Curiosity – Courage – Confidence
On the college day, we look back what we have gained in the past one year and we look forward what we dream of achieving in the future. On this day of joy and celebration I want to share with you three words: Curiosity, Courage, and Confidence.
Curiosity: Prof Noboru Fujii in Japan was curious about the effect of a black yeast like fungus (Aureobasidium Pullulans) in 1980. After much study and research his group came up with it as a food supplement in 1996 and in 2018 it became beta-glucan, which is today a boon to the autistic children, especially for increase in sleep duration as well as in motor concentration. It was recently published in the British Medical Journal. I can give you another example: Wilhelm Roentgen, Professor of Physics in Wurzburg, Germany accidently discovered X-ray in 1895. He was surprised to notice that an incandescent green light could pass through most substances but leave shadows of solid objects. At that time, as he did not know what the rays were, he called them ‘X,’ meaning ‘unknown’ rays. As this is the story of X-rays. Curiosity, when accompanied by keen observation and critical thinking, brings in creativity.
Courage: Then, curiosity leads to courage. In the science fiction novel The Sparrow, D.H. Russell, describes how a Jesuit became curious when he received a few musical notes from the space in his electronic system. His curiosity made him pick up courage to go to the newly discovered planet Rakhat in the space; find out the people who made musical notes; made contacts with them; and came back. The space journey lasted, in our time-frame about 17 years.
Similarly, one of the most famous books in Homer’s Odyssey is The Story of Ulysses and The Sirens. While returning home from the Trojan war, Ulysses encounters the Sirens, whose singing bewitches sailors and lures them to their deaths. Ulysses instructs his men to plug their ears with beeswax and to tie him to the ship’s mast and then he orders them, under no circumstances, to follow his command, while passing the Siren’s rocky islands.
Confidence: Finally, courage brings with it confidence. When Einstein was asked, “Suppose your prediction in the theory of Relativity had been refuted?” “In that case,” answered Einstein, “I’d have to feel sorry for God, because the theory is correct”. An additional advantage with confidence is that it could absorb disappointment. Einstein was not given Nobel Prize for the Theory of Relativity due to discrimination and politics. But he went on with his scientific pursuit. After some delay, he was given Nobel prize for the Photo Electric Effect with the condition, he should not talk about Relativity during his acceptance speech. But history has it that the King of Sweden, who came in person for the award ceremony, requested Einstein to speak on Relativity.
Disappointments are unavoidable in life. Sometimes what looks like an obstacle in your path might be actually a gift meant to lead you in a different but better direction. You have to find for clues of success amidst failures. This is identifying the rumble in a rubble. Disappointment is proportional to expectation. When you fall in spirit due to disappointment, fall like a seed but come up like the tree that sprouts from the fallen seed. It is often said: There is no free lunch. If someone offers you something, they would expect something else in return now or later. But you give, as St Ignatius would say, without counting the cost and without expecting anything in return. Your reward would be your satisfaction that you could offer something to someone in need. Do everything with a good heart and expect nothing in return and you will never be disappointed in life.
Above all be conscious always: Make one day at a time and take one step at a time – A journey of thousand miles begins with the single step and that first step might start with curiosity but you should make your way picking up courage all along and leading others, as leaders, with confidence. Remember the mesmerizing words of Swami Vivekananda: Mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred, and jealousy. But it is the treasure box to keep love, happiness, and sweet memories. And now, you take home the sweet memories of Loyola as you go home and let your light shine.
This light is your gratitude-radiating love and harmony. We are the integrated product of this nature and the society. We need to be thankful to all. Remember the Aesop story of The Lion and the Mouse. When one day the lion caught the little mouse for his snacks, the mouse pleaded for mercy and the lion let her go. The mercy of lion was paid by the mouse by freeing the lion when it was caught in a hunter’s net but cutting through the net by her sharp teeth. We need to pay back the society more than we have received from the society – Have a special heart for the poor and the needy. Whether your help is little or great, whether you help a few or many – do it with social gratitude. Then, you would be planting unity and harmony in the hearts of people you encounter and that way you would be planting the seed of transformation in the society. When you wish good for others, good things come back to you. This is the law of nature. Go forth and do your best. Be happy and make others happy. Happy College Day.
Francis P Xavier SJ
31May2022