Fumbling through the cob-webbed shelves of a neglected cupboard in the perforated light of the setting sun, I stumbled across an old diary. The crumbling pages and musty smell of the diary had me wondering, why do I do this every time? While organizing my shelves, I promise myself that I am going to remember the pattern this time- what is kept where and why! But promises are meant to be broken, aren’t they? I picked up the diary and unfolded those memories, stored in those yellowing pages, inked with fingers budding with passion and delight, eyes full of dreams and hopes. I laughed at myself, my juvenile self. Somewhere between the old innocence and unwritten self-indulgence, I found some words of wisdom. I have no recollection of where and why, but I must have read something worth penning down. These are some answers to the questions of every thinking individual, whose pessimistic self has found life meaningless-
GOD: HELLO! You called me?
I, ME, MYSELF: Called you? No, who is this?
G: This is God. I heard your prayers. So, I thought I would chat with you.
IMM: Sure, I pray, just makes me feel good. Actually, I am busy now. In the midst of something you know.
G: What are you busy with? Ants are busy too.
IMM: Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.
G: Sure, activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.
IMM: But I still can’t figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting you to buzz me on an instant message chat.
G: Well, I wanted to help you resolve your fight for time by giving you clarity. I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.
IMM: Tell me, why has life become so complicated?
G: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.
IMM: Why are we then constantly unhappy?
G: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because the act of worrying has become a habit. That’s why you are not happy.
IMM: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?
G: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.
IMM: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?
G: Diamonds cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials. With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.
IMM: You mean to say such experience is useful?
G: Yes, Experience is a hard teacher though she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards.
IMM: But still why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?
G: Problems are purposeful roadblocks offering beneficial lessons to enhance mental strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.
IMM: Frankly, in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are headed.
G: If you look outside you will not know where you are headed. Look inside. Looking outside you dream. Looking inside you awaken. Eyes provide sight, heart provides insight.
IMM: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction.
G: Success is relative, quantified by others. Satisfaction is absolute, quantified by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead.
IMM: Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here? I don’t know the answers.
G: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.
IMM: How can I get the best out of life?
G: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.
IMM: Sometimes, my prayers are not answered.
G: There are no unanswered prayers. At times, the answer is ‘NO’.
IMM: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I’ll try to be less fearful.
G: Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Life is wonderful, if you know how to live it.
And thus, I met Inspiration.