In So Many Words
I often see poor children in Pakistan who ride to school on old motorcycles with their fathers in the mornings. These worn-out motorcycles, which look as though they could break down at any moment, carry three or four children together with their father. Younger siblings sit one in front and one behind their father, while the eldest often clambers on from the back.
I remember one such scene where the eldest child, jumped up and tried to grab the edge of the seat but because of his small frame, he repeatedly fell back to the ground. Watching this, I found myself silently blaming the father. Why doesn’t he help his child, I thought.
Struggling and holding onto his sibling’s clothes for balance, the boy tried again but failed once more. Finally, he managed to climb on. His success might have been the result of his determination and effort, but the main factor was his father’s shoulders. By holding firmly onto his father’s shoulders, he found the strength to climb up. His father’s shoulders provided a stepping stone, enabling the boy to achieve his aim.
By holding firmly onto his father’s shoulders, he found the strength to climb up. His father’s shoulders provided a stepping stone, enabling the boy to achieve his aim.
Watching that scene, I was reminded of the term “priming water.” It refers to the small amount of water poured into a pump to draw up a larger supply. It is the beginning — a small catalyst that allows something greater to emerge. I realized that the father’s shoulders were the “priming water” for his child. Those shoulders provided the foundation and strength that prevented the boy from falling and allowed him to succeed. When we are young, the shoulders of our parents are the entire world to us.
In our own lives, are we not also moving forward towards our dreams, regaining strength when we stumble, because of the sturdy shoulders of someone in our past? I realize that there is no need to worry about what I do or my limitations. Through small acts of daily kindness, we can make God’s love known, felt and experienced. We can be light and salt for others. Offering one’s shoulders for others to lean on — that is love.
Columban Sr. Julietta Choi lives and works in Pakistan.
