The sparrow that eats half a grain

Do we appreciate the gifts we receive every day? The fact that we are alive and have one more day is a gift. In the busyness of making plans and anticipating the future, we often forget to appreciate the present.

On one such morning, after days of running a series of workshops in the peak summer, I was getting ready for another busy day. During my morning meditation, thoughts of the many tasks ahead swirled in my mind like clouds in the sky. Then, I came across a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib:

The sparrow pecks at half a grain, 

And chirps away in sweet refrain. 

To the Master, it's a delight, 

If it sings His name, morning to night.

The tiger has feasted on hundreds of deer

And many fed on his leftover

He grows too big for his den

But regret will he, in the end

Who is impressed with the blind beast’s roar?

He finds no place at the Master’s door

Translated from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1286

This verse was a powerful reminder that it doesn’t really matter how much we have achieved or how grand our plans are. It doesn’t matter how many endorsements and affirmations we’ve received from others, or how much money and resources we’ve amassed. The sparrow that eats half a grain sings a song of gratitude all day. I have received much more. Instead of constantly looking ahead and wondering if I will have enough tomorrow, I need to learn to sing my song of gratitude today.

The verse and its translation

ਅਧੁ ਗੁਲ੍ਹਾ ਚਿੜੀ ਕਾ ਚੁਗਣੁ ਗੈਣਿ ਚੜੀ ਬਿਲਲਾਇ ॥

अधु गुल्हा चिड़ी का चुगणु गैणि चड़ी बिललाइ ॥

adh gulhaa chiRee kaa chugan gain chaRee bilalai ||

The sparrow eats only half a grain, then it flies through the sky chirping all day

ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਵੈ ਓਹਾ ਚੰਗੀ ਜਿ ਕਰੇ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥

खसमै भावै ओहा चंगी जि करे खुदाइ खुदाइ ॥

khasamai bhaavai ohaa cha(n)gee j kare khudhai khudhai ||

The good sparrow is pleasing to her Lord and Master, if she chirps the Name of the Lord.

ਸਕਤਾ ਸੀਹੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੈ ਮਿਰਿਆ ਸਭ ਪਿਛੈ ਪੈ ਖਾਇ ॥

सकता सीहु मारे सै मिरिआ सभ पिछै पै खाइ ॥

sakataa seeh maare sai miriaa sabh pichhai pai khai ||

The powerful tiger kills hundreds of deer, and all sorts of other animals eat what it leaves.

ਹੋਇ ਸਤਾਣਾ ਘੁਰੈ ਨ ਮਾਵੈ ਸਾਹਿ ਗਇਐ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥

होइ सताणा घुरै न मावै साहि गइऐ पछुताइ ॥

hoi sataanaa ghurai na maavai saeh giaai pachhutai ||

It becomes very strong, and cannot be contained in its den, but when it must go, it regrets.

ਅੰਧਾ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਬੁਕਿ ਸੁਣਾਵੈ ॥

अंधा किस नो बुकि सुणावै ॥

a(n)dhaa kis no buk sunaavai ||

So who is impressed by the roar of the blind beast?

ਖਸਮੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਭਾਵੈ ॥

खसमै मूलि न भावै ॥

khasamai mool na bhaavai ||

He is not pleasing at all to his Lord and Master.

Raag Malaar, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1286