I'm the Beacon

For most of us the candlelight is the beacon as the long spells of load shedding gather us around the candles and dimly lit bulbs running on inverters or generators. It is sad that we have yet to switch over to the alternative means of energy like the wind, solar or coal energy (which we have in abundance lying untapped for years altogether).

While we have acute scarcity of electricity and nothing seriously seems to be done by the successive governments, we at our own end are also no helping. A friend who recently visited Australia told me that all markets and shops close at sunset to conserve electricity and fuel (since people wont go out as all markets would be closed). And what do we do? Go anywhere even late at night in Karachi, Lahore or any other big city and one would find all places brightly lit,  and people thronging every place that has something to sell. Hotels  and eateries are open even very late at night, some can even be visited early in the morning.

We need to change our life style, sleep early by closing our shops at best by 8pm and getting up early. Till we do that, there will continue to be electricity shortage and the candles would continue to be our beacons. No?

My Photography (Taken from Flickr: Jalalspages )

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When Sun Sets, Electricity Takes Over

Photo Courtesy: Jalalspages
(Added in Explore)

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Why Worry?

There are people around us who worry too much and work too less. While worrying is OK for a human being as he has sentiments and not a lifeless thing, excessive worrying means lack of confidence in oneself and also lack of faith in our Creator. Man is destined to hard work for which the Nature has promised a befitting reward. I have seen people lamenting that while they do their best and pray for their wishes to be fulfilled, no divine help seems to be forthcoming to redress their grievances or misfortunes. Although, it is very difficult to console such people as humans have a limited endurance and patience and cannot sustain long drawn battle lines with miseries and misfortunes. But in the end, everything revolves around patience and faith. That is why when someone loses a near or dear one, or faces a set back in business, others around him only advise him for patience or what we call “Sabr”.  And that is all one can do to help the one in distress.

However, there are a few, who have strong and unflinching faith in the Nature and their Creator and whenever some harm comes to them or are in a distress, they would be looking towards the Heavens since they believe that “If Allah brings you to it, He will bring you through it”. A simple thing to read but very difficult to believe by those who lack faith.  I saw this unflinching faith in my late father (may be blessed) who all along his life did his utmost in anything he was to do, and then sat back since he knew that from then on, the Nature had taken over and whatever would descend, it would be acceptable to him. We went through hard times, but I never saw his faith wavering even for a nanosecond.  He would often advise me that “Whatever is to be given to you (or whatever is in your destiny) cannot be taken away by someone, and whatever is not to be for you, no one could give it to you – so never worry and have faith”.

We need to start building on to our faith thing and start to really understand that if we are pitched against a wall, a hole can be created through the wall for us to go across only if we know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel for those who believe and have faith.

Want to try the faith thing from now on?

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Should we feel depressed?

 

The other day when the militants had a rollicking time in Lahore hitting the FIA’s office and the Elite Police Training Centre, a dear friend of mine who happened to have his office near the Police Training Centre sounded depressed and morose and confided that he felt scared of what all was happening in the neighbourhood. And my immediate reaction was “Why are you depressed? This is what the militants want – instil a feel of depression among the masses so that they pressurize the government to give in to the militants.” Although the events are pinning everyone down, there is no time for despair of being depressed – in stead we should feel concerned and stand up to the threat of these mercenaries / hired assassins who are working at the behest of countries averse to Pakistani nuclear programme or taking a revenge of some old scores.We also need to crate awareness among us so that we are better prepared for many such incidents in future as the “enemy” is very well paid and well backed, supplied with weapons, munitions and communication equipment  far better that than held with the security forces. The FM radio network in Swat remains un-jammable for long as we do not the right kind of equipment to do so. So all we need to do is stay united and do not allow wedges to be created into ourselves, both physically and mentally. It would only then that a spirit will be fostered to beat back the militants.

Remember – there is always bright light at the end of the tunnel. And this reminds me of the theme song of the feature film “The Poseidon Adventure”, which went on something like this: 

There's got to be a morning after, If we can hold on through the night

We have a chance to find the sunshine, Let's keep on looking for the light. 

Oh can't you see the morning after? It's waiting right outside the storm

Why don't we cross the bridge together, And find the place that's safe and warm. 

It's not too late, we should be giving, Only with love can we climb

It's not too late, not while we're living, Let's put our hands out in time. 

There's got to be a morning after, We're moving closer to the shore

I know we'll be there by tomorrow, And we'll escape the darkness

We won't be searching anymore.

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