Beginning to Be

“It is I who must begin….

Once I begin, once I try –
here and now,
right where I am,
not excusing myself
by saying that things
would be easier elsewhere,
without grand speeches and
ostentatious gestures,
but all the more persistently
– to live in harmony
with the ‘voice of Being,’ as I
understand it within myself
– as soon as I begin that,
I suddenly discover,
to my surprise, that
I am neither the only one,
nor the first,
nor the most important one
to have set out
upon that road….

Whether all is really lost
or not depends entirely on
whether or not I am lost.”

– Vaclav Havel, Former President of the Czech Republic, Beginning to Be

It was a pretty good night yesterday at the Candlelight Vigil In Support of Revathi’s Freedom of Faith. The weather was a little windy after the rain. Slowly but surely, one by one … the Light Of Love, Hope And Solidarity gradually spread from one candle to another. Someone asked, “How does a candle light vigil like this make a difference?” Well, I suppose if it begins to make a difference in the one holding the candle that’s a pretty good start but it mustn’t end there. Familiar faces, a decent crowd. Nothing dramatic. A nice buzz. No shouting. A loud silence. Eyes watching. Stories exchanged. A simple message heard. Is anyone listening … REALLY listening? Or perhaps someone is watching?

“No racial or religious divide.

No ‘us’ and ‘them’.

Just Malaysians who cared.

There were no fiery speeches.

There was no need.

The light of love, hope and solidarity had spoken.”

It was a pretty good night. For that I’m thankful … and for many it’s a space created for them to make a concrete step in some way enter (or re-enter) the beginning to be … the afternoon before the evening, I kept hearing an ancient voice with freshness as it rained .. “Follow me!”