One Moment

One Moment

Life, we learn too late is in the living, in the tissue of every day and hour- Stephen Leacock

The best part and the worst part of us as human being is that we live for the future. We mobilise all the energies and resources for tomorrow. We forget that tomorrow is uncertain, it is rightly said to be a mystery. We miss the joy of living in the moment and it is this moment that matters. The thin line between hope and fear, between happiness and sorrow, between life and death is, but, this moment.

We appreciate this fact only when we are tested. I am sure while reading this piece many of us would be recalling those moments when things fell apart, when the moment changed the direction of our life.

I recently realised the power of the moment, it being inevitable when my father was admitted in ICU in serious condition. It was only a matter of few moments that deteriorated the situation. While the doctors and the team were doing their best to save him, for us it was a fight of moments outside the ICU.

With each passing moment, I could see my life so far as a flashback movie. Our moments of happiness, the differences, the arguments, laughter and love. The warmth of the family, the strength and these were only a collection of the moments.

I also had the regret for the moments when I was not available because of my own job, being busy living for the future.

Each passing moment was a combination of fear and faith-the two paradoxes.

It was also the realisation of being helpless and non-resourceful, in spite of having the comfort and resources to lead the decent life. We think that we are very powerful and unstoppable, however in reality it is the moment that determines the course for us.

The big question is – What should we do?

As we do not have any control over what is inevitable, so should we do away with all our dreams, goals, passion and purpose of the life?

The answer obviously is a big NO. The purpose of our life is to live it to the fullest. Expand our boundaries, achieve the unachievable, make our dream a reality.

But the magic or the trick is to live the life in the moments and never let your faith get overpowered by the fear.

Throughout the critical period of observation, I continued to have faith in my faith. I was chanting holy chants(mantras) and was also communicating with my father in my mind, sharing my faith and positivity with him, asking him to continue his fight against the illness and overcome the danger.

Hours passed and by the evening, his condition was stable. Gradually, he recovered with the selfless efforts of the doctors and the para medical team.

Gratitude to the Almighty for his recovery!

The whole incident taught a very powerful lesson: there may be a time when there won’t be a second moment. So do not wait for tomorrow or the next time, do whatever you can at the moment. Take out time for your loved ones, plan your schedule, list down all the important things, do what you enjoy doing, indulge in your hobby, go for the vacation or the trip that you have on your wish list.

An apt lesson that I was taught in my MBA course – plan is nothing, planning is a thing and execution is everything.

Points to remember:

• Each moment is important
• There may not be a next time
• Live in the moment
• Plan for the uncertainty
• Family matters, you get strength and courage with each other.
• Choose faith over your fear

“My faith didn’t remove the pain, but it got me through the pain. Trusting God didn’t diminish or vanquish the anguish, but it enabled me to endure it.”

————Robert Rogers