Tempest of Questions!!

 

Jeff’s latest painting was the piece de resistance of the art exhibition-a small boat getting whirled around by a tempest with questions marks floating on the waves..After the buzz of the event, Jeff slowly made his way back home…

Later that evening he met up with Jill. They sat by the beach. As the waves crashed on the shore, she tried to prod him about his morbid past…

“I know you’ve been to hell & back every other day..But, why don’t you just forgive everyone?”, Jill asked.

Jeff replied hesitantly-“I did, but then they took everything for granted & messed things up beyond repair!!..I don’t know why I did so the first time…Forgiveness is a powerful tool in this life, you should know exactly what to forgive & what not!! Let’s not talk more on this, I prefer not to..”

The two friends drove through the city…The neon signs flashing, city life blurring past the windows, some random Indie rock song blaring from the stereo set…

Jeff’s small apartment was where he worked on his pieces. He had this routine, where he would pour his heart out on paper & then paint based on what he had jotted down. Jill, was privy to this routine. As they were sipping hot chocolate, she took the paper lying near the lampshade & read the cursive notes..

Should I call this ‘Sea of circumstances’ or ‘Tempest of questions’??

We’re all tossed about on the sea of circumstances. Some of these are of our own design & others slapped upon us by destiny. With each wind of uncertainty blowing, we’re left with no choice but to adjust our sails, hoping that we won’t drift too far from safer shores. But then sometimes, safe shores also get hit by Tsunamis, then where exactly is a safe haven from life’s merciless travails?? This tempest of questions is coming on strong… Can you define anything in this sojourn called life?!!

Trust- I read somewhere that trust (in others) is like a glass ball, if you don’t hold it carefully it will hit the ground & scatter into pieces. Once you lose trust in a relationship, it’s well-nigh impossible to build it up again. Your money, job, & social status are like rubber balls. If they fall from your hands they may bounce & come back to you. But if you trust yourself not to go astray, but do so, will you trust yourself again? Do you have options then? Will your frantic efforts to piece together faith in yourself wound your soul irreparably??!!

Collateral damage is inevitable in life, when you’re fighting for something & hence against something, you’ll end up hurting innocent people. Sometimes, we do this so badly, it’s hard to forgive ourselves. But life only gets manageable when we do let go of the pangs of remorse & start over on shaky legs, forgiving, hoping for a chance to make amends…But are these chances guaranteed? Will these chances drift away while life distracts us otherwise?  

Expectations- Don’t expect others to know what you expect of them. No matter how clearly you explain it to them, they will perceive it through their private filters, & leave you jaded. Instead, know what you expect of yourself, take small steps to meet these expectations…What if some expectations overshadow your very existence??What if others’ expectations suck out all the life from yours??

Norms- what someone else considers to be normal, could be jarringly weird in your eyes & vice versa. Does this word have any meaning at all?

When the door behind you closes, what do you do? Spray paint the walls? Break open a window? Where exactly do you let hope percolate into your soul, before making your next move?

Forgiveness- What is it? Can you not partially forgive an act & find more of solace than completely forgiving it?

Love- Does it blind us from the mine fields that we’re destined to walk on? Does it insulate us from unbearable pain? Is it just a chemical reaction or a genetic urge?

Principles- Are they life jackets on these stormy seas? With neon lights guiding us at night? Do they sway in anger or when tempted by desire??

If your soul’s ablaze, do you need to jump in ice cold water or look in a mirror to see the weird beauty of it all?

How much is this moment really worth if you rip away every material possession, every deep desire & every insecurity you ever held??