Face 

 

 

I have heard that when Abraham Lincoln was choosing people for his cabinet, one of his advisors suggested the name of a certain man. Abraham declined. The advisor asked why. Lincoln said, “I don’t like his face.” This can’t be a reason! The advisor said, “But he’s not responsible for his face. At least that should not be a reason. What can he do about it? He is helpless.”

 

Lincoln said, “No. After the age of forty, every man is responsible for his face.”

 

I agree with him. Absolutely true – after the age of forty, you are responsible for your face. It is the way you have lived, loved, worried. It is the way that you have behaved, related. It is how miserable you have allowed yourself to be, or how ecstatic. It is your autobiography. But after the age of forty.

 

You are responsible for your face. But I would like to tell you something more. You are responsible for your soul also, not only for the face. Because you are whatsoever you have chosen to be. It you are miserable, this is your choice; if you are in deep darkness, that too is your choice. Unless you choose to return, God will not be available. Not that He is not available -- He is always available -- but He is helpless.

 

-Osho, "Come Follow To You, Vol 2, #7"