THE SEA OF GALILEE

Pic.: Ashish Srivastava

To encourage the young-ones to read, write, speak and think, I, always, encourage them to present during our PD sessions any good piece of writing – a short poem, passage, story, incident... whatever. Yes, I ask them to search it from a book or internet or get it from any source.... But, they must thoroughly like it... They must read it over and over again at home... and, then, come to the class and present it before others... in such a way, that others must feel inspired to go home and find it, read it...

The reading habit, generally, starts this way. We listen to some brilliant piece of presentation, somewhere... Someone dramatically narrates an incident or a passage from a book, or he talks about an author, his work in such a way that, it, invariably, makes us go home and find out more... and, yes, read...

“A good reader, a good writer, a speaker and a good thinker,” I tell our young ones, “they are all inter-connected.” Yes, they are...

Many years ago, in of our PD sessions, 16-year-old Tess (who is now married and settled in the US), had brought to the class one such inspiring piece of literature, and presented it well. With that, she had inspired many students to go home and read... As a fitting tribute to this girl, I had included her speech in our book – ‘Vaachas Chame’ (Grant Me the Power of Expression). Here it is:

Respected teachers and my dear friends,

Today, I would like to share with you an inspiring little-story – rather, a little fact – about two seas. The story has such an incredible meaning... so relevant, and so striking...

My dear friends, the story is taken from the book – ‘The Man Nobody Knows’ by Bruce Barton. Please allow me to present it, as-it-is, yes, without even touching a comma in it. Because it is so beautiful... so true!

TWO SEAS

There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh and fish are in it. Splashes of green

adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip

of its healing waters.

. . . The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs

in the sunshine. And men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests, and every kind

of life is happier because it is there.

The River Jordan flows on south into another sea.

Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song birds, no children’s laughter.

Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its

water, and neither man, nor beast, nor fowl will drink.

What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas? Not the River Jordan, It

empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not in the country

round about.

This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For

every drop the flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal

measure.

The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into

any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.

The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gives nothing. It is named the

Dead.

There are two kinds of people in the world... There are two seas in Palestine.

Before Tess presented it in our class, I had read this poem in Dr. Stephen Covey’s famous book – ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’. And, I told this to the class, talking highly about Dr. Covey’s inspirational classic. I am sure, both Tess and I must have ignited some real thirst in our young-ones that Sunday morning... to go home and read!

For, I can recall, that, almost, every book I have read in my life, I have read because someone did ignite that thirst in my heart...

Today morning, once again, our young-ones were presenting this poem... yes, now,  from our book – ‘Vaachas Chame’!

“There are two kinds of people in this world... There are two seas in Palestine!”

After the class, a young-one had come to talk to me about some other matter. I asked him, “How is the course going for you... Is it helping you?”

The response of the young-one was slow, measured... almost, unenthusiastic. He had been attending the programme for over a month now, and he was very regular... 

“So, it is not going well for you... It is not helping you... right?” I said to the young-man.

“No, no... Sir, it ‘is’ helping me,” he was, quick, this time.

“Then, dear, why were you not so quick and honest when I first asked you?” I teased. I continued, “If you like something, do open your heart and tell... If you feel touched, inspired by someone... please express before him your gratitude... say ‘Thank-you’ straight from your heart... Don’t hold back your honest appreciation, don’t be stingy in thanking, sharing and helping others... That’s how you become like the Sea of Galilee... fresh, vibrant and prosperous.”

I am sure, the young-boy must’ve taken home something... yes, what, years ago, young Tess had described to us as – ‘A story which has an incredible meaning... So relevant and so striking!”

GERALD D’CUNHA