Meet my friend Steve. We first met in December 2016, on my very first visit to Southampton during Srila Prabhupada’s Book Marathon. Each year we stood opposite one another, us distributing books & Steve managing the carousel ride.
Steve was always kind & would always check in on us throughout the day. Without fail, each year I would enthusiastically ask Steve to take a Bhagavad Gita. And every year, just as firmly, he would decline, explaining that he couldn’t read or write.
Each time I would tell him it didn’t matter. All he needed to do was keep the Bhagavad Gita in his home, next to his favourite chair or by his bed, & simply touch & open it daily. And by just having the Gita in his home, it would bring so much auspiciousness. Even then, Steve would resolutely refuse, even when I insisted it would be a gift from me.
This year, when I arrived in Southampton, the carousel was no longer part of the Christmas market. I immediately wondered how Steve was & hoped he was well.
Today, as I stood distributing books, to my surprise Steve walked past. We were both completely elated to see one another. He told me he has now retired & spends his days strolling through the town.
I placed the Bhagavad Gita in his hands once again & repeated what I had shared with him over the years. This time, without hesitation, Steve accepted the book & even gave a donation. He laughed & said he remembered exactly what I had always told him. He promised he would embrace the Bhagavad Gita daily, first thing in the morning & last thing at night.
We both smiled. Nine years later, Steve finally & graciously accepted the Bhagavad Gita.
Steve’s journey with the Bhagavad Gita wonderfully illustrates that sankirtana is to never give up. We may persuade, convince, & beg, however only Krishna knows when the soul is truly ready to receive. Our role is simply to show up, to offer & to trust the process.
Srila Prabhupada arranges these quiet miracles of book distribution, where time, mercy & sincerity meet. Krishna is in everyone’s heart, & he gives direction from within, allowing the fortunate soul to reach out & take the sacred book. When it happens, how long it takes & how many moments it requires is not for us to know. That is between Krishna, Srila Prabhupada & the destined soul.
— Gurusakti Dasi
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116889
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