Our entire life is a struggle. Throughout our life we struggle to arrange certain things conducive or favorable to us, such as finances, physical health, psychological health, relationships, home, social relations, job, business, environment, etc. But in relative existence, everything is impermanent, ephemeral. By the time we secure our finances, our physical health may deteriorate, or our psychological health may be affected or there may be relationship issues, and so on. So, we are never at peace, always restless.

Even those who have name, fame, fortune — everything that is needed for a comfortable living — are also not at peace. Sitting amidst their comforts and luxuries, they are, so to say, comfortably and luxuriously miserable!! There are instances of even such people committing suicide!!

On the other hand, great saints, sages and spiritual masters, even though they have financial problems, health issues, etc., yet they are at peace. What is the difference? Their focus is more on the development of the spiritual layer of their personality.

The poem below and its explanation gives us an insight into our restlessness.

The Pulley

George Herbert – 1593-1633

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which disperséd lie,
Contract into a span.”

So, strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So, both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness.
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.”

On the pulley of restlessness, I will draw him towards me.

The explanation:

This poem, “The Pulley” suggests that one may be “rich” in blessings, but one is also full of “repining restlessness” — that is, a sorrowful, fidgety, distracted longing for a kind of peace and satisfaction that one simply can’t find on earth. The poem suggests that God gave people all sorts of precious gifts when creating human beings but held back the final blessing of “rest” or peace. That lack of “rest” means that earthly life is marked by an unquenchable dissatisfaction and longing. But this, the poet argues, is all part of God’s benevolent plan: the “weariness” of such longings will eventually draw people back to “rest” in God’s embrace.

God bestows all kinds of wonderful gifts on man, from “strength” to “beauty” to “pleasure.” Pouring out a bountiful “glass of blessings” on the work-in-progress that is humankind, God seems abundantly generous. But God also reserves one final blessing: “rest,” or peace.

If God were to give humanity this final crown “jewel,” the poem reflects, people would be too happy on earth, “and rest in Nature, not the God of Nature.” In other words, if people were too content during their lifetimes, they would​ not long to be reunited with God, whose embrace offers a deep peace and fulfillment that​ is beyond anything on earth. And if that were so, they​ would “lose” out on a blissful reunion with their loving creator. Without this rest, on the other hand, they​ will delight in life, but still pine for the peace that only God can give.

A longing for a peace beyond what the earth can offer thus becomes a “pulley” that gradually winches humanity back toward God. This conceit presents restless longings (and even a longing for permanent relief from suffering), not as a flaw in an otherwise lovely existence, but as part of a wise and loving divine plan. By holding back “rest or peace” and using it as a pulley, God slowly draws humanity toward the peace that passeth all understanding.

We need to focus on our spiritual life and the outer one aligns itself.