The beautiful porcelain ware and the Faustian bargain

“People are busy talking and enjoying in the party. You feel good that you are invited to the party in which celebrities are also taking part. They look great in their expensive outfits and accessories. You feel good that you chose to wear the best Sari from your wardrobe. Your kids too looked great in their new dress. The wine is already served. The crystal wine glasses the celebrities are holding are sparkling. You walked to counter to take the wine. There are only a few crystal sparkling glasses  left. You are happy to get one of them. The kids are also delighted. The stage show started and the dinner is also served. You stayed near the stage since the kids wanted to enjoy the show for some time. Again you noticed the ware in which the dinner was served. The plates that the people were holding were exquisite. Never had you seen such beautiful crockery.

By the time you reached the counter where the dinner is served, the exotic ware were all taken. You are disappointed. Now you have no choice but to have food in the few plain wares which are left. Now the caterers are not willing to keep any good ware since the celebrities have all taken their food and they know very well who is a celebrity and who is not. Your children are also complaining. One of the kids managed to get one the good plates. He was as ecstatic as the other was whiny in not getting a good plate. You take food and walk to your table.

Suddenly you start to feel bad and conscious. You feel that others are watching you and one particular person who talked to you earlier is now trying to avoid your company. Now isn’t this is a clear message that you are not one of the special guests? Now you do not feel confident to sit in any of the special tables set. You chose a table at the corner. The food is great, you liked it. But it would have been great if you got one of those exquisite ware too…”

This is a fictitious scenario, but you would definitely face situations similar to this in many areas of our life. If you look at the situation objectively, the important thing here is the party and the great food that was served. The ware is only the container which should not in any way affect the taste of the food. But many a times the ware becomes more important than the food in our life– From the model of mobile phones, the car, the house, the dress, the pay of the job, the type of seat you reserved on the plane, the status of the family, the caste, the make of the watch to the type of pencil box, the school bag and where Papa took you this vacation. The list is endless, but it is enough to make us forget to enjoy the food.

We often go for the best valuation without looking at the other aspects like time, relationships, joy, contentment, convenience, relaxation etc. and run after the best pay, highest position, better model of car, the premium cosmetics, the exquisite jewelry and life befitting the status of the family. This proves to be a Faustian bargain earning us what we want, but ultimately draining us and depriving us of the ultimate goal of a wholesome, comfortable and content life. In our yearning for these, we forget that that these luxuries are means to a comfortable life. We tend to connect the luxuries to our identity and the Means ultimately become the End. 

I remember one story I read in this context. I do not remember the details correctly, but it goes somewhat like this. There was this particular place where the public could also take rides on the carrier which took people from the terminal building to the private aircraft, if they had a valid pass and ID. The author noticed a father and young son who were particularly enjoying the ride among the others who were all serious and sophisticated. The son was enthusiastically looking out of the widow while his father explained the little things that they saw. About the plane, how it flew, how they got the ticket and with each detail, the boy would laugh out loud with delight and ask more questions. The carrier reached the aircraft and the boy watched the people as they got down. The author asked the father whether he was not going to board the plane, to which the father replied:

“No, we are not. Ronny (I don’t remember the name in the story) loves to ride in this carrier. So we take this ride once in a while. He knows that I cannot afford to take him in the plane. We see almost the same things every time and I tell him little things. He just loves this and I love to see his joy.”

The father asked the son whether he wanted to go back to the terminal or wanted to take one more ride. The boy asked for one more round jumping with delight. The author was rather touched by the joy of the father and son and he bid farewell and walked to the plane.

One particular episode of the cartoon Phineas and Ferb- one of my favourite cartoons - gave a particularly touching message based on the experience of Candice- one of the main characters in the cartoon. It ends with note to the effect:  “The End definitely matters; but it is the Journey that matters at the End”.

This realization liberates us from a lot of stress and also helps us slow down in a lot of matters. It helps us fix our priorities and to look around and enjoy the little things around you. Then, the shopping before the picnic become a source of enjoyment and not a chore; the check in and clearance at the airport become a whole new experience and not the tiring procedure when you see the excitement and curiosity of your kids.

Each moment you have today counts

‘Cause “It’s the journey which matters”

Present is your Friend on whom you count;

Future is a Stranger; too far away to matter. 
- L. Joseph, June 2013