Amidst the driven world
Charging towards the finish line
Lifting the trophies
Charging towards the finish line
Lifting the trophies
Would that be adequate ?
Remember my previous story at Ingenio ? It was really a pleasant place to dwell, so I decided to overstay for some time to explore the town and the society. I befriend with one of the citizen, namely Pavel, and few days before I left, he told me about an upcoming event called Carri di Vita. From its name, one can suspect that it's some kind of race. In fact, it was a running relay race, which is never in my to-do-list. But this memorable tale started exactly with that...
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"Come on now Cis, let's join our team already !"
"That racing event again ? I wonder how many times you've been asking me this whole time !"
"Because.. it is unique ! It'll be nothing like you've ever seen or experienced in your life ! So.. how about that ?"
"Uh.. I'm not really into running so I guess no.. But I can come to watch you run. Okay, Pavel ?"
He sighed as a sign of disappointment. He had been trying to urge me over and over, especially since he knew I'd be leaving Ingenio soon. Believe me, he had exercised every persuasion tricks available, until he finally stumbled to my obstinate-self. But I did keep my promise and come to the event to see him running. And of course, to observe. I love observing people.
Anyway, let's fast forward to the D-Day. It was a perfect day for a race. Bright, but not too bright, and a little breezy too. The people who took part had gathered around the front gate of Ingenio, which is the starting line. Others stayed outside the track to watch their friends or family members. The route would be passing through the big roads in the city and so all major businesses were closed that day.
Before the race started, I took some time to chat with Pavel and wish him a simple good luck. As he smiled and jogged back towards his team, I told him that I'll be waiting on the other end. With this-is-just-another-mere-race-assumption in my head, I wouldn't have known that this event would mean something more, even with the addition of watching a friend from the sidelines.
After every runners of each team stood by on their own place, a huge bell on top of the gate was striked. The first runners immediately dashed their feet off the ground.
The clock kept ticking and Pavel's team had been decent so far, although might be proven not sufficient to win the entire race. But it was not until the relay stick finally arrived to Pavel's hand, and behold the amazement : As unbelieavable as it could be, he ran so fast and swift I thought he was flying. Like a mad cheetah hunting for its prey, he passed through one and another in front of him with ease. I didn't know he was endowed with such strength and pace.
The race went on, until Pavel was only about 10 steps behind the top runner. Wow, this should be the most epic moment of the race, I thought. It was not far from the finish line, and you might not expect something like this happened : the only person in front of him suddenly stumbled and rolled uncontrollably. The right foot was definitely injured as he held it in grimmace. Pavel, to my astonishment, slowed down his movement and stopped. Albeit being rejected initially, the poor guy finally accepted Pavel's invitation to support him as he balanced himself on one foot.
It wasn't long until the other runners overtook them. Yet, Pavel were hobbling sluggishly, but constantly while carrying the cripple until they finally reached the finish line together. Shortly after everything was over, I approached Pavel and was gonna ask him about what had just happened.
"Hey, you know that you can.."
Before I could finish my sentence, he patted me on the shoulder.
"Cis,..
I remembered clearly what he said to me at that instant,
"..I have fought a good race. I have finished my race."
And one can see a sincere joy coming from face while saying that.
Dazed by his words, my mind off to reflect for a while.
"That racing event again ? I wonder how many times you've been asking me this whole time !"
"Because.. it is unique ! It'll be nothing like you've ever seen or experienced in your life ! So.. how about that ?"
"Uh.. I'm not really into running so I guess no.. But I can come to watch you run. Okay, Pavel ?"
He sighed as a sign of disappointment. He had been trying to urge me over and over, especially since he knew I'd be leaving Ingenio soon. Believe me, he had exercised every persuasion tricks available, until he finally stumbled to my obstinate-self. But I did keep my promise and come to the event to see him running. And of course, to observe. I love observing people.
Anyway, let's fast forward to the D-Day. It was a perfect day for a race. Bright, but not too bright, and a little breezy too. The people who took part had gathered around the front gate of Ingenio, which is the starting line. Others stayed outside the track to watch their friends or family members. The route would be passing through the big roads in the city and so all major businesses were closed that day.
Before the race started, I took some time to chat with Pavel and wish him a simple good luck. As he smiled and jogged back towards his team, I told him that I'll be waiting on the other end. With this-is-just-another-mere-race-assumption in my head, I wouldn't have known that this event would mean something more, even with the addition of watching a friend from the sidelines.
After every runners of each team stood by on their own place, a huge bell on top of the gate was striked. The first runners immediately dashed their feet off the ground.
The clock kept ticking and Pavel's team had been decent so far, although might be proven not sufficient to win the entire race. But it was not until the relay stick finally arrived to Pavel's hand, and behold the amazement : As unbelieavable as it could be, he ran so fast and swift I thought he was flying. Like a mad cheetah hunting for its prey, he passed through one and another in front of him with ease. I didn't know he was endowed with such strength and pace.
The race went on, until Pavel was only about 10 steps behind the top runner. Wow, this should be the most epic moment of the race, I thought. It was not far from the finish line, and you might not expect something like this happened : the only person in front of him suddenly stumbled and rolled uncontrollably. The right foot was definitely injured as he held it in grimmace. Pavel, to my astonishment, slowed down his movement and stopped. Albeit being rejected initially, the poor guy finally accepted Pavel's invitation to support him as he balanced himself on one foot.
It wasn't long until the other runners overtook them. Yet, Pavel were hobbling sluggishly, but constantly while carrying the cripple until they finally reached the finish line together. Shortly after everything was over, I approached Pavel and was gonna ask him about what had just happened.
"Hey, you know that you can.."
Before I could finish my sentence, he patted me on the shoulder.
"Cis,..
I remembered clearly what he said to me at that instant,
"..I have fought a good race. I have finished my race."
And one can see a sincere joy coming from face while saying that.
Dazed by his words, my mind off to reflect for a while.
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Sometimes, we tend to rank ourselves against others. We want to have some sense of existence somewhere within our family, friends, or any community that surrounds us. And what we do, to achieve that goal, is working hard to grab awards, to pursue glories and then to show-off that 'glittering me' to others.
But have we allowed all means necessary in order to do so? Have we had time to show love to others when they need us ? When we are close to the end of our life, can we gladly say : "I have finished my race" ?
But have we allowed all means necessary in order to do so? Have we had time to show love to others when they need us ? When we are close to the end of our life, can we gladly say : "I have finished my race" ?
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I didn't regret any moment I come to Carris di Vita. As I was saying goodbye to Pavel several days after the race, I have learnt a substantial lesson that life, is not as simple as filling up your cup, but others', too. When one day, all of us realize this, peace is going nowhere distant.
With love,
"Cis Harry"
Thanks for the reminding message =D
ReplyDeleteBtw, the link at the beginning doesn't work, you should fix it I think =)
ah thanks for that !
ReplyDelete