Your apology alone covered the cost

Today, afternoon, I had planned to meet my old friends Kunal and Sanjeev. They are part of the Somascan community. I’ve always believed that nothing happens by accident in life. Every action and reaction has a purpose and meaning. For Christians, someone who leaves the seminary is often seen as committing a grave mistake. Though perceptions have changed a lot, the after-effects are still tough to bear.

I left the seminary in 2019, during my second year of college. I was allowed to study at Dharmaram College, so I stayed with my uncle. Life outside the seminary was completely new to me. After living six years in a religious community, I didn’t know how to mingle with people, talk to girls, use a smartphone, or even withdraw money from an ATM. My uncle had a tough time teaching me everything.

Life after the seminary wasn't easy for me. I felt isolated, but Kunal and Sanjeev came into the picture. They played a vital role in my life. Despite knowing my mistakes and quirks, they never gave up on me. They were from another religious congregation called the Somascans. They barely had 200-300 rupees a month to fulfill their needs, yet they noticed my struggles. I didn’t have money for lunch, so I often slept in the classroom. They saw this and would take me to a hotel to get food.

Some people come into our lives during bad times and stay as our backbone, while others leave when things get tough. I read somewhere that it's easy to accept the rose, but only a great mind embraces the thorns too. Kunal and Sanjeev accepted my thorns.                     

On my way to SG Palaya to meet them, a scooter guy hit my bike from behind. I understood it was a mistake, but instead of arguing, I just laughed it off and moved on. When I was almost at my destination, I forgot to put on the indicator and made a sudden left turn. A guy on a Bullet bike wearing a red t-shirt hit my bike. I was about to fall but somehow managed. I had a few small injuries on my hand, but his indicators and headlight were broken.

I was scared. He was physically fit and had local support. People gathered around him. I parked my bike, approached him, and genuinely apologized first. He said it was fine. I offered to pay for the damage, but he refused, saying, “Your apology itself paid the amount. No worries, you can go.”

As a Christian, I daily recite this prayer, “Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The highlight of the prayer is forgiveness. If you forgive, then only your trespasses will be forgiven. I was able to forgive the scooter guy, and here, despite having every right to take money from me, threaten me, or use his local support, the Bullet guy forgave me. Asking for and giving forgiveness is a miracle. Sometimes, just a simple "sorry" is enough.

I was literally crying after this incident while going to meet my friends. The way he treated me was a miracle. I wanted to take a selfie with him, but given the situation, I didn’t ask. It might have been a different, graceful experience for me, but not for him. After this, I made an honest decision: I will always use my indicators while turning.

As Buddha once said, anger will not decrease anger; only love can do that. Love has various forms. Sometimes it takes the form of forgiveness and kindness, And sometimes it takes the form of Silence. Everyone wants the universe to be a happy place. Everyone wants to be treated well and respected. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” When you change, the universe will change. Be a miracle in someone's life. A little more kindness can change everything. 

Wishing you a blissful and blessed life 😌