TOUCHING THE HORIZONS

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

TOUCHING THE HORIZONS

  

Suppose, one happens to be on the seacoast on the east in the morning. In that case, he/she will be able to see the Sun rising from the seawater at the horizon, and on the west in the evening, one can witness the Sun sinking into the seawater below the horizon. The scenic beauties of the unique Sunrise and Sunset are Nature’s magic. Again, the azure sky painting the seawater with the blue is a fabulous marvel. The normal sight of the sky gently kissing the seawater will be a spectacular one for nature/sky gazers from the seacoast. What a splendid and splendour panorama or vista that will be! Is it possible for a human to touch the horizon by flying in the air to that spot, or is it feasible to swim across the sea and touch the horizon? Both are well-nigh impossible as the horizon as such is non-existent, isn’t it? But, alas, even though the sky and the sea look like constantly in touch with and greeting each other, it’s only a visual fallacy and optical illusion like a mirage. However, these experiences do widen the ‘horizons’ of one’s joy and excitement.

 

The term ‘horizon(s)’ is mostly used as an idiom. It is used as a spirit uplifter.  To qualify or rate an exceptionally intelligent person, we may say he/she has reached and touched the horizons of knowledge (on particular subjects) and even beyond with marked success. The same usage holds good for praising stalwarts in any field. We call them experts who explore and exploit the latent, invisible, intangible, unexplored, unchartered, and rare possibilities that lie beyond one’s imagination and make achievements over the horizon in their sphere of activity. That sky is the limit is no longer valid for them.

 

A great positive saying is: ‘One is able to see great hope beyond the horizons.’ Again, ‘We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon, but only some go beyond the horizon.’

 

A visionary only could think out-of-the-box and beyond the horizons, and achieve for today and tomorrow.

 

Let me quote here an inspirational saying of Norman Vincent Peale: “Aim for the sky, and you will hit the mountaintop.”

 

In the inspirational movie ‘The Theory of Everything’, Stephen Hawking, portrayed by Eddie Redmayne, is confined to a wheelchair due to his struggle with a motor neuron disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Remaining undaunted, unflustered, and nonchalant despite his long-term ill-health preventing his normal physical movements and activities, he navigated his physical limitations and continued to pursue his passion for physics and became an award-winning scientist. The film explores the power of resilience in the face of adversity, highlighting the beauty and complexity of human relationships and the enduring human spirit, even when faced with profound life challenges. Not just that, it highlights the importance of dignity and values of life, ardent and deep hopes, human spirit, power of perseverance, nuances of relationships, analytical thinking, open-mindedness, and above all, the ‘never-say-die’ attitude and approach to scale the horizons of success in life.

 

Although it looks like a MAGNIFICENT, MAGICAL, and MYSTERIOUS MARVEL for the viewers to MAKE MERRY and even considered a MIRACLE by the discerning MINDS, still, the ‘horizon’ is only a MISMATCH and MISNOMER. The sky and seawater neither MEET nor MINGLE with each other as they appear to MUNDANE MAN. The MANNER and MODE the MANOEUVRES take place in the sky, and how they MAINTAIN the regularity METICULOUSLY and MARVELOUSLY is MIND-BOGGLING. It is, in fact, a MISREAD and MISUNDERSTOOD MODEL. How they MANAGE to MANIFEST as a MAGICAL spell is MIND-BLOWING. Although they appear to MAKE a MAD DASH, it’s only a MAKE-UP and not a MATCH-UP. It is rather a MYTH and a MATERIAL MISTAKE. MOTHER Nature has the MIGHT to MAKE MUCH MORE, which you can’t afford to MISS. It’s only a MIX-UP and not a MEASURE-UP. Needless to say, there are MYRIAD of MOOT points to MOTIVATE and inspire people to excel in a field and touch the horizon. It's a virtual MAGNIFYING glass to see the right path,  move ahead, and reach the desired destination.

 

"If you can't see the stars twinkle in the night sky, it does not mean that they have disappeared. They are just behind a blanket of clouds, and you will see them shine again." This is a motivational sentence from a song by Ellie Holcomb titled "When I Felt the Light of the Moon". See how briefly yet forcefully the point is expressed. 

 

A flower never knows how beautiful and fragrant it is. The sea never knows how deep it is and is home to innumerable living creatures. The sky never knows how long it is. Nobody knows how important each and every day God gives us.

 

Clouds may eclipse the whole azure sky at times, but the sky never misses reappearing; even after thunder bangs and lightning strikes, it suffers no cracks or gets dislocated or never falls down or loses its majestic might and grandeur.

 

Yes, one who wins hearts with love can make the sky and the horizon bow down.

 

Moonlight floods the whole sky during the night from horizon to horizon. How much it can fill your room depends on its windows. Again, where the sky begins, the horizon ends, and vice versa.

 

There is a great saying that goes beyond the horizon flying into the sky. Its author is Franklin D Roosevelt: “We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon."

With all said and done, the fact is that if you set out either on the sea or air to touch the horizon/sky, it will be an endless journey without success. The searoute will make you return to the same place from where you started.

  

Let me conclude with a quote from Swami Vivekananda: “The sky never changes. It is the clouds that are changing to give different views."

 

 

R.SAMPATH

30/3/2025