Que Sera Sera: A Serendipitous Life Lesson from a Temple Stranger

Sriranga VN
Jul 24, 2025
2 min read

Que Sera Sera....

It was a lovely day, bright, full of energy. Yet, I was feeling anxious, tense and irritable.

I had finished the darshan of Lord Ranganathaswamy in a small ancient temple located in a hamlet near Chickballapur. A beautiful, ancient temple resplendent with divine energies of the Lord reclining on the Adishesha, the seven headed serpent.

As I sat alone under a big tree, outside the temple, i felt life was dreary, full of work, tensions and very less joy. I craved for peace and calm. But it was a futile search....

"Hi, lovely day, aint it? I heard a booming voice of a middle-aged European lady in shorts, a oversized tops and a huge straw hat, covering her chest nut hair which kept poking out of her hat. She smiled broadly with energy. I answered meekly, "yes a lovely day", with less enthusiasm.

"Hey, hi...come on cheer up. This is a beautiful temple u have here and what a mesmerizing day in the mountains", she said.

I learnt as we spoke, Elena was from Stockholm. She was on a journey of discovery of India and the world. All these years, I was a high school teacher she said, smiling simply.

Her energy was infectious. She smiled a warm, broad smile. Her twinkling eyes lit up as she spoke with exagerated gesturing and strange indontation of English words.

I have about a year of life to live in this wonderous world, she said suddenly. Oh! I gasped. Yes, my doc gave me one year maximum to live.

So here I am, living each day with wonder, charm and adventure, seeing the vast world before i go back....back to my Lord...

Que sera sera...she suddenly sang in a lovely voice, Que sera sera, Whatever will be, will be. The future is not ours to see...

As i heard her sing in a soft voice, lost to time, place and state, i felt tears drop from my eyes. Que sera, sera....whatever will be, will be....

Life is strange with its twists and turns. Que, sera sera ...the future is not ours to see. whatever will happen , will happen. ...

Live life simply, smile, laugh, help people as much as u can, live life on its own terms.Do the best u can and take life as it comes.

Live life as the greatest adventure with wonder and joy each day....Que sera sera....and when the time comes, go with contentment and joy, an adventure well enjoyed, having left a mark on time and people for the good deeds u have done....Que Sera Sera...God bless!