A Scholar was being interviewed by a young professional. Interview started..
Young man – Sir, in your last lecture, you told us about CONTACT and CONNECTION. It was really confusing. Can you please explain?
Scholar smiled and asked, “Are you from this city?”
Young man replied, “Yes.”
Scholar asked, “Who’s in your family?”
Young man felt that scholar was trying to avoid his question by asking such personal questions.
Yet he replied, “Father, two brother and a sister. Siblings are all married.”
Scholar asked again with smile on face, “Do you talk to your father?”
Young man got annoyed.
Seeing this, Scholar said, “When was last time you talked to him?”
Young man replied, “Maybe a month ago.”
Now, Scholar asked, “Do you meet your siblings often? When was last time you had a family gathering?”
At this point, young man felt like as if old scholar was interviewing him.
Young man was feeling uncomfortable with scholar asking all these personal questions, still replied, “We last met two years ago at festival.”
Scholar asked, “For how long did you all stayed together?”
Young man replied, “Three days..”
Scholar asked, “How much time did you spend with your dad, sitting next to him?”
Young man looked upset and embarrassed and started scribbling something on a piece of paper.
Scholar continued, “Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how was doing?”
Tears welled up in eyes of young man.
Scholar held young man hand and said, “Don’t be embarrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I hurt you unintentionally but I asked you because this is answer to your question.
You are in ‘Contact’ with your father but you don’t have a ‘Connection’.
Connection is heart to heart… Sitting together, eating, caring for each other, making eye contact, spending some quality time together.”
Young man wiped his tears and said, “Thank you sir, for teaching me an unforgettable lesson.”