subject: Transform crisis into an opportunity [print this page] An excerpt from my book 'The JourneyHome' - Autobiography of an American Swamihttp://www.thejourneyhomebook.com For reviews on this book, visithttp://www.radhanath.com.
As my friend and I resumed speaking, I felt the mongoose scaling up my back with his sharp pointed claws. He crawled under my long hair until he reached my head. There, he burrowed himself in my thick locks, making his nest, and went to sleep. Feeling his warm body deeply breathing on my head, I experienced another kind of culture shock. I looked to my host for help."What do I do now?"
My friend said "If you suddenly wake him, he may tear your head to shreds. Mr.Richard, do not even slightly move until he leaves on his own."
Hours passed as I sat motionless, fearing for my life. From time to time, the mongoose moved, digging his claws into my scalp. Hariz could no longer stay awake, so with many apologies, he left to sleep. I sat alone now. That dark sleepless night in Kandahar seemed never to end. My neck throbbed with pain, but I was too terrified to move. The mongoose on my head was like a time bomb that could explode at any second. I was quickly losing the attachment I had to my long hair. If only the immigration officers of England had acted on their threat to shave my head, life would be so much safer tonight.
I tried to console myself. At least someone appreciated my hair! But the mongoose had not come alone. Ravenous insects started biting into my scalp, obliterating these noble thoughts. Why was this happening to me? Feeling my vulnerability, I strained to control my emotions. Then, contemplating, I tried to make sense of it all. I realized that our free will could convert a curse into a blessing or a blessing into a curse. Yes, ludicrous as it was, this mongoose may have been sent to teach me the sacred virtue of patience and forbearance. To bear difficulty and turn to God was priceless blessing. To transform a crisis into an opportunity was true wisdom.
The rest of the night was spent in an unusual state of gratitude. Little did I know that what the mongoose taught me about crisis would give me strength in the hard times that awaited me. By the time the sun finally rose, my uninvited guest had enjoyed a good six hours of sound sleep. He awoke, crawled down my back, and jumped to the floor. He then did something that moved my heart: the mongoose stared at me with an innocent affection as if thanking me for my hospitality.
