|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 29 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Untie, unravel, unknot..! My telephone wire has been all twisted for the past couple of weeks. I only notice it when the phone rings and I rush to pick it up, then the handset drags the base and it crashes to the ground. I curse the phone and tell myself that I should untangle the wire, but after the call I get back to my work and the tangled, twisted wire is left forgotten till the next time. Today I untwisted the wire. It wasn't too very easy as the plastic coil had got used to its distorted state and struggled against being straightened, but slowly the wire got out of its warped mess and uncoiled itself. It looked like a new wire after that. As I looked at the straightened coil, my thoughts went back to my kite flying days, when suddenly I would look down and find that all the string I needed to use to fly the kite lay knotted, intertwined and bunched together. It was not as easy a task, to untangle the string as the telephone cord. The first thing I had to do was to pull down the kite, then sit patiently and with nimble fingers unravel the knot, by stubborn knot the obstinate, unyielding string. That was one time when I needed patience in overdose quantities. When I had to still myself from the exultation of controlling an airborne kite and go onto the tedious task of gently, firmly and cunningly pulling strong headed, mulish string from the tight clutches and devilish embraces of its own self. Slowly and steadily, I worked at freeing the strong thread. At certain times the knots were so intricately interwoven that I had no option but to cut the two ends away from the messy bunch and then tie them together again. What a sigh of relief I breathed when my task was done. It was worth the effort, and later as my kite was airborne once more and sailed merrily into the sky, diving and bobbing and slicing through the heavens like a freed bird, I felt a deep sense of joy and exultation. The string in my hand was again strong, untwisted and untroubled. How like our own lives is that warped telephone cord and that messy string. Without realising it we go through life becoming bent over with worry, our minds twisted with hate and our lives warped from injustice, till suddenly we find that the straight qualities that we once had, have disappeared. We once flew free in the wind. We once stood a head taller than the others. We once were respected for our unbiased and fair views. But now a twisted, messy string, holds us back from enjoying the lofty heights. Sit down today and start untying those knots. Ugly and deformed will those knots behind you appear to be. Open them up. The knot of anger to a loved one, hatred for a business associate, revulsion for a spouse. The knot of bitterness for some incident, jealousy towards a sibling... The list is long like a string or a coil, but one that wants to be free. Untie those knots and find yourself soaring into the skies. There won't be just a smile you will have, but endless laughter. Not just harmony inside but peace beyond all understanding. So - untie, unravel, unknot...! |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
