The Beggar’s Wisdom
Today, we live in a world of turmoil. Pandemics and racial tensions, politics and religion have all driven wedges through society. Fear and uncertainty are the order of the day. Radical disruption to the way we have traditionally lived our lives have made it a time where many people have been struggling to find peace of mind and happiness.
Amidst all this, I was in discussion with my colleagues on how we define and shape the new work environment. It then made me reflect on my own life — how Zoom calls and Microsoft Team meetings, working from home, and social distancing were affecting me and my life. My mind wandered back to a simpler time.
Many years ago, I had the good fortune of being accepted to a small university in upstate New York called Ithaca College. Having gone there as a freshman, I quickly became a part of the community, working at a very popular local café, frequenting the ‘townie’ bars, and working voluntary jobs with local charity organizations. Ithaca was a sleepy little lake town nestled at the tip of Lake Cayuga, which was also home to the much larger, Ivy league Institution, Cornel University.
During the four years I spent there, I made great friends who I now consider extended family and look back at that time as four of the most formative years of my life. Along the way, I had many life-changing experiences — some good, some not so good — but one of them, that started off rather innocuous, stands out for both its randomness and its timeless relevance.
The college was situated on South Hill, which meant if you were in town and you did not have transport, you were faced with a rather daunting climb up the hill that seemed to get to near vertical very late at night, especially if you had a few drinks in your belly.
After a particularly happy evening, and having missed the last bus home, I was trying to find my way up to campus. Although frowned upon, I was ‘hitching’ a ride, when a battered old station wagon stopped to pick me up. At first glance, it looked like the driver had his entire wardrobe in the back of his car, but seeing that he wasn’t a very intimidating man, I got in, fancying my chances of survival, should he turn out to be some axe-wielding psycho.
Once I got in, the driver introduced himself as a teacher in a high school and told me to excuse the state of the car as he was between homes and living out of it temporarily. We made small talk and then he asked me if I was happy in the US, and specifically, in a small town like Ithaca. Without any hesitation, I told him how I absolutely loved it and how I felt totally at home here. After a moment of silence, he went on to tell me this ‘fable.’
There was an old beggar who sat at the gates of a village. Everyone entering had to pass him. One day, while he sat there, a traveller walked up. On seeing him, the traveller asked the beggar “are the people in this village friendly?” The beggar responded with a question to the traveller, “were the people friendly in the town you just came from?” The traveller said, “No. They were nasty and unfriendly, and I hated being there, which is why I left seeking a new home.” The beggar replied, “the people here are much the same. You should leave while you have a chance. The people here will make you feel very unwelcome.”
The following day another traveller walked up to the beggar and asked him the same question about the village. The beggar responded with the same question in return. This traveller looked at the beggar and said, “I was really sad to leave my previous village as the people were so kind and nice and I was so happy there, but I had to leave because of my job, and I was left no choice.” The beggar smiled at the traveller and said, “The people in this village are warm and welcoming and you will find happiness and joy if you live here.”
In my Vodka sodden state, it took me a while to realize the moral of the story and the message the driver, who seemed to be running away from home, had given me.
Ultimately, it’s our attitude towards life that makes the difference. If we choose to be happy and look at life positively, the world around us will change in accordance.
The circumstances of me hearing this story were certainly ‘unconventional,’ but I will always cherish the message by the teacher who was transiting between lives and was kind enough to impart this gem of wisdom on a very drunk, young brown kid, hitching a ride up a very steep hill.