Compassion is needed to heal the hurts and hearts of others...
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Me being vetti* at office today, here came the good(?) thought of crapping something in my crap blog:)This post is something which I wanted to share with my friends long back...
If I remember right it is one saturday in December,last year we girls from our hostel went on a visit to a orphanage cum Oldage home for mentally/physically challenged persons somewhere near Yelahanka,Bangalore organised by a trust. We had a thirst to visit those people and since it was the Christmas time we bought them some sweets and a few old clothes. The orphanage had a nice environment surrounded by trees, though its not a big campus. The first one we went was a Oldage home. Many Old grand parents were staying there;90% of them were sent out from their own house due to their illness.As soon as we entered the campus and stepped out of the van we saw many old people came running towards us. The Happiness and joy they had in their faces cannot be explained.They were very much happy about our visit.
Many of the people with whom we went are regular visitors and so most of the grannies ran to their own favourite people hugging them.We were just watching the scene since this is the first time we had been to this place. Suddenly a granny walked towards us and started kissing and hugging.We were really heart touched and realised the happiness they had due to our presence. Most of them are harmless people and a few had some problems, so they weren't let out in the campus but was looked after keeping them stay in a room. It was really a wonderful day with them. We realised how a spark of love and humanity heals the hearts of the people there. We sang some songs for them and they danced :) We served them lunch and they were overwhelmed. One granny was hugging me, she was very much fond of my bracelet at hand.Then she said "next time when you come, bring me some bangles":) It was a nice feeling to know that we have the ability to make people like them happy. They love if we talk with them and listen to their stories. Evening, when we started to move out saying 'bye' many were reluctant to leave us. Few started crying.It had become a real hard job for us to console them and send back to their rooms.
We enjoy all the luxuries and comfortable with what we have but it was on that day I felt, there are people somewhere who are in need of our love and compassion. The Orphanage gets lot of donations from all parts of the country but people visting it and spending their time with the souls there are meagre.It was a wonderful day full of satisfaction to us.
A few days back I got a forward from a friend of mine Anchal which I thought I can post here. Many would have read it but it is worth reading it again:)
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature doesis done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as otherchildren do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay,physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity torealize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the wayotherpeople treat that child" Then he told the following story:
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone likeShay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."Shay struggled over to the team's bench, put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give awaytheir chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing theother team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead,the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman,outof reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time.Hecould have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward thirdbase deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases towardhome. As Shay neared third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home,stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grandslam"and won the game for his team.
That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and cominghome and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of theday!
I believe we can make difference.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the"natural order of things."
Disclaimer: *Vetti: Joblessness;-)
~feni:)
posted by Feni at 9:52 AM, | 
5 Comments:
Thanks a lot Blessen!!
Me awaiting for your post:)
Me awaiting for your post:)
hey feni !i shre the same feelings like u!! i had been to an old age home too...and like u said ... the old ppl there were so happy to see us..many of them had been forsaken by their children...sad though it is ...thts the reality today ! they were so happy on seein us and just didnt want to let go of us... just shows how much they still seek love frm those arnd !! can we ever repay their love ?? hopefully...
tat story of shay really crushed me feni...
nice post... love and affection towards fella humans must be an integral part of our life...
~~~ leaving with tears ~~~
nice post... love and affection towards fella humans must be an integral part of our life...
~~~ leaving with tears ~~~
@Kitchy, Easwar: Thanks:)
i have had a diff experience.... at a juvenile home during Christmas Day the year b4 last.... will post it on my blog soon... ur post here being an inspiration for my post....