yesterday as I was walking back home from work, I saw an unimaginable sight. It was touching, and at the same time it made me despise the current state of injustice with the world – but that’s the way it is, and that’s the way it has always been.
Im going to try to explain what I saw, but I may do it no justice: It was a poverty stricken handicapped man – with no legs, getting down from the local train, a torn shirt, torn trousers. Resting on his shoulder was a small boy’s palm, walking slowly with him. No clothes on, it almost seemed as if this little boy, of 3 or 4 perhaps, was more of a grown up that most of us.
But that’s just how it has always been. I cannot comment on whether it is going to be like this in the future, but I can hope that it won’t. Seeing them walk together made me stop for a minute and survey everything I have, everything I am. As they went up the stairs, and me right behind them, I couldn't help but stare – as embarrassing as it is for the other person.
The strange thing is, that life has always been like this. Unjust from one person’s point of view, but normal from another’s. A blind man from birth doesn’t know what he’s missing, and therefore that’s normal for him. But sighted individuals feel bad for them – are we right to do so?
I don’t have a definite answer to this, but I do know that through our difficulties and disappointments, we succeed – Much like the butterfly that emerges through all the hardships during its time in a cocoon, so shall we, as human beings, blossom through times like this.
War, for example, has made humankind better. I’m not in favor of those wars that took the lives out of thousands of millions of people, but the future generations learn from it, and we can only hope to not repeat those mistakes. We have become better people.
And yet, a person’s miseries stay with him. Only he who goes through certain difficulties understands the gravity of those difficulties.
I can only wish you saw that sight for yourself, or perhaps I wish you never have to. But I’m too shocked, almost 12 hours later to even type this post with any logical clarity.
For everything we have, this is a toast.
Peace & Love,
Tarun
