Yes, You can fly !

There are these phrases that get us thinking.

I consider those best that get us till the very nature of human existence.

This one stayed with me for a while.

"Yes, you can fly!"

To fly, to the human, has probably been the deepest desire. To be able to fly as effortlessly as the eagle, surveying his habitat from a height, enjoying the cool weather up there and watching all of serene nature from a distance pleasing and comfortable to the eye.

To fly, is to the human, the ultimate challenge. Man has, for centuries watched with awe the flying objects, the kite, the paper airplane, the Frisbee, the boomerang, the birds…, for it is his constant complaint to his Maker for being partial towards those that are blessed with flight.

To be able to fly, is to the human, an idea of freedom… freedom from the shackles of his boring slow speed life, and the liberating entry into a world full of speed and charm, a free world where there are no physical boundaries, the dimensions of life are innumerable, the vision is that of a vast expanse, and free from the limitations of distance.

So this one, to me, was very refreshing, and reassuring that I am actually free. "Yes, you can fly!"

But the phrase went on. "Yes, you can fly! But the birds would lose their charm."

The statement was the ultimate betrayal. My dream was disparaged. Why should the birds lose their charm? If I fly ?

It took me a while to understand. Don't we often find that the things that we most crave for, when we get them, aren't as good as we expected? Don't we often land with dirty surprises with situations that we didn't visualize in our dreams?

The question is… Is it always about the other bank of the river looking green? In fact, it often is.

The many things that we yearned for… the bike, the car, the job, the destination… do we actually enjoy them for a fair length of time? Or do we get used to them pretty quickly?

May be… we need to be content with what we have, for there are troubles with all walks, and no path is free of hassles.

Heart-rending Realities

I am sure most of us in India would have been through this. Imagine this scene.

As you fall back in the soft cushion seat of your luxury car, enjoying the smoothness of the drive, your driver stops at a traffic signal.

Looking at the fleet of vehicles, you tell your friend that more people have become affluent, the infrastructure has improved, good models of cars are around.. industrial growth.. economic strength...

And you hear a knock at your power window.. (and at your conscience..) you turn to see this beautiful but dirty little one extending her hand.. asking for your mercy..

She is in rags, her hair is tardy and untied, she is dirty, you can't say if she is fair or dark.. and there she stands extending her hand.. begging to you for a few..

You think in a moment that if she was in school she would be in first standard, she would be at best 6 years old.. and she already has faced all the hunger that you have had in all your life.. and more.. and take pity on her..

You impulsively reach to your pocket, but remember that you have read somewhere that by giving alms to children you encourage them to beg more.. for a while you decide not to help her.. and turn away..

She calls out again feebly with a voice broken by tiredness..

You can't stand your own indifference.. and you turn towards her again.. and she is limping with all the blisters in the sole of her feet.. and her dull eyes appear to have lost the capability to shed tears..

You think of the comfort that the Lord has granted to you, and feel a sense of grief for her.. you feel a pain in your throat.. and you decide to help her.. and you find this time that you have only a note of ten. Your heart tells you to reach it to her.. but something tells you that ten is too much for alms..

As you are engaged in this petty fight with yourself, there is green and you start moving.

Why is it that sometimes we are indifferent to our own feelings? What has our education done to our empathy? Why is there this disconnect between our heart and our mind? Are we taking a higher share of life than our rightful due? Are we actually taking a share of life that may actually belong to others? May be our greed is partly a cause of her hunger. If every individual takes from nature only what he NEEDS for his livelihood, will hunger in the world be banished?

Research this. Research your indifference. Yield to your heart more than to your mind. Be a human. Make a difference.

What do you want to do the next time this happens?

Give her money? Or give her some food? By doing anything do you think you alter her standard of living?

Perhaps we need to do more.. for the thousands of such little angels around us. Every one of us can spare a step to banish hunger.

LIMIT YOUR WANTS. The purpose of wealth is to give. Be it money, material, knowledge, wisdom, ... SHARE IT. And this step of yours will be the giant leap for mankind.