LET LOVE RULE YOUR LIFE; FOR LIFE IS SHORT

Once upon a time there were two cart-horses. They worked together for many years, pulling the cart of a peasant. Over the years, they often argued with each other, complaining that the other was not keeping to its side, or was going just a little too quickly or just a little too slow.

One day, one of the two horses suddenly died. The remaining horse was very upset about this.

It realized that in all the time that they had worked together, it had not once told the other horse how much it valued its company and its faithful help in pulling the cart. Now the chance was gone forever.

The horse also reflected on all the squabbles they had had. It suddenly understood that it need not have taken offence as easily as it had done, that it need not have borne as many grudges, that it could have been less arrogant, in short, it realized that it had wasted all the energy that had been available for friendship and kindness on unworthy and unnecessary thoughts and emotions.

The horse was ashamed and resolved to lead a different life in future. Whoever its new partner was going to be, things were going to be different.

But time passed, the owner got a new partner and the horse forgot the resolution. One day, it caught itself in exactly the same kind of behavior that it had sworn never to engage in again.  It got remorseful.

That evening, in the stable, the horse decided to seek out the peasant's donkey, which had a reputation for wisdom among the animals.

The donkey listened to the horse's story. Eventually, it replied. "It is good that you have noticed what has happened. If you truly want to change, this is possible; but it will, for a long time, cost you your peace of mind. Are you prepared to accept this?”

The horse replied that it definitely did not want to return to its old ways. Anything was better than that.

So the donkey continued, "There is one very simple, and at the same time very hard thing that you have to do. Remember every day that one day, perhaps today, perhaps many years from now, you will die.”

“Remember every day that the horse next to you will die.”

“Remember every day that every other creature you will see will one day die.”

“Remember that all animals alive today are part of a wave, which will soon break and be lost on the beach forever, to be followed by a new wave, and another, and another. No wave is permanent. The only thing that is permanent is the ocean."

There were tears in the horse's eyes.

The donkey continued, "Only if you remember death will you become strong-willed and alert enough not to postpone love. This is my advice to you, and in following it, perhaps one day you may come to know that which is deathless."

LIFE IS A JOURNEY; MAKE IT MOST ENJOYABLE

Life is like a journey on a train… with its stations… with its changes of routes…and with its accidents!

We board this train when we are born and our parents are the ones who get our ticket (some parents have planned for your journey, whereas, some have joined them accidentally!)

We believe they will always travel on this train with us. However, at some station our parents will get off the train, leaving us alone on this journey or, we may have to leave before them.

Never assume that they shall be permanently traveling with us. At some station the parents get off it leaving us alone or, we may have to leave the train of life before them.  Be ready for both.

As time goes by, other passengers will board the train, many of whom will be significant – our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life and some others insignificant whom we tend to forget. 

Many will get off during the journey and leave a permanent vacuum in our lives. Many will go so unnoticed that we won’t even know when they vacated their seats and got off the train!

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Be ready for everything.

A good journey is helping, loving, having a good relationship with all co-passengers… and making sure that we give our best to make their journey comfortable. In earlier days, we used to see a sign board in the train, "Less Luggage, more comfort". It is true about the train of life also. As the lyric "Samayamam radhathil" written by Nagal goes (which is made famous by the Malayalam movie "Ara Nazhika Neram"): 

     Bharanagal koodunnathinu onnum venda yatrayil 
     Alpam appam vishappinu, swalpam vellam dahikkil" 

The mystery of this fabulous journey is; We do not know at which station we ourselves are going to get off. So, we must live in the best way – adjust, forget, forgive, and offer the best of what we have.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to leave our seat… we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

Have a very pleasant journey, on this train of life………! And do enjoy each moment and each day, for without you knowing it, the next station may be the one you have to get off.

SOME POINTERS FOR A BLESSED LIFE

LAUGH: SINCERELY. Many a times we laugh while we grumble inside. Laughter is the tonic, the relief and the cessation of pain. Laughter brings our energy back to us.

CRY: WHILE NONE SEES. Charlie Chaplin used to say, “I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying.”

LOVE: WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATION. Detach yourself when you do something to someone. Ask the following: “Why do I love my children?” “Why do I love my parents?” Why do I love my brothers and sisters, neighbors …? If it is with expectation, the result can be despairing.

FORGIVE: TILL THE END OF LIFE. The first and foremost we expect from others is that they forgive us for our short comings. Jesus says, "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.”  Jesus is the epitome of this forgiveness. It is expressed in his prayer while on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  

LIFE: SAFE IN GOD’S HAND

A business man was late for his flight. He reached the boarding gate just before it closed. Sweating and out of breath, he scanned his boarding pass at the counter and quickly made his way to the plane.

Arriving at his seat, he greeted his companions for the next few hours: a middle-aged woman sitting at the window, and a little girl sitting on the aisle seat. After stowing his bag above, he took his place between them.

After the flight took off, he began a conversation with the little girl. She appeared to be about the same age as his daughter and was busy with her coloring book. He asked her a few usual questions, such as her age (eight), her hobbies (cartoons and drawing), as well as her favorite animal (horses are pretty, but she just loved cats). He found it strange that such a young girl would be traveling alone, but he kept his thoughts to himself and decided to keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay.

About an hour into the flight, the plane suddenly began experiencing extreme turbulence. The pilot came over the PA system and told everyone to fasten their seat belts and remain calm, as they had encountered rough weather.

Several times over the next half hour the plane made drastic dips and turns, shaking all the while. Some people began crying, and many―like the woman in the window seat―were praying intently. The man was sweating and clenching his seat as tightly as he could, and exclaim “Oh my God!” with each increasingly violent shake of the plane.

Meanwhile, the little girl was sitting quietly beside him in her seat. Her coloring book and crayons were put away neatly in the seat pocket in front of her, and her hands were calmly resting on her legs. Incredibly, she didn't seem worried all.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the turbulence ended. The pilot came on a few minutes later to apologize for the bumpy ride and to announce that they would be landing soon. As the plane began its descent, the man said to the little girl, “You are just a little girl, but I have never met a braver person in all my life! Tell me, dear, how is it that you remained so calm while all of us adults were so afraid?”

Looking him in the eyes, she said, “My father is the pilot, and he's taking me home."

~~~
There are deep lessons in this story and each will find their own. How do you interpret this story? What do you learn from this story?

I would appreciate hearing from you about your interpretation, if possible, taking each character in your interpretation.

WHAT IF YOU KNEW … ? 

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and ask if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.

He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.