Still waiting for that call, Brad

From Sarah Joseph, Editor of Emel, the Muslim lifestyle magazine:

My family will tell you that I am rather good at embarrassing myself. And the truth is – they’re right. I could list a whole litany of cringe worthy situations that end upwith me having extraordinary conversations. I best not go into too much detail on national radio!

I will admit to one situation however. I was at an event at my son’s school and was speaking to his friend’s dad. I knew vaguely the man was in banking. I found out later he was the CEO of a major bank.

“Are you going anywhere for Easter” he asked me.

“No, I am tidying out the summer house.” I replied.

“Oh, where is it?” he carried on.

A bemused look crossed my face, as my mind flashed the thought “where on earth does he think it is?”

“At the bottom of my garden” I answer with a tone that suggested that I was stating the obvious.

“My that’s close!” he responded.

I was only too glad I hadn’t added in my over joyous way – “Yes, we’re lucky—we have a big garden”, for it was then that the penny dropped.

For me, a summer house is a supped up shed. It’s pretty large, but houses junk more than anything else. For him, a summer house is a second property somewhere exotic.

Life really is a question of perspective. When we look at things from our own perspective we see the world only in one way. But there are many ways to look at it.

A Muslim tradition asks us to look up for knowledge and down for wealth. When we judge how much we know we should aspire to learn more, and to work hard in the quest for knowledge. But when we perceive our wealth, we should always look at those who have less than us; so that we are grateful, can feel blessed, and thus give generously to those whose need is greater than our own.

Looking at things from different angles help us as we navigate this world. It increases our empathy for others, has the potential to reduce conflict, and makes us better people.

As for my summer house – now it is tidy we have a pool table and a rowing machine in it, and for day to day fun and fitness I am mighty glad it is not in some far flung land!