Al-Risala (English), May-June 2001

opportunity seldom knocks twice. Success, in other words, means the immediate exploitation of existing opportunities. No one can make his start from yesterday. If a start is to be made, it must be from now, today. Those who choose to live in the past can expect little other than a steady deterioration of their circumstances and final annihilation. Forget lost opportunities and learn to make full use of the chances of today. Just remember that the day once gone is gone, never to return, and you may expect no quarter to be given you by the relentless march of time. Strike while the iron is hot, and success will surely come your way. □ The Learner-Teacher Having a mission in life is the greatest spur to achievement. Within a few days of landing in Bombay, in November 1922, a young Spanish priest by the name of Fr. Henry Heras found himself in the presence of the St. Xavier’s College, Bombay. He met the principal of the college. The young priest was a historian, and had a degree in Spanish history. “Which branch would you like to teach?” the principal asked him. “Indian History,” Fr. Heras replied. “What do you know about Indian history?” The principal asked him. Fr. Heras said he knew nothing “How, then, are you going to teach it?” “I shall study it.” Fr. Heras answered. To those who knew that he had a degree in history from Spain, it might have seemed strange that he did not just choose a branch of the subject with which he was thoroughly familiar, then settle into a comfortable teaching routine which would bring him his salary with the minimum of effort. Strange indeed, until one discovered that his purpose in doing so was to bring