Imagine the Opposite
Imagine all of your life, you know what it’s like to wake up in the morning, say your prayers (maybe), brush your teeth, take a shower, have breakfast, and go to school or work.
At lunchtime, you unwrap a sandwich or warm your lunch in a microwave, then return to being occupied with studies or work. Throughout the day, you may bump into a friend and share a smile, a laugh, or a chat. You aspire to become successful at some kind of career, in the future.
When your day’s occupational session is over, you return home with the choice of having dinner at home or eating out alone or with friends. You may choose to take in a movie or go to the theater.
You interact with family and friends and share a hug with a loved one. You know where to reach them, with no worries.
After returning home, you may close and lock a door behind you. You’re in for the night, secure in the comfort of your home. You prepare for bed and enjoy peace, quiet, and solitude, before getting a good night’s sleep. In the morning, you wake refreshed to repeat the actions of yesterday. The stress you dealt with, then, were normal everyday ones.
Imagine the Opposite ii
Imagine all of a sudden, turmoil happens! You have no shelter under which to sleep. You look around: There are no flowers or fruit trees. They’re all burnt-out stubble, leaving ashes and relics of homes and vehicles that once were. Seeing their remains is now the norm. Imagine that scene has existed in some faraway countries, for years.
You can’t find your relatives; you find yourself alone; your home is no more. There’s no sign it ever existed. Imagine running from enemies on a street, on which you grew up, and where you once felt secure.
You’re out in a grey wilderness, bewildered. You look around and see like-minded strangers. You’re hungry, with no food to eat; need to take a bath and have no change of clothing. Worst of all, there is no way to communicate with anyone, and you feel like an alienated alien. For the first time in your life, you feel fear—that of never seeing your family members, again; and of never having the same home, again; and of losing your culture.
Imagine you once lived in a world of peace where you thought such a thing could never happen to you. And then it did.
Imagine hope can get you out of this heightened state of uncertainty, even if only mentally.
Realization
Imagine you’ve come to the realization and admitted to yourself that there was a time when you looked at refugees and had no compassion for them. Their situation was too far removed from your lifestyle and humanity. You now know what it’s like for them, you are more compassionate, and a real humanitarian. Just imagine!