by Manjit Handa
When Newton saw an apple fall, everybody saw it and understood that it was inevitable as gravity did it all. They saw it fall and then they saw other things fall. They saw that not only does an apple fall, but anything up there was destined to return earth’s call.
A stone, a rope, a pear, a stick, whatever. Some of them came rapidly down; others took longer, depending on the air resistance. Some looked repulsive and others beautiful. For some it hurt when touching base, for some it was a smooth landing. Some came with a bang, others just whispered to the sand. The noisy ones were not a favorite of them all and yet nobody could deny the beautiful Niagara Falls.
Perhaps, the only ludicrous sight is a man falling from a height without any aid. With bungee and parachute it IS undoubtedly thrilling. But imagine slipping from the branch of a tree, a precipice or tumbling down a scaffolding? Even a fall from bed in sleep is not funny at all.
And yet there is the other fall that is so peculiar to the human race, the fall from compassion, virtue, kindness or benevolence, the one that triggers violence, bombings, murder, war and destruction. Of ending our own species? The fall that neither creates a thud, a bang or a twang. . . just an echoing silence, benumbing the sense of pain.
We have never learnt from history, so there is no point raising the question (which is sure to again fall flat). We are doomed . . . since the first fall from innocence.
But it is never too late. GRACE, do not let us plummet down. May we all understand the significance of that fall. Don’t you think when an apple fell, it expressed the message of humility?
Seize that foothold and hold on. . .
Manjit
