A chance reconnect -- Heartfulness of Abundant Joy

March 05, 2024

This Sunday ( 3/2/24 ) , I was at a Federation that supports the needs of People with Disabilities ( Diverse abilities ). It was their District conference and I went there to make connections for my organization and leverage their federation .

While the meeting went on desired lines and as it was about to close formally , a young man who had lost both his hands got up on stage – He insisted that he had to speak – I did not recognize him instantly but as I stared at him . a little more intently , i told myself—Wow – I know this person. I rushed up on to stage and gave him a tight hug . now wind back seven or eight years back …….

------------------------------------------------ Flash back but no music as in movies---------------

Venkatesan the person who lost both his hands in an accident was the person on stage. I got to know him through a Rotary event. I took an instant liking for him .. This was sometime in 2013 and he was pursuing his PG. With such disadvantage , he wanted to complete his PG and then start working as a teacher. I kept in constant touch and helped him with material and resources to complete his PG. This included travel outside for his project .

Whenever I called him over mobile , he will not pick up instantly as he needed help from others to pick the phone ( Push Button mobile phones ).. He would call back and then we would have the discussion . He did complete his PG in 2016 or so and then was looking for a job as a teacher in his home district Dharmapuri ( a district in TN ) . He did not get a job quickly enough. Towards the later part of 2017 , I lost touch with him. I tried calling him many times but he did not respond at all.. He was in my thoughts but I had no way of connecting with him –

I was overjoyed to see him – I used to worry at times as to what happened to him during this period – My joy was more as he told me that he had a job as a teacher in his hometown itself and was married and had two children – He was so happy that he was doing what he liked as a teacher. He told that he lost his phone and with that all contacts etc. And he said , these days because of the smart phones I can pick up calls instantly ( Using the limbs to slide ) , Venkatesan s life is a story of true grit and determination to overcome odds come what may. Several people work through severe hardships and overcome them . And today , technology is playing a great part in helping these people with disabilities. Lot more can be continued to be done to help

Actually I did not see him the in the crowd at the event , but he saw me and then walked up stage to ensure that he shared the story of my support for him—

A chance meeting that really brought Abundant Joy to me – It is difficult to describe how one feels at that moment -- It just made my day and got my energy levels so high !

God is always kind 😊