A take on the reed plant

Relationships.

What are they? Counts marked by chalk sticks on an empty slate? Lint that we dig out from the depths of our finite end of the pocket of our trousers? How do we handle them? Do we continue to make them? Break them? Work on them? Do we seek for new ones?

These are questions that need to be introspected within us. A survey. A “Googled” introspect, if I may.

Relationships are an important facet that comes along with this life that we lead. We need to check the “fine print”. They start from the very time a mother lays her eyes on the life that she has been caring for, for the stipulated nine months. Right from that inconspicuous sparkle that glistens from the child’s eyes, the parent see the alluring grandeur in their child and “voila!” there is a conduit that is knitted between the parent and the child.

As the gradual cycle of life carries us ahead, relationships are built. Be they for a second (bumping into a cashier on the sandwich retailer, Subway: “Eat Fresh”) or for a time that cements for the rest of your life (with the one who calls you “Pookie” or “Cupcake”. Apologies for the cheesiness but that is how the world operates.) This then comes to the point of whether we treasure them or look at them as baggage that we burden around.

I remember my grand uncle telling me that relationships are like prayers. To elucidate on this, he brought out an anecdote. Once, he said was a huge bell that was built for the city tower in a small county. As the builders tried to lift this tonne of a bell to fit it into the city tower, the ropes that were holding the weight snapped and the prized bell fell straight into the city lake over which the bell was carried across. With the lack of facilities to retrieve the lost possession, the citizens mourned over their asset because each had sacrificed a huge deal of their own pittance to build the bell. The submerged bell was forgotten. It became an old wife’s tale. However, as time went by, small insignificant reeds started growing on the surface of the underwater bell. As these reeds started growing on the surface area of the bell, the buoyancy of the reeds (a facet of the reed plant) started to lift the bell upwards. With their roots intertwined firmly onto the bell, the reeds carried the bell though heavy in its stature over the water. To cut a long story short, the citizens noticed the “reed miracle”, rejoiced over the divine turn of events and thus, had the bell handed back or “reeded” to them and to the city.

Well, prayers and relationships are the same as a reed plant. They may seem insignificant and small. The “No-good-can-ever-come-from-them” premise batters our judgments. However, when the burdens are stacked and your head and reasoning has burnt out the last tip of the wick, people and prayer become the solace and peace of mind that we were looking for all along.

It relies on our conscience and belief to either, flick away a relationship and dwindle it. Or take it and through the perseverance, work on it and make it sturdy.

“Hah! Easier said than done” is a welcome response but I dare you to grab on to perseverance, endurance and work on the relationship given to you on your platter.

Follow @DylanSyiem

A "Purposed" Existence

“What an uncanny beginning for an article?” some would exclaim at first glance. Others would be conclusive, “We’ve heard this one before!”

Well, taking most of the critics into account, this writer will try to edify and shed some light on this seven-lettered word which began this literary piece. So, what is the fuss regarding the word “purpose”? The Oxford Dictionary paints a simple yet clear picture when it defines purpose as “..the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.” Every entity whether it breathes the same air that we breathe or not comes with a definitive design which clearly supports its claim of purpose. Take for instance, a pebble. One of its purposes is to beautify the landscape on the banks of a crystal clear water body along with its posse of pebbles. On the other hand, it puts on a cursed purpose when it gets in the shoe of an unfortunate somebody. If such a small and insignificant pebble can have a definitive purpose, this writer is convinced that we, human beings who have been formed with such meticulous and intricate design definitely have a clear cut purpose.

Purpose highlighted here refers to the one of utmost importance in an individual’s life. So, is purpose a strong impetus to your life? Is your life driven by purpose? This world that we stand upon at present is completely structured and built by people who had a definite purpose framed in their mindset be it for glory or infamy. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, a Great Teacher led a life set on a Divine Purpose-to redeem the lost. Till date, His principles and sermons still awe a large section of the world. The Mahatma allowed his purpose of liberating a deprived nation through the path of non-violence and look where we stand now- a land having an identity, one christened as a free country that overcame evil with good. Another selfless figure that is recorded in the annals of history is Mother Teresa whose hands have served and whose feet have trod the most impoverished of streets and corners of Kolkatta for the leprous and maimed section of society. Another life driven by purpose.

This writer hence, urges his fellow brethren to never allow their supposedly mundane lives to be devoid of purpose. Purpose, like a rudder of a boat propels a life its fixed direction irrespective of the intensity that the waves beat about it. Let integrity, benevolence, compassion and love be the sole stimulants to your life. Let us not become like the rich old fool who when asked what he would do with his immense wealth overflowing from his storehouses, replied that he would build more storehouses! On that very night, God in His anger took away the life of the poor old soul. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?

On that note, let us strive to live a life driven by purpose and leave behind a legacy that transforms lives.

he tried to save the calender business (clipped to Polyvore.com)

A First Blog

Hi

That's me showing a gang sign. It used to mean victory, God knows what it means now.

Hi! This is my first blog.

I'm not even sure what that means. I am humbled when I say that because I believe sometimes my Mantle'ism' (taken from the obnoxious Reggie Mantle from "Archies") doesn't have 'humble pie' as a dish in its self acclaimed menu.

But hey, I am allowed to try many new things and voila! here I am getting to touch the very tip of this Iceberg or in this case a 'blog'berg.

As days go by I will give it my best whether or not people engage with moi in my blog space or not.

May God bless you and yeah, do come peep in sometimes at this amateur.