WHY DO I FORGET?

Yes, really!!!!! Why do i forget? All these years, I have led my life with a strong conviction that God has a plan for me and that is all i need to know and that there are some questions that can never be answered except by Him. And yet as I get on with age, growing in this fanatical besotted world, I forget. I let myself be persecuted by these bizarre thoughts and off the hook anxieties as if I hold sway over situations. That isn’t true.

I forget that I trusted Him for every single move in my life. I forget that all I have is because He wants me to. I forget that I had faith in His faith for me. I forget that He has been really good and sometimes exceptional. I forget to show any appreciation or thank Him. I just conveniently forget.  Period.

I overlook that he helped me accomplish my childhood dream of going to the stage just once. I don’t recall that he fulfilled that dream not once but so many times. I don’t remember thanking him for making every single birthday so very very special. I fail to remember that He helped me get my dream college just like a cake walk. I don’t revisit the thought He gave me a treasured family and my beautiful daughters. I don’t remember that he gave me His strength all through.  Was it just a twist of fate? No, I know that and yet i find it decorous to forget.

Isn’t that so easy? We never forget to check our what’s app or reply to an email or go out on the weekend but yes we always forget to look back and thank God. More importantly we persistently disregard to trust what He is doing for us, despite knowing that he has been doing so always and forever so well.

It happens. We take the nice things for granted. Don’t we? Dint we take our mom’s caring for granted and our dad’s support for certain? Did we not take it easy when our sister asked us to do her homework and yet we didn’t.  Because we knew they will always be there and they will always be nice and their presence in our life is undeniable. No matter what!!!  That’s how God has been in my life. His presence has been most unswerving and incontestable.  And I have always truly taken Him established until the end of time.

But imagine what happiness we create by thanking our parents and doing our sister’s work.  The smile we bring on their faces and the delight in our heart. Guess you cotton on what I am aiming to articulate. Saying thank you is more than just good manners. It is spirituality. And when I do so to my life force, it’s a remarkable feeling. There are ‘n’ number of things that I am sure didn’t come my way in a flash. They came because they were skilfully laid out through my journey which i have travelled with effort and His no ordinary blessings.

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 I would want to recollect this little story I had read as a child.

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was. As from the underside I watched her work with in the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. 

She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "My son, you go about your playing for awhile, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side." I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Come and sit on my knee." 

This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. Then Mother would say to me, It was a design. I was only following it. 

Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life." 

I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?" The Father seems to tell me, "My child, you go about your business of doing and one day I will put you on My knee and you will see the beautiful design."

Yes indeed. After reading this, there is only one thing i want to say ‘Trusting God? Best decision ever.’

Iceland - a lil bit of heaven

How should i start? 4 years back when we looked at this waterfall picture in a PNB calendar put up in our dining area, Gagan and me decided that we must plan to visit Iceland, not knowing that Seljalandfoss (waterfalls) was only one of the extraordinary natural wonders and dynamic arctic illuminations alongwith the northern lights and the midnight sun.

Every day, we were in for a surprise. Despite the fact that i  belong to such a versatile country like India, I was awestruck at the beauty of this country. The open spaces, clean air, unspoiled nature, the Viking heritage, waterfalls and hot springs, volcanic mountains on the left, glaciers on the right as we drove along the Atlantic ocean taking an entire circle of the Island.

Despite the hoards of youngsters who venture to Iceland on a weekend to explore the happening night life of Reykjavik, the number one reason why one should be here is its nature. The capital city is definitely beautiful. Swimming in hot geothermal pools is by far the most popular outdoor activity here. The main shopping lane was simple yet coulourful and exciting. A unique exhibit of creativity on the exteriors of these showrooms was worth capturing. 

Our cosy two room cottage was located in a little suburban area which added charm to the whole visit. My cousin and an old time school friend joined us here. So we did what we must- made the most of it- cooking, dancing and laughing. From Reykjavik, we visited the snaefelsnes peninsula. Snaefell jokull kofull like we call it :) is the highest mountain in the peninsula and has the glacier at its peak. 

Moving towards to the centre of iceland, was the Gulfoss, the queen of Icelandic waterfalls and the Geysir which boasts its hot springs every 15 minutes. What was really unique was Thingevellir- where the continental plates of North America and Europe meet. Interesting!!

Though it was summers here, but the cold arctic air made the weather so chilly and windy that we would be tremoring most of the times. We started our trip with the breathtaking landscapes of western fjords at isafjordur. This snow capped region is still a little less explored but is definitely not worth missing.

A treasure that i will always remember seeing is the Jokulsarlon, an isolated glacier lagoon at the realm of Vatnajokull glacier. It was a breathtaking view to see a lake just below a huge glacier where miniature icebergs were standing in a perfect poise to welcome the travellers from all over. Snow mobiling over these silver bright glaciers was a fun ride with a little adventure and wilderness. After dressing up in a snowsuit, we stepped into the super jeep (which i like to address as jeeps with heels) to fly across the Myrdalsjokull glacier with nothing in front but white vistas of the rugged mountains. we realized that these snow scooters were pretty simple- It was just a matter of squeezing the accelerator or the brake. This one was quite close to Eyjafjallajokull which marked the volcanic eruption of 2010 that caused disruption to air travel across Europe for six days.

On the south coast, we certainly could not get over the amazing black sand beaches at Vik, but Dryholaey needs a special mention. Perched upon this precipice were a variety of arctic birds. Whether you are a bird lover or just a bystander like me, spotting the peculiar Icelandic puffin is sure to please.

Not to forget Husavik in northern Iceland where we went as close as 20 miles before the Arctic circle to watch the Whales. We were lucky to see the Humpback surfacing time and again for us but i think on that oak boat ride, we definitely saw a little piece of heaven too which will remain engraved in my memory forever.

Driving 3000 km was really nice but what made me envious were those strong bikers and back packers who arrived with full zeal and eagerness to pitch their tents in Iceland's vast wilderness. I wish i can someday come back to this heaven but with such an adventurous spirit.

When my daughter Suhaani was making her project on animals, she asked me quite curiously as to why the arctic animals were only white and not as colorful as other animals. Now i shall go back and tell her that it is because they belong to a place thats totally divine.

Priti