“Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows...to rise above daily trifles.” —Tagore. “The day started out rotten. She overslept and was late for work. Everything that happened at the office contributed to her nervous frenzy.

   By the time she reached the bus stop for her homeward trip, her stomach was one big knot. As usual, the bus was late and jammed. She had to stand in the aisle. As the lurching vehicle pulled her in all directions, her gloom deepened.

  Then she heard a voice from upfront boom: “Beautiful day. Isn’t it?” Because of the crowd she couldn’t see the man but she heard him as he continued to comment on the spring scenery, calling attention to each approaching landmark; ‘this Church, that park, this Cemetery, that Fire house.’ Soon all the passengers were gazing out of the windows.

   The man’s enthusiasm was so....