard as quite philosophical. A wise old monk said to an ambitious young boy, "You are full of optimism and speculations; to become full of wisdom, you must first empty your cup." 

This quote relates to the term kenosis, which means to empty oneself, shed one's ego, and undergo spiritual transcendence. When we empty ourselves, we lose expectations for others and the world around us; we simply observe what is truly happening. The young boy in this movie had many anxieties and guesses for what was to come, and the old man simply urged him to let go of these preconceptions, for he could only gain wisdom through perceiving the events to come with an open and unbiased mind. 

Ironically enough, hearing this touching sentiment was a reminder that you can find spiritual advice anywhere if we empty ourselves and don't have expectations for the future, even in cheesy action films.

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