Air Commodore Vishal was a Jet Pilot. In a combat mission his fighter plane was destroyed by a missile. He, however, ejected himself and parachuted safely. He won acclaims and appreciations from many.
After five years one day he was sitting with his wife in a restaurant. A man from another table came to him and said, "You're Captain Vishal! You flew jet fighters. You were shot down!'
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Vishal.
"I packed your parachute", the man smiled and replied. Vishal gasped in surprise and gratitude and thought if the parachute hadn't worked and, I wouldn't be here today.
Vishal couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. He wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said "Good Morning, how are you? or anything because, he was a fighter pilot and that person was just a safety worker".
So friends, who is packing your parachute?
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day.
We need many kinds of parachutes when our plane is shot down - we need the physical parachute, the mental parachute, the emotional parachute, the spiritual parachute and the financial parachute. We call on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important.
We may fail to say hello, please or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment or just do something nice for no reason.
As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognise the people who pack your parachute.
I just want to THANK everyone who packed my parachute one way or the other - through your words, deeds, prayers.
Tailpiece.
The day had begun at 4, with Lekha's cellphone alarm going off. We - Lekha, Sanil, Mini and I - went through our chores and kicked off for Thiruvananthapuram, on the dot, at 7. The traffic was manageable, we stopped short of Kilimanoor for a snack and a cup of tea around a quarter to 8. Reached Indira kunjamma's house by 9 where Kripa-shankar and Reshmi were waiting for us. The youngster has become quieter but was quick with his repartee.
After breakfast, barring Sanil, we pushed off to the Foundation where I'd handed over the scrutinised proof to Maman. Got the good news that Chambu had picked up a job. Lekha and Mini, took off for the Padmanabhaswamy temple but since it was crowded, they'd gone across to the Attukal temple!
We, then, went across to the Poojappura traffic circle where frantic preparations were on to install Muthachhan's statue and I'd the privilege to meet up with the sculptor, Sidhan. After discussing about the related programme, I'd returned to Indira kunjamma's house where a quick lunch was served.
Our next stop was at Paravoor where we spent about 45' with Kurup kochachhan. He remembered me through his bouts of forgetfulness! When I took leave of him, he asked me as to whether we could stay some more time with him and we just complied with that directive of his! And he looks sweet and quite okay. The male nurse, Vijayan Kurup, tends him well.
We were back at Raj Nivas by about a half past 5 and it was a quiet evening thereafter.
After five years one day he was sitting with his wife in a restaurant. A man from another table came to him and said, "You're Captain Vishal! You flew jet fighters. You were shot down!'
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Vishal.
"I packed your parachute", the man smiled and replied. Vishal gasped in surprise and gratitude and thought if the parachute hadn't worked and, I wouldn't be here today.
Vishal couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. He wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said "Good Morning, how are you? or anything because, he was a fighter pilot and that person was just a safety worker".
So friends, who is packing your parachute?
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day.
We need many kinds of parachutes when our plane is shot down - we need the physical parachute, the mental parachute, the emotional parachute, the spiritual parachute and the financial parachute. We call on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important.
We may fail to say hello, please or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment or just do something nice for no reason.
As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognise the people who pack your parachute.
I just want to THANK everyone who packed my parachute one way or the other - through your words, deeds, prayers.
Tailpiece.
The day had begun at 4, with Lekha's cellphone alarm going off. We - Lekha, Sanil, Mini and I - went through our chores and kicked off for Thiruvananthapuram, on the dot, at 7. The traffic was manageable, we stopped short of Kilimanoor for a snack and a cup of tea around a quarter to 8. Reached Indira kunjamma's house by 9 where Kripa-shankar and Reshmi were waiting for us. The youngster has become quieter but was quick with his repartee.
After breakfast, barring Sanil, we pushed off to the Foundation where I'd handed over the scrutinised proof to Maman. Got the good news that Chambu had picked up a job. Lekha and Mini, took off for the Padmanabhaswamy temple but since it was crowded, they'd gone across to the Attukal temple!
We, then, went across to the Poojappura traffic circle where frantic preparations were on to install Muthachhan's statue and I'd the privilege to meet up with the sculptor, Sidhan. After discussing about the related programme, I'd returned to Indira kunjamma's house where a quick lunch was served.
Our next stop was at Paravoor where we spent about 45' with Kurup kochachhan. He remembered me through his bouts of forgetfulness! When I took leave of him, he asked me as to whether we could stay some more time with him and we just complied with that directive of his! And he looks sweet and quite okay. The male nurse, Vijayan Kurup, tends him well.
We were back at Raj Nivas by about a half past 5 and it was a quiet evening thereafter.
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