Nobody Lives or Dies Unto Himself

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Khrietuonyü Noudi
 

 

In the 1990s when MTV was the hottest thing amongst the youngsters, a rap song called “it’s my life” was frequently aired in the channel and it became quiet well-known and popular among the Naga youths and many were heard and seen humming, singing and even dancing to the tune of the song. This song portrays an attitude of ‘my life is my life and whatever I do with my life is my wish and nobody has any business to say or interfere in whatever I do with my life”. I guess this was the reason why the song became popular amongst the teenagers and the youngsters because young people want to be free and wild and usually do not want interference or meddling in their lives.

 

   
But this song is actually a dichotomy to the reality of life because the universal truth is that “nobody lives or dies unto himself”. Whatever we do with our lives or how we live our lives has a direct or indirect bearing on others as well. We all have been put here for a purpose not only for ourselves but also to make an impact on others whether good or bad. Yes, we live in a rather contagious world and what we say with our mouths or do with our lives have the potential to impact and influence others for good or for worse. And how we live our lives and relate to others will ultimately determine whether we live a worthy life or a cursed one. 

 


Whatever a world renowned personality like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa says or does may be reported around the world and may have effects on millions across the globe. You and I may not be like those world renowned personalities that whatever we say or do impacts many. But that does not mean we are supposed to live our lives shabbily thinking that it does not matter to anyone or make a difference to anyone. The truth is that we all are here to write stories with the way we live our lives. And though what you say or do is not reported or publicized around the world, everyday your children are watching you and learning from you, everywhere you go people are observing and learning valuable lessons either intentionally or even subconsciously and therefore everyday is like an opportunity for us to write our own story for others to read. 

 


The statement ‘nobody lives or dies unto himself’ is a fundamental and universal truth and it has been there since the creation of man. And even throughout the early cradles of human civilization, it was this truth which made children learn from their parents and others around them. And in today’s time, this statement assumes an even more gigantic and colossal proportion because today we live in an age where communications happen at the tips of our fingers and at the touch of a mere screen.

 

        
When we talk about capturing images, we often relate to cameras and rightly so. But even before camera was invented and even before photos were ever taken, we were still able to capture images because all of us are born with an inbuilt camera in us. Yes, throughout a person’s lifespan he captures and records images everyday and everywhere. Our eyes are our natural inbuilt cameras and our brain is our natural inbuilt memory card. And what we see with our eyes and record in our brain stays with us and has profound impacts in shaping and moulding us into who we ultimately become. And this is why it is so important that our children are not made to see things that are inappropriate for their age. This is so because once these unruly scenes are captured and recorded in their memory cards, it may go on to have disastrous impacts throughout their lives. 

 


 I heard the story of an American pastor who once took his two children on a drive to buy them ice creams. After buying them ice creams, while he was driving out of the parking into the main street, an unruly traffic personnel stopped his car in the middle of the street and started abusing and reprimanding the pastor for no apparent reason. The pastor was so infuriated that he decided to give the guy a piece of his own mind. So he got out of his car totally prepared to confront the traffic personnel verbally or even physically if needed. But as soon as he stepped out, he realized that his two small children were in the backseat of the car. And so he decided that he would not let his children see their father arguing and fighting with someone in the middle of the street because he knew that his children will never forget the scene of their father arguing and fighting in the street and it would set a bad example for them. So the pastor cooled down, smiled at the traffic personnel and apologized even though he did not even know what his fault actually was.

 

  
Very often I hear some people saying “I am just a nobody”, “we are just ordinary people” or “what can I do I have no voice or influence?” But how can you be ordinary when you have been created in the image of God? How can you be ordinary when the words you say or the decisions you make can have profound impacts in the lives of your near and dear ones and  your children not only now but even in the generations to come. 

 


We think highly of those who are in the law-making business or in the administration. Of course these people have huge influences because the laws they make and the decisions they take will have far-reaching impact on the society and thousands of people. But let us know that even those who are not in the law-making business or administration can set precedents or take decisions that can alter the course of the society.

 

   
When the words you speak, the actions you take, the decisions you take and the way you live your daily lives are being monitored, captured and recorded everyday by the people around you and can have consequences not only in the present generation but also in the generations that are yet to come, how can one say that his life is insignificant or unimportant.        

 


Many images which I captured with my eyes and recorded in my memory card are still with me and continue to impact me profoundly. Some of these images make me laugh, some make me cry, some annoy and humiliate me and some continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation even after the passage of so many years. And I also know that I will go to my grave with all the images and memories I capture and record in my life. 

 


Every day of our life is like a new page wherein we are given the opportunity to write something in it. And whatever we write therein will be read by many including our children and people from near and far. Some may think that it is a secret book and not much people will read it. But the page is being read even as you write it. In other words, people will not even let you complete the writing first, they are actually following and reading every alphabet, every letter and every word even before you complete your sentence. Everyday and everywhere whether at home, at church or at work, whether working, resting, singing, dancing, celebrating or mourning, it is an opportunity for us to write a good story for ourselves and others.  

 

  
As the saying goes, “in the end it’s just only stories… so let’s make it a good one”. How true indeed! And in conformity with this, let me conclude with a Tenyiedie song which I heard years back. The song goes something like this:     

 

“Suo rei thedze chü
Vi rei thedze chütuo üdi
Lhou rü yaluo mu
Hai zodi tuo se Kijü-u pfüthe tieho…
Sie kelhoumia pfelha chütuo khe…..”

(Translated as:
“Unworthy also we are a story…
Worthy also we are a story…
For this only we live….
And we cross the world just like this …..
Let’s leave a noble flag for those who come after us”)