I often see poor children in Pakistan who ride to school on old motorcycles with their fathers every morning. Yet, to my eyes, this scene carries a different weight. On these worn-out motorcycles, which look as though they could break down at any moment, three or four children ride together. Two younger siblings sit on either side of their father, while the eldest struggles to climb on from the back.
The oldest child, with his small frame, jumps and tries to grab the edge of the seat, but he repeatedly fails and falls back to the ground. Watching this, I found myself silently blaming the father. Why doesn’t he help his child? I thought.
Struggling and holding onto his sibling’s clothes for balance, the boy tries again but fails once more. Finally, he manages to climb on. His success might have come from his determination and effort, but the main factor was his father’s shoulders. By holding firmly onto his father’s shoulders, he found the strength to climb up. His father’s shoulders became a solid stepping stone, enabling the boy to overcome his struggle.
Watching this scene, I was reminded of the term “priming water.” This refers to the small amount of water poured into a pump to draw up a larger supply. It is the beginning — a small catalyst that allows something greater to emerge. And I realised that the father’s shoulders became that “priming water” for his child. They provided the foundation and strength that prevented the boy from falling and allowed him to succeed. When we are young, the shoulders of our parents are the entire world to us.
In our own lives, are we not also moving forward toward our dreams, regaining strength when we stumble, because of the sturdy shoulders of someone in our past? I realise that there is no need to worry about what I do or my limitations. Through small acts of daily kindness, we can make God’s love known, felt, and experienced. We can be light and salt for others. Offering one’s shoulders for others to lean on — that is love.
By Sr. Julietta Choi for Far East Magazine