I was distressed, feeling deeply affected by the situation of war in Ukraine. But what could I do? The wars and power politics are played by the leaders.
What could an individual do?
Watch the news and get more distressed?
Protest and express rage?
Condemn and watch?
Write? Cry?
Turn to God? (and ask why wars happen
and listen to the laugh that it’s Humanity’s doing,
just look at the history.)
Or just offer prayers, and wait, and hope
for the war to be over?
What can one do?
Honestly, I don’t know.
I am sitting here, living my life, questioning it,
watching other people get on with their lives,
and I wonder,
How can they not be affected by this?
Why am I so affected by this?
I don’t know. I don’t know.
I am grateful that I wasn’t there to see
the effects of world wars 1 and 2.
I am grateful I don’t remember the Kargil war,
I would’ve been 9-10 years old then.
I am grateful I stopped watching all news
after I didn’t get admission in AFMC.
Silly me wanted to join the armed forces as
a doctor.
So what can one do?
What can one do?
I shuffle all music and the first song that starts playing,
says,
this courage won't bend,
nor will this yearning end,
so what if the destination seems afar,
so what if the road is foggy,
so what if the heart is lonely,
this courage still won't bend.
I listen to the song on repeat
for over 3 hours,
until each word sinks in.
There is no use in being distressed,
in feeling the rage or helplessness.
Because we aren’t helpless.
So what can one do?
Let not the courage bend or break.
Let not the flame of hope be extinguished
by the rage and distress.
We may not be able to stop the war,
or the leaders from destroying cities.
But we can keep the courage alive.
To create a better world,
instead of becoming cynical or
stopping participation.
[Here are 10 ways people power can change the world – an article on moblab]
Ask yourself and think on it deeply,
How can I create a better world?
Whatever the answer you arrive upon,
just act on it.
To all the people in Ukraine, and all the people around the world feeling distressed, helpless and dejected, don’t let the courage in your heart bend or break.
Courage, dear heart.
C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia)
The song I mentioned above is Ye Honsla from the movie Dor.
aditi premankit 