611. Thank God!

"Mr. Prabhakar! Among the department managers of our firm, you are quite distinct" said Chndran, the General Manager.

Prabhakaran received the compliment politely, by remaining silent.

"In our firm, there are tasks common to more than one department. When such tasks are to be performed, other department managers evade their responsibility, by pointing their fingers to another department manager. 

"If this were a firm in private sector, such evasion of responsibility won't be possible. Since ours is a public sector firm, people are able to get away with shirking their responsibility. But, you are different. You readily accept any responsibility given to you. 

"Some times, I had asked you to do things not related to your department. Before assigning such a task to you, I had wondered whether you would say no, pointing out to me that the task was not related to your department. But you never did so. Every time, you have accepted the task and carried it out sincerely."

"After all, the tasks you have assigned to me are related to our firm's business" said Prabhakar, feeling slightly embarrassed by the General Manager's effusive praise.

"I am mentioning this because I felt that I should acknowledge and appreciate your attitude. Another thing I observed about you is that you would never say, 'Sir, this is very difficult. I won't be able to do this,' about any task. I myself would, when I encounter some difficult task, think that I may not be able to do it."

"I should thank God for this attitude of mine" said Prabhakar, smiling.

"Where does God come here?"

"When I was a boy, I was physically very weak. The primary school in which I studied was only about half a kilometer from my house. But, I would feel fatigued after walking even such a short distance. I used to rest for about an hour after returning from the school, before I could do anything else. 

"After completing the fifth grade, I had to join a high school, which was about two kilometers from my house. My place was a village. There was no bus facility to commute to the school. 

"If I were to learn to ride a bicycle and ride on it to the school, it would take some time. My father was not confident about my riding a bicycle safely. Above all, buying a bicycle was a luxury, given the economic status of our family at that time. 

"Therefore, after I had completed my fifth grade, my family decided that I discontinue my studies. But, I was keen to continue my studies. So, I pleaded with my father and got him to admit me in the high school.

"At that time, my father told me, 'After a few days, you will become physically exhausted and stop going to the school.' But I was determined to pursue my education, by withstanding any physical strain I may have to face. 

"In the beginning, walking to the school and returning by walk was very difficult. But I withstood the physical strain through sheer will power. Over a period, I was able to overcome the strain and feel normal. To everyone's astonishment, my constitution improved to a great extent and I gained the physical strength of a normal person of my age. 

"The lesson I learnt from that experience was that if one decides to take up a task, however arduous, with the determination and belief that one would be able to do it successfully, one would automatically gain the strength and the power to execute that job."

"You had used your experience resulting from your physical weakness to transform your weakness into a strength. Great! I will try to follow your approach" said Chandran, genuinely impressed by Prabhakar's narrative. "But, why did you say you should thank God for this?" he added.

"Was it not God, who gave me a weak constitution and presented me with the challenge to overcome weakness?" said Prabhakar.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 611 (in Tamil):
arumai udaiththu enRu asavAmai vENdum
perumai muyaRchi tharum.

Meaning:

Do not avoid a task because it is tough;

perseverance will bring glory.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nadaippayiRchi' by the same author.) 

Verse 612 (soon)
Verse 610