Reaction to adversity.

There are two basic ways in which humans react to an adversity in life. Actually three, if you count our first reaction of asking God, "Why me ?".

One is to do something so that others do not have to suffer like you had to. I have a friend
whose younger brother was attacked by polio as a kid. He is a handsome young man today except for the pronounced limp, thanks to polio. Every year, when the government announces the polio vaccination programme (Polio Plus) for kids, his family makes available the ground floor of their house for the cause. So that other kids don't have to live with the handicap caused by the disease. This is their way of reacting to an adversity.

In this context, I am reminded of what a friend told me about auto-drivers in Europe. If an oncoming driver flashes his light at you for no obvious reason, it usually means that there are cops ahead, who are stopping drivers going above the speed limit. It is the driver's way of warning you to slow down to the speed limit. He might have just paid a hefty fine for speeding, but still wants to warn others so that they do not end up paying the fine like him. He also believes in following the former approach.

On the other hand we have people who wish that others also are stricken by the adversity
that they were hit by, and derive some kind of crude pleasure by knowing that its not just
they that are suffering.

We do not gain anything by behaving either of the two ways. But if our reaction is the former, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we could do our bit to help others escape suffering.

Kiddy talk

Talking of kids and kid talk, my niece who is all of 5 years old talks stuff that makes us think.

My sister and brother-in-law are not the usual religious couple. They do pray and all that,
but do not go to church on Sundays or for special occasions. Instead, they prefer to go in the evenings when there is no function on and just sit and pray in the silent environment.

My niece had some idea about the concept of God - somebody who has supernatural powers
and listens to our prayers and someone to whom we can look upto in times of trouble. She
had this ritual of a daily bedtime prayer, when she would pray to Jesus to take care of and protect her parents, friends and loved ones.

Last Easter, my sister felt that it was time she had a chat with her daughter about God,
Jesus, the church, relevance of Good Friday, Easter etc. She talked about Jesus and how he
was crucified on Good Friday.

This was the first time when my niece became aware of the fact that Jesus was dead. And all that she had to say on knowing this was "What ? Is he dead ? If so, how is a dead person going
to save us ? "

I don't think my sister had an answer to that question and was left wondering about whether
it was a right thing to introduce the scriptures to her daughter.

Pretty logical thinking, right ? Well, I just hope she does not loose faith in a power above us. Hope/faith is the essence of life and I would like my niece to grow up with it.

Apartment living

Living in an apartment complex has its own pros and cons, though I see more cons than pros.
The only pro that I see is that the security is pretty good due to having a dedicated security staff round the clock.

Reached my flat around 8PM from work as is the case on most days. While unlocking the door,
I could hear a heated argument going on in the next door flat. A family of four stay there - Dad,
Mom, 3 year old son and a 12 year old daughter. I could make out that the argument was
between Mom and daughter and had something to do with the TV.

Well, next morning, I met the Mom in the parking lot and during our chat she mentioned about
the argument which went something like this.

Daughter : When are you getting the cable connection for our TV ? I am bored watching the DD programmes.

Mom : Sometime soon.

Daughter : Thats what you have been saying for the past 2 years.

Mom : Well, we will get it soon.

Daughter: And how soon will this be ? Ater I am dead and gone ???

Thats tough words from a kid's mouth. Kids of today seem to be more knowledgeable than we were at that age. And they know what they want and how to get it.

Needless to say that they got cable the next day itself.