EVEN GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY

 



“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule,

but to schedule your priorities.”

Shephen R. Covey

 

A 16-year-old girl has, many times, told me politely, but firmly, “Sir, I cannot connect online at 7.30 p.m.”

Initially, being her ‘hallowed’ teacher, I remember asking her with irritation (call it arrogance of a teacher, if you like), “Why you can’t – May I know the reason, madam?”

“That’s our dinner time at home, Sir,” the girl has made it very clear to me…

Well, I have learnt to swallow my pride and respect that ‘space’, and explored other timings to connect with this young girl (My young teacher!)…

For last two weeks, I have been accompanying my wife to Hinduja Hospital for a root-canal procedure. Earlier, some of the private dental-professionals had suggested extraction. For that, her sugar had to be brought under control, else it would lead to complications. Considering this factor, we chose a reputed multi-facility hospital for this procedure. As sugar was not coming under control, this young lady doctor (who, I guess, newly-married), advised for a root canal… She was very gentle and empathetic…

The procedure started… In big hospitals, for each of your visits, including the follow-up visits, there are high charges, besides the actual procedure charges which, too, are really high. This young doctor was kind enough to share her personal number and encourage my wife to get in touch with her if any complications came up… Otherwise, we were to see her after a week…

But, the very night of the first procedure, my wife had to message the doctor complaining about the swelling and pain… The doctor was kind enough to guide her… A couple of messages/calls were exchanged through the following day (a Friday)… Then, on Saturday onward, the doctor was unreachable… Neither the messages nor the calls were acknowledged…

Meanwhile the swelling and pain subsided on their own…

Last evening was the official follow-up appointment for the next procedure. When my wife gently asked the doctor why was she not reachable, came an equally-gentle reply, accompanied by a sincere smile, “Ma’am, I was out on a weekend break.”

Were we annoyed to hear that?

No, Sir… We were happy.





I remember an episode, many years ago… I was young, married just three years before that, had a two-year-old son. It was peak of my career. I had also persuaded my wife to get involved in teaching, (Though she wasn’t too excited about it). Moreover, I was excessively involved with Dawn Club activities – Workshops, Public Speaking sessions, Poetry Circle, Publications, Entertainment events etc. etc. – I was 35…

During these frantic times, my wife became very sick and we had to admit her at Bombay Hospital in South Bombay… I wasn’t prepared to deal with such derailment of my crazy schedule. I had to deal with her workload, too, besides mine. I was a chronic workaholic… Taking breaks on Sundays and on public holidays was out of my syllabus… So much so, when my wife was discharged after a month, I found it difficult to go myself to the hospital to bring her home… A dear T.Y. B. Com student of mine – Hemang Sharma -  did the honours! 

I look back at this episode in shame… Yes, in disgust!

It took many, many years – and heartburns – to realize, that ‘work’ or ‘career’ is not everything in life… That, ‘Success’ can never be measured by how busy you are – how many hours you work… That, in Life, there is family, there is office, there is God, there is leisure… and many other squares. When ‘Work’ becomes your entire Life, there is nowhere else to go, when work suffers…

I have learnt, the hard way, to get in touch with my innate insecurities and the flawed definitions of ‘Success’… Yes, I have learnt to let go and make peace with a lot many things…





Ever since Mr. Narayana Murthy (Infosys founder) and Mr. Subrahmanyan (L&T Chairman) have made their highly-debated suggestions, that young employees have to work for 70 hours or 90 hours a week (including Sundays), I sense anger in the air…




Well, I tell such Corporate Goliaths this: I have worked even harder than that, Sir…  and I have come to the conclusion, that -

Even God worked, frantically, for six days to create this Universe… On the seventh day, He did take rest…

And imagine, God was a bachelor when He did that!!!

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: Pixabay

Video: mint

Comments

Anonymous said…
Sir, in our guidelines to "Operations" we talk about 'Rest Day' and it is a Cycle. Machines too are put to rest and we call it as 'Maintenance' or 'Preventive Maintenance'. Electricity Grid supplying electricity take a 'Shut Down'. It is not the Quantity but the Quality which matters. Time is Scarce and Life is finite. Work/Business and Life have been tangential. I do not believe in Work Life Balance because it is like a myth. At the best/worst, sacrifices have to be made - the choice is ours. Be Happy, Be Wise - Love All, Serve All, is all that can be said after these years of Life.
Beautifully captured in your blog with a honest conclusion, on the most trending topic in last few hours/days :)
January 12, 2025 at 10:10 AM
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