The true purpose of Life is to serve. And that’s what the
spirit of Christmas is all about too.
As kids we have all grown up adoring Santa. We have waited
for our gifts. Or in families such as mine, where Santa was seen as something Western,
Christian, we perhaps quietly envied those whose lives were touched by Santa.
Even if it was about some wishes coming true or about surprise gifts coming
clothed in stockings, there was an admirable quality about Santa. He toiled to
make others happy. I remember, as a young boy growing up in New Rajinder Nagar
in New Delhi, in the year preceding the imposition of Emergency in India,
wondering if Santa would not be tired visiting so many homes. My bed was beside
the window. And my neighbor Buba, whose family had a Christmas tree up in their
balcony with festive lights adorning the frontage, making it all, look surreal
and beautiful, had told me that he had wished for Santa to deliver a battery
operated toy car to him! Buba’s balcony was in front of my window. I remember
sitting up all night, keeping vigil on Buba’s balcony, trying to see if Santa
really came by. I must have slept at some point because I did not see Santa
come in. But Buba had his wish fulfilled. He came running home first thing the
next morning to show off his new toy car!
My own views of Santa have changed obviously over the years.
From thinking of him as a religious father figure __ because he visited only
Christian homes! __ to seeing the message of selfless service in his legend. And
now I see Santa as a metaphor for service, for touching lives and for making a
difference. Santa is also an inspiration for serving selflessly __ have you
ever wondered what wish Santa may be wishing, what gift Santa wants or who will
grant him his wish or give him his present?
Surely, as each generation grows up, it will realize, just
as we all have, that Santa is what parents play to their excited little ones.
But perhaps there is value in teaching our children, and their children, that a
true Santa is really one who touches lives and makes a difference.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, try something different today.
Don’t try it because I invite you to or that you want to feel good. Even wanting
to feel good is an expectation. Do it because you genuinely want to give! Take
anything that you have not used in 6 months __ except your passport __ and
which you think will be more useful to someone else. It could be books,
clothes, shoes, blankets, pillows, suitcases, a table lamp, utensils, a pen
drive, an old wristwatch, a bunch of music CDs, whatever. Go around a couple of
blocks in your neighborhood. And give away whoever needs whatever you have with
you. Someone may not need any of these things you carry with you, but may just
want a hot coffee, or some soup or a meal. Buy them that. Or sometimes people
may just need someone to talk to. Give them your time, your presence and your
attention. When you are handing over whatever you eventually will, look the
person in the eye and say, from the bottom of your heart, ‘Thank You’. Feel
genuinely grateful for this opportunity to serve. If you felt blessed and
drenched in a rare energy, do it every day. Or at least when you get time or
whenever you feel depressed, trampled upon or lost in Life.
The essence of intelligent living is in understanding that
it is far more significant to be useful than just be successful. A small mass
of humanity is successful. An equally small mass of humanity is useful. But it
is only the latter that make a big difference to a large mass of humanity that
is suffering and lives in hunger and depravation __ yearning for food,
clothing, warmth, shelter and above all, compassion.
You can choose to be Santa and touch those who form this
unfortunate majority. Go touch a Life this Christmas __ that would be a far
more intelligent thing to do than just post hollow greetings, that you have not
even applied your mind, forget soul, to, on social media or instant messaging
services.
In reality, Santa
is timeless. And seasonless. When you value someone’s need as higher than your
own, when you make an effort with no self-gain in mind, when you simply give
because you want to give, you will be a Santa too and each day will be merry __
Christmas or not __ meaningful and memorable.
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