Courage
by Nell-Lynn Perera in Creative Arts | 1 Comment | Add your comment

Share

I met him once, years ago,

at a Film Festival in Jakarta.

A documentary about him had just ended.

He had flown in specially for us,

to answer all the questions we had for him.

The screening of this film saw people

standing and squatting along the stairs.

I had not seen so many people congregate

throughout the Festival.

But more amazed I was, when I heard him speak.

He is a war photographer.

Taking photographs in the line of fire, literally.

He holds the most awards for his work.

Gripping.

His photographs are.

Years being spent in lands of conflict all over the world,

revealing to us what we might not know, otherwise.

Photographs that need no words to it.

The story is told.

I did not have a question for him.

I gave him a note.

I was moved beyond my comprehension.

Never had I (then) seen such a spirit.

His voice was kind and gentle.

It was a strain to hear him speak, even through the mic.

How many people have I met,

and then forgotten.

But not him.

He is a living testament of what all the monks in the world

and the gurus, abide to.

He has mastered his mind.

While remaining concerned about people caught in war zones,

and living in extreme poverty, among others,

He has been able to not get caught up with his feelings for what he sees

and experiences.

I found it amazing that a person who witnessed such atrocities and hardships,

could remain none hostile.

Not a tinge of hostility in replies to the endless questions thrown at him, which mostly

were pretty superficial if I might say so. All you needed to do was spend some time reflecting and watching the man, looking at his work,

you’d have the answer.

Questions about his work intrigued people most.

What intrigued me most, was him.

His spirit.

He was kind enough to phone me.

Even asked me out for dinner .

I never met him.

But I shall always remember him.
Meeting him changed my life.

Forever.

It catapulted me in helping others.

The measure of one’s achievements and success,

it does not mean the same to me as it does to most.

What you have, is external.

Take that away,

and what is it that you really do have?

My experiences with people,

especially those who are suffering,

have meant the most to me.

For this, I shall always be grateful to him.

My note to him read :

You are an incredible Soul.
His name is James Nachtwey.

ABOUT THE COLUMNIST

Nell-Lynn Perera’s favorite past times are writing proses and painting. Being able to connect with people through them has encouraged her to continue doing both with a growing passion. Many times upon reading her poems or looking at her artwork, people assume that she’s living through what she wrote or painted – not necessarily so. She writes to inspire people mostly, even if it’s through a dark piece of writing or art. In life, she’s realized most things are relative. And everything shall pass. This is the beauty of life.

View Nell-Lynn Perera's Column