On Steve Jobs’ Birthday I Recall An Incident From His Childhood

  Right from his childhood, Steve was a very mischievous, inquisitive and determined person. He was so naughty and notorious that he could put the most roguish children to shame. But, at the same time he was also exceptionally insightful. Today, the incident which I am going to narrate is not of the child Steve, but a young Steve who was about 13 years old at that time.

       One day Steve happened to came across an issue of Life Magazine which featured a photograph of two agonised African children on its cover page. On seeing the photo, Steve was extremely distressed. He could not bear the fact that in spite of God’s existence, such young, innocent children had to languish and suffer so much hardship. Right away he took the magazine with him and went to a pastor in a church nearby and directly asked him a question, “Does God know everything?”

 The Pastor replied, “Yes, my child”.

    Promptly putting the magazine in his hand Steve asked “So does God also know of the difficulties these children are facing?”

  The pastor said, “Yes, of course!”

        On hearing this Steve angrily asked, “Then why God can’t put an end to their pain and suffering?”  

Now, what could the pastor have said? He evaded the question by giving him religious jibber-jabber for an answer. However, could the intelligent Steve be satisfied by it? From that day onwards he stopped visiting the church. But he had got the answer he was looking for. A human being himself has to build his destiny with sheer hard work and intelligence. And by establishing Apple, he has even proved this philosophy. Today on his birthday, I salute Steve Jobs, the genius. And I request you to also awaken such sensibility and intelligence within you to prosper in your life. 

- Deep Trivedi