Erasing Expectations

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.