Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Mystery

It is defined as "Something that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma".

It can be found everywhere. It is a mystery, when you can't find your keys that you know you had placed right on the table. It is a mystery, when you can't figure out the solution to the problem you think you should have been able to solve. It is a mystery, why your mother does the dishes each night when the servant will turn up the next day anyway.

It is a mystery, why the guy next to the water cooler looks so anxious all the time. It is a mystery, why your boyfriend, who is so logical and clear headed, just can't stop being over possessive. And it is a mystery, why you need to know what baffles you. We are surrounded by mystery. It is with us, around us, outside of our reach, and within us. It puzzles, baffles, infuriates and saddens. And yet, without it, life wouldn't be itself.

The question isn't what the mystery is. It is not even what the most important and darkest mystery is. The question is - when you are confronted by one, how do you deal with it? Do you tell yourself "Who cares" and ignore it? Do you puzzle over it occasionally, like when you are doing your laundry? Or do you make it your top priority and don't give up until you have solved it?

Some of us, resort to ignoring. After all.. somebody did say "Ignorance is bliss". We feel that life is complicated enough, and we have too many things to worry about anyway. So why add to the load? Some others, wonder occasionally. And hope that the answer comes to them, eventually. Some of them succeed. Some mysteries are like eggs... they are best left to be hatched by time. Breaking into it would be... a waste of time.. and beauty.

But few of us, confront these mysteries. Particularly- the most scary ones. We know, that we may not like what we find. We know, by instinct, that the mystery can't be solved unless we get personally involved. And we plunge into the bottomless pit, knowing fully well that it may not be a soft landing, and when would there be a landing at all.

We plunge, because we feel tormented. We feel like the answer is staring at us in our faces but we are not able to recognize it. We feel that unless we know, we cannot rest. We cant rest because either we want our life to go back to normal, or we want life as we know it, to change forever. And it is these plunges we take that define the turning points of our lives. People who do take these chances, may not emerge successful always. But the turbulences in their minds do settle down. And it is for the sake of those still waters, that they take the plunge. Life becomes exciting and meaningful when it has a purpose. Trying to find answers to life's mysteries gives an insuperable thrill, a purpose and a direction that we crave.

So the next time you feel that incessant knocking at the corner of your mind, think twice before ignoring it. That is your instinct knocking... and it is never wrong. Trust it, befriend it, and follow its direction.

"When you have solved all the mysteries of life you long for death, for it is but another mystery of life" - Kahil Gibran