Rays of Salvation

I went to a Church when my teacher told me that Jesus was God’s messenger and the Church is where He resides. I went to a temple when my parents told me that the temple’s shrine is where I will find God. I went to a mosque when my friend told me that Allah, the savior, blesses humanity from inside the mosque. But inside the Church I found compassion. Inside the temple I found devotion. Inside the mosque I found humility. And inside all three I found exquisite art to comfort any soul. But God? God was still nowhere in sight. Years passed by like water in a river, but God still remained invisible. I kept on asking people the direction to reach His home and every time I reached a statue or an image none of which came to life.

Until one blissful morning, bathed in the bountiful rays of the sun, I finally found Him. And all my life’s fruitless pursuits flashed in front of my eyes making me profoundly sad for the past but profoundly hopeful of the future.

Now I see God clearly. I see him in a dancer’s steps, in a singer’s voice, in a writer’s words, in a judge’s choice, in a painter’s colours, in a sculptor’s shapes, in a professor’s lecture, in a student’s hunger for knowledge, in a mother’s love, in a wife’s devotion, in an architect’s design, in a shooter’s precision, in an athlete’s stamina, in the nature’s dance. I see God everywhere around me and within me. I can feel the rays of salvation filling me up and opening my soul in front of me. My mind says it’s all an illusion, my heart says it need not be reality. My mind says I will not accept anything that can’t be experienced by the senses, my heart says I need not experience everything for even the senses have limitations. My mind says truth can’t be sacrificed at the altar of belief. My heart says a lie that gives hope is divine.

Above Photograph courtesy Vinay Saroya.

Powder Away

Powder to flesh, flesh to powder, the cycle of life keeps rolling. Whatever I do on this earth, my eventual destiny is to be powdered. Powder is from where I rose and Powder is to where I will subside. Whether I laugh or cry I’ll be powdered. Whether I give or take I’ll be powdered. Whether I run or walk I’ll be powdered. Whether I am prince or pauper I’ll be powdered. Whether I am coward or courageous I’ll be powdered. Whether I am gay or glum I’ll be powdered. Whether I am concerned or carefree I’ll be powdered. Whether I jest or joust I’ll be powdered. When being powdered is the only end why not think about the means to the end? When the destination ends it all, why not live the journey? Why run through life when I can take a leisurely stroll through it?

And so, I’ll powder away. I’ll powder away my selfishness, for it’ll give others a chance to live. I’ll powder away my fears, for even fear must get powdered one day. I’ll powder away my worries, for the real chance to live is now. I will powder away hatred, for only love can never be powdered. I’ll powder away my greed, for I will always get powdered alone. I’ll powder away my notion of certainty, for the only thing certain about life is uncertainty. I’ll powder away my ugliness, for it is the beauty of my thought, speech and actions that will decide how I get powdered. I’ll powder away my pride, for only in the comforting shelter of humility can I see the world the way I should. I’ll powder away beliefs that make me stagnant, for I can flow only in the stream of skepticism. I’ll powder away my ignorance, for I need the light of wisdom to powder away everything else. I’ll get powdered by powdering away anything that comes in my way.

The above photo contributed by Vinay Saroya, a friend, photographer and a talented artist.