The Last Leg of the Journey

Some live only to cherish ambitions of success in this world, and die without seeing their dreams reach fruition. Sometimes the very objects of one’s desires elude one in this world. And if one finds what one seeks, it is the opportunity to derive full satisfaction from one’s finding that eludes one. Finders, then, are no better off than losers. Anyone who seeks the world is bound to lose out in the end. This is an undeniable fact of life, but few are those who realize it. How bankrupt man is, but how wealthy he considers himself to be. How uncertain life is, but what trust man invests in it. Man is proceeding inexorably towards the unknown country that lies beyond death, but he reckons that he can build success for himself in this world. How ignorant are those who consider themselves wise in the ways of the world. What failures are those who consider themselves among the highly successful. □ The setbacks of life can be a blessing in disguise On August 9, 1984, an Iranian airbus was hijacked to Rome. One of the 294 passengers was a baby, Nasifem Porham, from Tehran. On release, all the passengers were given a routine medical checkup. When Nasifem’s turn came, it was found that she suffered from a serious heart malformation needing an immediate operation. An Italian doctor said that the hijacking of the aircraft had probably saved the baby’s life, for her aliment had been unknown before she was released from the plane. The operation was expected to be performed in Rome by Italian doctors. The most powerful man in the world powerless before the weakest creature On the night of Sunday, August 30, 1984, a chirping cricket invaded the bedroom of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Regan. Both the First Man and Lady were awoken by its sound, but though Mr. Reagan went back to sleep, his wife Nancy could not. Thinking that the cricket must be hiding in some plants, White House custodians removed them from the room, but at 4 a.m. on Tuesday night, the cricket once again raised its chirping sound, and again Nancy Reagan could not get back to sleep. Only when the radiator vents were taken apart and sprayed with insecticide did the cricket fail to reappear, but it had left its mark: expecting to hear the cricket again, the First Lady stayed wide awake.