Walking is a normal activity. One of the advantages of strolling is that you can witness the events unfolding around you.
A daily ritual of an old man caught my attention. He would collect the flowers that had fallen from a tree during his morning walk and put them in a basket. He would then take them to the temple as an offering later in the day. I was intrigued by his activity.
One day, I noticed him picking up the fallen flowers again and decided to satisfy my curiosity. I approached him and asked why he preferred the wilted ones over the fresh ones as other old people did.
I went to him with curiosity and said, “Sir, I have been observing with great eagerness that you always choose and collect those flowers that have just fallen down from the tree. I wonder what are you doing it for ?”
He answered with a calm voice, “I offer these flowers to God during my prayer”
I was intrigued by his answer. So I asked him again, “What makes the fallen flowers so special to be picked over the fresh ones?”
He explained, “I support these flowers to achieve their desire – to be with God in their last moments. They are living beings too; like us, they also want to be with God in their last days, right?” he questioned me. I nodded.
He said, “Few of us take away the flowers before they blossom, not letting them to even enter this world and others take the flowers that have recently bloomed, not even letting to experience what the world is like. Everyone picks what is lovely and deprives the plant of its loveliness. See then, how these plants look – dull and forsaken.”
He went on, “Every flower strongly desires to be with God. While everyone picks the flowers that are still on the plants, I don’t do that. It’s not fair to the flowers that fall off. They also have a right to be with God. You should do it too, it will make you feel calm and happy…just like me. I can’t help anyone in this old age, but I can at least help these flowers reach their destination.”
I just smiled, nodded, wished him well, and walked away.
As I was walking, my mind was buzzing. With this completely new perspective and idea, I made up my mind that I should also try to gather fallen flowers for worship.
I passed by a hibiscus tree and saw some flowers lying under the tree. As I leaned down to pick them up, I heard a voice.
“God doesn’t accept fallen flowers,” my mother said in my head, and again I paused for a moment.
“My mother had a strong desire to pick up those flowers, believing that God was only interested in her sincerity and feelings. She hesitated for a while, but then she took the flowers and held them in her palms. I felt a surge of love for these flowers in my body, along with goosebumps and a racing heart. It was a different kind of love than I had ever felt before. I brought the flowers home, cleaned them, and placed them where they belonged, at the feet of the Lord!
It was a marvelous experience. I felt a deep joy inside. It was like I had made a difference in someone’s life or eased someone’s pain. I had never experienced such fulfillment with flowers before. And I plan to keep doing it. Gather what has dropped.
Moral
We often seek the company of beautiful and good people in life. We like to associate ourselves with people who match our status, and we look down on those who are beneath us. But, true joy comes from helping others, improving their lives, and sharing their happiness – Whether they are humans, animals, birds, or any other living beings. So why not flowers? Fallen flowers?
…..”LIFT THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN” & you will feel lifted yourself.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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