I get by with a little help from my friends.
When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes I all alone beweep my outcaste state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries And look upon myself and curse my fate Wishing me like to one more rich in hope Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope With what I most enjoy contended least, Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising Haply I think on thee- and then my state Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth,sings hymns at Heaven’s gate For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
–William Shakespeare
Several years ago, something amazing happened at the Special Olympics in Seattle. The race was the 100 yard dash and nine contestant, all with physical and mental disabilities, stood ready at the starting line. The gun fired and everyone took off, not exactly in a dash, but all eager to win. All, that is, except for one little boy who stumbled and tripped, then fell to the ground and begin to cry.
Hearing him, the other contestants stopped running to see what had happened. Then one by one, they turned around and went back to help him up.Every single one of them.
When he was back on his feet, dusted off and tears dried (one girl with Downs Syndrome had put her arms around him and kissed him gently, saying. “This will make it better.”), all nine children joined hands and the audience watched spellbound as they walked together to the finish line. Nine gold medals were awarded in that race and the crowd that cheered the winners on with a standing ovation learned something about friendship that day that they would never forget.
In the Karuna Vihar 2001 Calendar, we celebrate friendship. We celebrate the joy our children find in each other and the surprising depth of the love they share. We celebrate their delight in being together and their non-judgmental regard for one another. In watching them we become better friends ourselves – letting go of possessiveness and competition and learning that life isn’t about getting the gold medal for ourselves but about everyone finished together, even if it means slowing down, turning back and covering the same ground twice.
-–Jo Chopra
