Bid adieu : Merry–go-round :

How joyous it is to be on a merry go round ! Being born in a country of festivals , each festival means  lots of fun and frolic  around. As children we have all enjoyed taking a ride on the “merry go round” with its painted horses  with later versions of all  kinds of  animals (in wood). Both  children as well as the elders under the hue of protecting their children from any possible fall  have  always enjoyed the ride with its spectacular rise and falls and a feeling of giddiness due to encircling and the great feeling of chasing the riders in the front. Even though many of the centuries old   entertainments and amusements have disappeared in the past few decades,  still  “merry go round” remains captive even though it has metamorphosed into different forms. It is also surprising that this is famous throughout the globe which is reflected through famous songs , articles and videos. Recently, I happened to listen to  a song in which a line appeared as “ Life is not a merry go round” which had a profound influence on me and gave a lot of different thought perceptions about this particular form of entertainment equally adored and cherished by children and elders. A few points are note worthy about the merry go round :

 It brings abundant joy to the rider and a sense of elation like riding a war horse  and no one wants to stop and get away from the ride.

 In addition to the joy, it makes you dizzy and exhausted as good as running a marathon.

ü You never know whether you are in the front or back of the ride ( many times we wonder weather every one else is chasing us or the other way !)

ü The thrill of  encircling in topsy turvy rides but reaching  the final destination at the same place where you started the ride !

ü    There is always a crowd waiting to board for the next session.

ü It is equally true that we can choose to ride any number of times, any day, at our choice.

Having said that, the merry go round has been compared innumerable times , with human life ,  by writers, singers and philosophers.  There is this inspiring song “life is a merry go round” by Donovan. There is a powerful existentialist school of thought stating that what matters is only the  ride and not the destination which is all about the human life ! That there is no real  meaning for human life ( Remember Con shaw and his persian carpet in “of human bondage” by somerset maughm).

Quite often, I am reminded of a famous song I enjoyed listening to in my younger days : “que sera sera”. It is about an interaction between an young child and her mother wishing to know what the child will become in future. The mother replies “ que sera, sera, whatever will be will be,  the future’s not ours, what will be, will be “. Later in the song, the now grown up child herself repeats the same line to her own little daughter , being unable to decipher the mystery of life. Just like the merry go round, the players seem to change every generation but the puzzle never seem to unfold !

During my college days, I came across a book titled “ growthless inflation by means of stockless money (capital)” written by the great development economist P R Bramanandha. This book is valid today also as great economists, development planners and Presidents try  to unravel the mysteries of  a welfare state. In the beginning of this book, there is a poem quoted which makes very interesting reading :

“growth and development mill went   up   the  inflation   hill to  fetch  a  pale of  bread and butter. growth fell down and broke his crown, development   came  tumbling   after ”

In  “the night of January 13th” play ,  by Ayn Rand, the heroine argues in the court “when governments do this, it is called deficit financing, but when an individual does it, you charge him with an act of  criminal misconduct ).

As economists, politicians and statesmen rival with each other to bring an equitable development and eradicate poverty and unemployment, it is only like the topsy turvy merry go round , but no destination reached !   Disasters, one after another strike the global economies and cause unemployment and poverty despite a general growth and development in nations around !

I asked myself whether life is just  a merry go round and we should take it easy and enjoy life or take a defeatist attitude of resignation ? One of the greatest and wise kings who ever lived, King Solomon says , “ Then I looked on all the works my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do : and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun”( The Holy Bible : Ecclesiastes  2 : 11).

The Holy Bible very clearly says that life is not a merry go round. God  created us to live a joyful and happy life and  to lead a life of integrity and honesty and brotherhood. We can not live this worldly  life again but we will be judged by God for whatever we have done during our life.  Yes, life has its own topsy turvy rides, but a truthful person, who keeps the commandments of the Lord, will be rewarded by God. Jesus Christ said “ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” ( Mathew 24:13). So, we shall not end up in the starting point at the end of the ride, but we will be rewarded for our works as it may deem fit by the Lord.   Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords , came into this world for each one of us to be saved. Even if we make a mistake during the ride, even if we have made only mistakes in most of our encircling rides in the merry go round, if we realize and confess our sins and be truthful, we shall be saved, as Jesus himself borne all our sins and suffered on the cross. However, in His second coming, Jesus comes as the King  and Judge.

“ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and righteousness. He judges and makes war. His eyes were like flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God” ( Revelation 19:11,12,13). Jesus Christ is the word of God.  Jesus Christ earned this glory by suffering for all our sins on the cross. Each time I commit an act of dishonesty or any act of disobedience of the covenants of the Lord, I should always remember, that, for my sins, Jesus Christ, the mighty God, was beaten and suffered death on the cross. “Therefore God also highly exalted Him ( Jesus) and given Him (Jesus) the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2 : 9). The great psalmist wrote a millennium before the birth of Jesus “ For You have magnified Your word above all Your name”. (Psalm 138:2)

My dear brothers and sisters, we are living in the end times ( end of the ride rather ! ). Jesus Christ is coming back as the Judge to dispense Justice. Please accept  Jesus Christ as your personal saviour, confess your sins and enjoy the life on this earth and also the new life in heaven. Because, when you accept Jesus, you become a new person (both your outer and inner person).

There was  a person called Abraham, who lived in the old testament days, who feared God and  was called the friend of God. It is mentioned in the Bible that God spoke to Moses face to face as one would talk to his friend ( Exodus 33:11). “Surely God will do nothing, but revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets ( Amos 3:7).   If you also become a friend of God, you will be able to answer your child definitely what she will be in future.

God  protects and blesses abundantly those who fear him and lead a righteous life. It is stated that   “ in his days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth” ( Psalm 72 : 7). God can  give you peace and  prosperity even in times of adversity in your life.

 Bid adieu, merry go round.