THE LORD'S PRAYER

“When you make peace with yourself,

You make peace with the world.”

Maha Ghosananda

A dear old-student of mine, who is a Chartered Accountant and employed in a fairly large auditing firm, had sent her belated birthday wishes to me, today. During the course of our chatting, she wrote, quite seriously, “My work-from- home is going on, Sir… Blessed being salaried!”

The anxiety behind those words was palpable! In these uncertain times, when you see how employed people are being laid off or their salaries being chopped off, the thought that you still have a job, and still get a salary, is a thought of gratitude. The Pandemic hasn’t spared any of us – whether we are employed or self-employed. So, the Lord’s Prayer – ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ – sounds so meaningful now. Asking for even the butter or jam on the bread sounds sacrilegious!

But, the same Lord had once blasted at the temping Devil saying, “Go away… Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

And, what did the Lord mean by that?

Another dear old-student of mine, who is extremely talented, had constant show-down at home with her parents, particularly with her father. Finally, a few months before the lockdown was announced, she chose to leave her home and live with some girls in a P.G. apartment. The concerned mother persuaded the daughter to return to the safety of home during the lockdown. The young daughter agreed. However, the father-daughter showdowns kept erupting as they did in the past… Finally, the daughter packed her bags and left home, once again, to live with her P.G. friends.

A while ago, when she had called me, I enquired about situation and the equation. She said the same thing, “I am fine with mom, but not with dad… Somehow, when I try to come close to him, something or the other triggers off a rift and we go apart again.”

This young girl always looked up to me for advice. But, I have been cautious not to step into her personal space and offer unsolicited advice. Today, she seemed a lot burdened and lonely… She said, that she wanted to make peace with her father… But, yes, but!

I said: “The bitter cycle has to break from one end at least… Why can’t it end from your end? You make your intention very clear… You be the one to bend a little first… Start with sending loving and sincere messages… Avoid digging up the past… Consciously avoid getting into arguments… Do not read too much into dad’s words or gestures. Forgiveness works in this manner… It says, “Peace with you is more important to me than being right.”   Peace with your father is very important for you to live in emotional and spiritual freedom… Work on it consciously… Give it top priority.”

These are difficult times. We need our daily bread to survive our physical hunger. But, as the Lord said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

And, certainly, the most important word of God to tide over these uncertain times is - ‘Peace’!

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The Lord’s Prayer includes, this, too!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Thai Nhan

Video: Cliff Richard