It's Christmas time and time to bring out the star and the old decorations from the "Christmas box" in the attic. As I open my box, I come upon a whole stack of greeting cards collected over the years. As I once again go down memory lane flipping through those cards from family and friends, my eyes fall on an old Christmas card from a dear friend.
My thoughts race back in time.
About a decade back I got a job in a small organisation and it was there that I met Julie. She was a simple and sweet girl and it was no surprise that every one in office liked her.
She was such a warm and friendly person, with an ever-present smile on her face and hello on her lips for everyone. She was one of those genuinely nice people.
In the course of time, I came to know that Julie was an orphan.
It was December and I decided to invite her over to enjoy Christmas with my family. I reckoned she must have never experienced the joy of a family celebration.
However come Christmas Day, she called me up to say that she could not come over as she had some urgent commitment. I was a put off coming from her.
The next day, there was no sign of Julie. A week passed by, but still there was no sign of her.
Then one day our boss informed us that she had told him over the phone that she was quitting.
We were all quite perplexed by her behaviour, so very out of her character.
Days, weeks, and months passed by without any news about her. Then, one day we came to know the truth.
On Christmas day, when Julie was getting ready to come to my place, the young peon at a hostel where she used to stay, came to her room in a highly disturbed state of mind, as his old mother was in a critical condition. He needed some financial help from Julie. Julie's heart melted on seeing the poor boy's state and she decided to accompany him to his village.
There was nothing they could do, as they watched the boy's mother die a slow death.
Previous life
Julie returned from that trip a changed person. She realised what it meant to suffer pain, hunger and rejection.
There was no way she could return to her previous life. She decided to join a charity group that ran homes for the aged and the destitute, far away from the city.
She quietly slipped away, perhaps fearing that contact with her previous world would somehow stand in her way of crossing that threshold when a lucky few get to know what life is all about.
I managed to dig out her address and decided to visit her along with another colleague.
As we entered the compound, a beautiful hymn came wafting from inside the building. We reached the hall and there she was!
She seemed almost unrecognisable in a white-bordered sari, at peace with herself and the world.
We watched silently from the doorway.
We saw that everyone there seemed to love her, treating her like a daughter.
The orphan had finally found her home! As we were bidding our goodbyes, I realised that she had finally found her calling.
I return to the present and flipped open the card.
It contains a simple message inscribed in her child-like handwriting: Share your joys with others, share the worries of others.
While the message describes Julie's life best, isn't there a message in it for all of us too?
If only each of us would strove to live that message, wouldn't this world be a far better place?
