By Philip Suzara
Pondering … as I sit here at the edge of my mythical life pond.
One can see many things happening at the edge of life’s pond, as in any pond. Decisions are made there, life changing decisions, defining moments … to get in the pond, or not. The pond is encircled by its edges in different forms and kind … straight, jagged, rough, rocks, pebbles, sand, soil, or mud. Very much like people. No matter the differences we have, we all belong there … around the life pond, inside, outside, at the edge, but there.
And, as I look at the farthest end of the pond, another mythical place comes to fore … The Land of the Giants.
There is always this longing to have a peek at this consecrated and hallowed land, to enter, walk with, and amongst the giants.
When we find people who are awed when they see others who loom larger than life, standing so tall, the humble would always say, as has often been said, that they only seem tall, like a giant because they have been standing on the shoulders of those who have come before them.
Like inventions, the wheel need not be re-invented nor rediscovered. It is already there.
These defining moments, so full of internal drama, solitary within the hearts and minds of those who found themselves at their crossroads, have struggled and hurdled such moments, ending with edifying results. We take inspiration and emulate those who have made it there … at the crossroads of life.
Many of these situations have faced us, and still face us, in different times of our lives. These are the golden moments when life, and fate, presents us the key to the land of the giants, those of ennobling moments and choices at the crossroads.
Many people have romped in the land of the giants, one is ushered in with daily unsung heroisms, another, with a singular selfless act for others, some with discoveries that have benefited the human race … humanity. Still, there are countless others who have shunned comfort and wealth, choosing instead, dignity, honour and integrity. Unknown and unsung, like those who have fought in the dead of night, offering their blood and lives at the altar of freedom and democracy, for our nation, for our people, for our parents, for a brother, a sister, for family, for a friend … for a truth … for principle. They are those whom you will find in the land of the giants. They are all marked by their simple and innate selflessness, in the same manner as Jesus, always a life for others. They, who, without their power and big titles, big mansions, flashy cars and fat bank accounts, have risen way higher than those who are seated in their ivory towers. One is tempted to ask those others of what they had to lose to gain what they have … and, surely, the answer one would get will often be defining of character, of values, of principles, of honour, of dignity, and of integrity. Christ’s life has been a glaring example of such selflessness, His struggle, and triumph, over the temptation of power and comfort.
There is much truth, of course, in what Jesus had been pointing out to us in the Bible, that “it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven” … such challenging words, this admonishing. Not a judgement, nor condemnation of the “haves”, because there are many of them who share. Rather, an exaltation of the “have nots” who give of themselves.
We are heartened, overwhelmed, and inspired at seeing that many of those who have less in life are the ones who often give freely, from their hearts, of themselves, and share the little that they have … such beautiful stewards of God’s wealth. We are reminded of the power of the “widow’s mite”. A great departure from those in our midst who walk the earth with their wealth and power, and we find them robust, in their abundance, and yet, emaciated by their apathy and selfishness.
And we, once again, find ourselves in one of the most difficult and trying times, of this malady brought about by this dreaded Covid. This, too, is a golden opportunity for ennobling gestures, of benevolent tasks, that of being ushered into the land of the giants.
Yet, ours is one that is aggravated by the ineptness and apathy of those who are charged with navigating and steering our country through storms and rough seas that batter our collective spirit and hope. They are those who, ironically, have not been economically affected by the disease, not missing a single payday from the people’s taxes … our hard-earned money. Yes, behold our navigators, they think of many ridiculous ideas as solutions to our situation and scoff at those others who have found effective and sound solutions.
They are insecure and are so threatened by such successes … then, they threaten!
Thankfully, not one of these low-lifers will be found at the land of the giants, not yet, anyway. Perhaps, one day, when they shall have evolved into better versions of themselves, as better human beings, metamorphosing into giants. There will always be hope, for everyone … difficult, but not impossible.
Pondering … as I sit here at the edge of life’s pond.
Philip Suzara
Creature of God. Child of the Universe. Global Citizen. Lover of Life. Freedom Fighter. Agent of Change. Lone Wolf. Occasional Consultant for Strategic Communications.
