After nearly 15 years I decided to rekindle my old passion or hobby of having fish at home. Since an old tank was already available at house we only need to buy the fish and filter for it. We bought 2 big ones and 4 small ones. With great joy we cleaned up the old tank and installed everything in an hour’s time. We couldn’t control the excitement; we smiled n squealed like small school children :). My roommate - an avid lover of fish, also quoted a scientific study that states that watching fish will reduce our blood pressure – little did we know that our BP is going to increase in the coming days!
After one day we noticed that the big red fish is hitting and biting its pair. The bitten fish started hiding and whenever it tries to come out it will be chased back. Cutting the story short it died of bleeding and starvation in 2 days. It was a shock to know that such enmity and hatred exists even among fish! After few days, our close friend gave us his fish tank to look after when he goes out of town. It had beautiful golden fish gliding around silently and peacefully. Watching it was a serene experience. We tried to shift the small fish from our tank to avoid the “killer” fish. But the small ones also started the same biting behavior with the big silent golden fish forcing us to put it back. In short our tank became a place of wailing and gnashing of teeth (literally) and the friend’s tank became a place of joy and happiness. To finish it off yesterday we found that one of the small fish also killed its pair!
Whatever be the scientific or logical reasoning behind the behavior of our killer fish, it made me think about our homes. Aren’t some of us like that killer fish? Due to our stubbornness and hard heartedness didn’t we change our peaceful homes into hell? Didn’t we also transfer our hatred into other members of our family or maybe to our roommates in our hostel? We may appear very flashy and appealing to the people outside (we are supposed to be role models too!) but what happens in our personal life and our family will be quite the opposite. My mom used to tell me (usually after a quarrel) - “Let me see your coordinator; I will reveal your real face to JY!” I use to laugh at her but will feel guilty afterwards. I used to be an altar boy from childhood and a Jesus Youth from college days – a model catholic boy for all, but not at home. I used to be lazy, stubborn and quarrelsome at home. By the grace of God over the years I have realized my mistake and I am trying to change since then. Jesus says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” [Mathew 5:9]. Is there a desire in me to become son/daughter of God? Are we really peacemakers at our home; at our workplace; at our parish or our colleges? To whom do we associate - the silent Gold fish which easily mingles with other fishes and create a serene atmosphere or the killer fish which creates lot of trouble and unhappiness in the life of others?
P.S: Post our traumatic experience we are planning to donate the killer (sorry Red Parrot) fish; any takers? :)
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