THE BRIDGE IS TOO NARROW
Two goats lived on either side of a mountain. Every day, they would leave home looking for pastures. On their way, they had to pass through a very narrow bridge that stood over a deep river.
One day, the goats
faced each other right in the middle of the narrow bridge… and, both, were
unwilling to make way for the other.
“Step aside,”
screamed the first goat, “let me pass.”
“No way,” protested
the other goat, “it is my way… or no way!”
So, they locked their
horns… and, started pushing and charging at each other… till their stubbornness
took them to the edge of the narrow bridge. And, finally, both of them went
crashing down into the fierce river which gushed deep down!
I love this old story. Particularly, when I tend to lock
my horns with another person… another goat!
Look at the funny
side of the story. The goats had left home seeking food. If they had focused on their goal - the food, they would have, certainly, stayed away from the self-destructive
locking of horns…
They, instead, lost their
focus… and, got into their ego-hassle: it is my way or no way!
Poor goats! They were blind
to the fierce river that ran deep down!
Many a times, when I end up bruised and wounded through such
locking of horns, I do wonder:
“Why didn’t I realize the danger before getting
into it? Would have I lost anything, if I had stepped aside, made way for the
other?”
“Silly goats!”
No, “Silly people!”
All ego-hassles are
bound to end this way:
Down into the gushing river…!
They are 'Loose-Loose
situations' in life!”
And, when we make way
for the ‘other goat’ – when we let go of our ego, accommodate - we don’t lose
sight of our goal. We come home victorious! It is being wise, sensible… It is a
‘Win-Win situation’.
Yes, in life, we meet
on the narrow bridge… like these two goats…
There is that fierce
river gushing deep down…
And, there is that
reason why we have left home, this morning… Our goal, our purpose!
And, yes, there is
that ‘choice’ before all of us:
Either to lock our horns and scream, “It is my way, or, no way!”... Or, “W’ll go the sensible way!”
Either to lock our horns and scream, “It is my way, or, no way!”... Or, “W’ll go the sensible way!”
The bridge is too
narrow to fight in its middle, my friend...
The river is fierce
and deep… there, down!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: Monica Valdar
Comments
- Unni