Category: Inspirational

So what did I learn in India?

That love really matters. That in the circumstances of material poverty, one can be exceedingly generous. That compassion is not only about handing a person in need a coin or bill but rather lending a helping hand or an open ear. That one can be tremendously poor in spirit, while still rich in material things. That strangers do many kind things for each other, making them no longer strangers but friends. That the they and them are really us and we. That I have so much to learn and I am so grateful for the lessons of the past few weeks. That when tears of sadness spring forth from feelings of helplessness, it is also a release, a pouring forth, from the new found wellsprings of an open heart. That the heart is wide and vast and strong and can carry the whole world within it.

And despite my elusive attempts at finding words that exactly express what I learned, I think e.e. cummings words are a more apt and accurate expression of what my heart now knows.

For every smile that was exchanged, every hand that was taken and held, every shoulder that was touched and for everyone we met along our journey in India…

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) – e.e. cummings

With love in service,
Stacey

Albert may have mastered the blog….don’t know about me – this is my first time…but here goes. I am back, safe and sound. I may have been instructed by Lanie to look after Supun, but I think it was the other way around. After a baggage cart race (which I lost thanks to a broken wheel), we managed to get seats together. Which was a good thing as I got a good head rest on Supun’s shoulder (it was either Lean on Supun or Instant Decapitation of my lolling-in -the-aisle head by rushing flight attendants or Instant Severance of my sticking-out-in-the aisle foot by food carts). Didn’t get to teach him rummy as he slept for 90% of the ride. Which made me mad as I couldn’t sleep and you know what lack of sleep does to me (that plus plane seats made for midgets and getting paneer makhanni three meals in a row). I told Supun I would pinch and punch him awake and earned the Genghis Khan Award from him. I also told him I would throw the paneer makhani clear across the plane and got “Talk! Talk! Talk! No action!” from him. Luckily for the passengers it was mushrooms (which I hate as much as Sukh’s cat) but I had not made any promises to fling mushrooms – hence it stayed congealed and uneaten on the plastic tray and I ate the rice three grains at a time (only portion allowed on the midget-sized forks). It was ok for Supun to be all wide eyed and bushy-tailed as he got sleep AND coq au vin. Then just as I finally fell asleep, I was rudely awakened by the attendant for breakfast (which didn’t appear for another hour). Great! He lets Sleeping Supuns lie and wakes me…ME! on the verge of going genghis on everyone. Wait! There’s more. I was asked EIGHT times for my boarding pass and whether I was Neerav Patel (may he rot wherever he is – because it delayed our flight by an hour and a half). And …..Wait ! It gets worse (or better in your case). We land in LA and Malaysia Airlines has lost MY bags this time…Yes! I know you 15 are laughing, but this was not funny….and Supun being Supun did not laugh. (I think he is trying for the Gandhi Award)
So that’s it. Oooops…this is a Be the Cause Blog, so I guess I should mention something about Love and Compassion and World Peace…so there you go.
God bless everyone and to those who are still in India, your Mama loves you all and come back safe! Bharti