As usual they sat next to each other on the bus they took to college every morning. Sitting at his most favorite seat, the window, he talked her into the story of their future. There were giggles and there was laughter. They were both mature and responsible, helping each other lay brick by brick to build the foundation to a successful future that would bring their visions they had during the 2 years of their courtship to fruition. Future seemed to be quite promising, calling them into its brightness. In the advent of leaving college since it was the final year at the professional course they were pursuing, they have been, for a while discussing about breaking the news to their families. There was a dialogue continuing their earlier conversations about who should be the first to initiate the talks with either side of the families. It broke into an aggressive dispute in no longer than few minutes and got heated up to the boiling point. He grew fierce with rage in total disagreement to what she proposed should be the way to do it. Unable to contain it any further, he moved away from her in intense anger and took the seat right across from her.
There was dreadful silence between them both. The wind gusted into the bus that cruised on the highway, suffocating her as she stared out of the window in review of the entire episode. She was frustrated with the on-going discussion that drew no conclusions. She looked like she was lost in a deep thought, possibly thinking of a solution to their present problem.
All of a sudden, the silence broke. Bam! A tanker crashed into the bus while the bus was making a sharp turn and that was it!
He opened his eyes on the hospital bed with severe wounds from the collision. Her body was lying on the bed by his side. He soon realized that his love that desired to walk on his side through the rest of her life, generously took his place in death. Their problem, at the expense of her life and of a few others, was obviously solved. It existed no more. Whether he bypassed it or she seized it in response to his anger, remained a question to the divine. Shedding tears in agony, he cursed himself responsible for the disaster through the rest of his life.
In light of the above incident, I am reminded of Christ's sermon on the mount about reconciliation. Holding grudge against or being angry with someone is equaled to committing a murder. It is possible that the after effects could be serious enough to support the equation. That is why as I see it, there is urgency in resolving the conflict and the same is emphasized in the sermon that offering at the altar comes only after reconciliation. In alignment with the teachings of Christ in Matthew 5:23, Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus, to not sin in anger and to not let the dusk arrive while one is still angry (Ephesians 4:26). In simplification, he is saying to not hold grudge or anger for more than 24 hours. We can get angry for the right reasons, but still cannot hold it for a longer time. Reconciliation will not stop the inevitable. It assures peace with each other and keeps harmony alive, come what may so we may not live in regret of having committed an easily avoidable sin.
If we pretend that today is going to be the last day of one's life, think of how one would live before leaving this earth for eternity. A bollywood movie called 'Rubaru' as I recall, is the plot about a change in the attitude of a guy towards the girl he is in a relationship with, after he realizes that a series of events in the day go in conformance with his dream the night before. The story has an interesting twist at the end but makes one realize the importance of time and harmony with people that you care about in particular.
There was dreadful silence between them both. The wind gusted into the bus that cruised on the highway, suffocating her as she stared out of the window in review of the entire episode. She was frustrated with the on-going discussion that drew no conclusions. She looked like she was lost in a deep thought, possibly thinking of a solution to their present problem.
All of a sudden, the silence broke. Bam! A tanker crashed into the bus while the bus was making a sharp turn and that was it!
He opened his eyes on the hospital bed with severe wounds from the collision. Her body was lying on the bed by his side. He soon realized that his love that desired to walk on his side through the rest of her life, generously took his place in death. Their problem, at the expense of her life and of a few others, was obviously solved. It existed no more. Whether he bypassed it or she seized it in response to his anger, remained a question to the divine. Shedding tears in agony, he cursed himself responsible for the disaster through the rest of his life.
In light of the above incident, I am reminded of Christ's sermon on the mount about reconciliation. Holding grudge against or being angry with someone is equaled to committing a murder. It is possible that the after effects could be serious enough to support the equation. That is why as I see it, there is urgency in resolving the conflict and the same is emphasized in the sermon that offering at the altar comes only after reconciliation. In alignment with the teachings of Christ in Matthew 5:23, Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus, to not sin in anger and to not let the dusk arrive while one is still angry (Ephesians 4:26). In simplification, he is saying to not hold grudge or anger for more than 24 hours. We can get angry for the right reasons, but still cannot hold it for a longer time. Reconciliation will not stop the inevitable. It assures peace with each other and keeps harmony alive, come what may so we may not live in regret of having committed an easily avoidable sin.
If we pretend that today is going to be the last day of one's life, think of how one would live before leaving this earth for eternity. A bollywood movie called 'Rubaru' as I recall, is the plot about a change in the attitude of a guy towards the girl he is in a relationship with, after he realizes that a series of events in the day go in conformance with his dream the night before. The story has an interesting twist at the end but makes one realize the importance of time and harmony with people that you care about in particular.
The subject in the above incident is a friend of mine. 11 years later, as of today, he is peaceful, calm and slow to anger, yet lives in great regret. His transformation was positive yet cannot undo the whole thing but sure helped avoid any such occurrences in the years that followed. A loss is a loss and will always remain one! This is just one of a billion such incidents that happen to an anonymous number of people everyday. Why live in regret when it is possible to avoid it? If the people that lost their lives in the recent earthquake in Japan were given a chance to come back to life, they will each have a similar story to tell about the dispute or unrest they want to settle with a spouse, child, family, friends, people at work or even a neighbor next door. When we do not know the challenges the next minute is capable of throwing at us, is it not wise to let go of the negative emotions we deal with each single day? While life is a short pilgrimage on earth, make it pleasant and worthwhile. By all means reconcile and remember to possibly do so in less than 24 hours, if not sooner.
