IN THE NICK OF TIME
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
AMEDICAL college professor, putting a student through an oral examination, asked him, “how many of these pills would you give to a man who has had a heart attack? “Four” replied the student.
A minute later he piped up, “Professor, can I change my answer?” “You can by all means”, said the professor, looking at his watch, “But regrettably, your patient has been dead for 40 seconds.”
Certain matters in life are critical and require immediate action to be taken without a moment’s hesitation. But an instant decision must also be a correct one, else the consequences could be drastic, and mean a lifetime of regret.
Our decision making is similar to our preparations to board a train. We have to pack our luggage, ensure we take the right things with us, buy a ticket, arrange transport to the station and be on the platform at the appointed time, otherwise we are surely going to be left behind. For the train is no respecter of persons. It arrives on time and departs on time and pays no heed to tardy passengers. If we are like the medical student who was caught on the wrong foot because of lack of preparation and who was much too late with the correct answer, the train of life will go on its scheduled course and we shall be left standing, wondering what to do next and how to avert the disastrous consequences of our failure to get on board.
Certain matters in life are critical and require immediate action to be taken without a moment's hesitation.
We have to be prepared for all eventualities in life. That means ensuring a good education and gaining relevant experience for our chosen occupations. It requires mental and physical readiness to seize opportunities, and stay focused, never permitting one’s energy to be frittered away in pointless vacillation.
The past and present may lie in
ruins, but the future is still safe.