I thought I was quite reasonable in getting angry with my friend; she had not kept her word, and I waited to hear her, after she had spent several days on bed, recovering from a form of dengue. I was anxious too as to why she did not call me up... or just leave a short message to say what prevented her from calling me. I was quite upset, and when at last when I tried to call her, her mobile phone went on ringing, but I could not get her, and this made me worry all the more. I was justified in getting upset and pour out my anger on her, when she at last called me.
I was justified and reasonable, I thought; maybe she had a valid reason for not being able to call me up and she had not kept her word. But today I pause for a moment to think of the times when I had made undue demands on the people around me. I had been often the centre of focus, and wished all to dance according to my tune. My world is shattered the very moment when my expectations crumble.
Today I would like to place myself in the place of my friend and look at the event that had upset me so much; I know she would not cause pain to me of her own accord, because I know only too well that she cared for me. So who is to be blamed? Am I or is she? Neither of us, it is my expectations. If only I can let my expectations take back seat when I am with my dear ones, much of our misunderstandings could be resolved.
Accepting people unconditionally is a difficult task, because all of us have our own hangups, weaknesses and frailties. But before God, we are all the same. If I were to weigh myself on the one side of the balance, and my friend on the other side, probably we will weigh equal. That is how there is a fair amount of beauty and beast in the world. Today I place my expectations about people before the Supreme Lord of the Universe, so that I may accept them as they truly are, and reciprocate the love they have for me.
Is it something I cannot do? Sure, for a open heart, everything is possible; if the heart is open, then even the heavens cannot prevent the friends and foes entering in there.
2 comments:
Dear Father Julian S. Das,
Thank you very much for the inspiring writings of Ignatian Spirituality.
They reminds me, strengthen my heart and faith of HIM. also, helped me to be able to reflect more deeply on my way to finding God in all things that happened to my life.
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