“When storm clouds gather and the road is blocked,
Turn your eyes to Jesus, He’ll guide you through.
When you know not if you will live or die,
Turn your eyes to Jesus, He’ll give you life.
Praise the Lord, for He is good;
He gave His son for us to live.
In Jesus’ name, salvation is ours
And victory over fear and death;
Soar on wings like eagles, never faint.
When you fall down with problems too heavy to bear,
Turn your eyes to Jesus, He will lift you up.
When you know not the path, everywhere a trap is laid
Turn your eyes to Jesus; He is the way.”
These are the words of a song of faith written by Shahan in November last year. The words exemplify the manner in which he lived his life. Shahan’s life was short – too short for those of us left behind – and yet his life was one of celebration and of appreciation of God’s blessings.
My friendship with Shahan and his wife Shalini spans more than two decades, going back to their dating days, their marriage, and the birth of their two beautiful and loving children, Druwen and Drushenka.
As I write this appreciation of someone I considered the brother I never had, I find it extremely hard to grasp the harsh fact that Shahan is no longer with us.
My memories of Shahan range from our hilarious “Peter Pan” encounters at the annual Royal-Thomian cricket match to the adventurous trips organised by the “Wala”, as Shahan and Shalla’s close-knit circle of friends called themselves. It was imperative, no matter what the plans were, that Shahan had his full plate of rice for lunch!
It was a heart-breaking moment when Shahan was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The best tribute we can pay Shahan is to celebrate life the way he did – facing every problem with a cheerful disposition rooted in an unshakeable faith in the Lord; always being there for his friends, and being a patient listener and a non-judgmental friend who led by example. He “walked the talk”. Shahan lived the words of Mahatma Gandhi who said: “Be the change that you wish to see most in your world.”
When I initiated a small project for the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama a few years ago, Shahan was one of the first people to get a group of donors together, in Dubai, and to contribute to the venture. Again, when I was facing a traumatic, life-changing time in my life, Shalla and Shahan were there to support me all the way.
Shahan’s passing away has left a huge void in our hearts, and I believe I speak for all of us, his “Wala”, when I say this.
Those who were close to him saw an amazing change in Shahan in March this year, when his life seemed almost back to normal. We asked such questions as: “How did it all turn around so fast? How did this happen?” Answers to these questions are hard to find.
In my last telephone conversation with Shahan, he said: “Malathy, I used to believe I was in control of my life, my family, my finances, and my health. Now I leave it all to Jesus, and I am at peace. I thank God for all the blessings he has given me, Shalini and the kids.”
Shahan’s faith had taken him to the point where he was ready to meet his Maker. He was at peace, and he praised and thanked God for each new day he lived.
It is not easy to lose a loved one. Words hardly ease the grief and pain Shalla, Druwen, Drushi, Uncle Lester, Shareen and all Shahan’s loved ones must feel.
We can draw comfort from the thought that our lives are that much richer for having known Shahan, and from the thought that he is in the loving arms of his Creator.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Malathy Knight-John |
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