Responsibility

 Some old friends who meet after a long gap, or those who care about me most, knowing my present responsibility in the Province, at times ask how is it going?  

Like every responsibility, this role too has its ups and downs. But I firmly believe and have lived out this responsibility like every and any other responsibility I've taken up.  This task is no different or special to me.  I've never craved for position or honour; so I don't have to constantly carry that burden of retaining the post or seeking approval.  But love giving tasks I take up, my best - at least most of the times! 

So, honestly, this role is just another of the responsibility.  I'd be giving my best, in any responsibility I would have been engaged with.  The only question I care about is, if I've giving this task my best. And that I can state, proudly, that I am! 

Having said that, one great blessing that I truly am grateful for is that due to this responsibility, I am gaining the experience of engaging in policy decision-making.  More than the decisions themselves, the rationale and the process that I let myself be guided by and what I push for.  That has been one truly great self-test.  Being able to affect policy decisions, have I let myself be guided by the heart and the head.  I'd say, more by the head than the heart.  But that is what this role demands too!  More head, than the heart.  

Value addition

 In my life over the years, I have seen plenty of young people, especially young seminarians and Salesians.  To be honest, most of them are floaters! Only some are passionate and determined, for the right reasons.  

Floaters or drifters themselves are not bad. They neither do much good nor serious harm.  But if in bad company or in times of decision making or crisis they tilt towards the not-so-good, then it is often downhill from there on.  

As in every group, there are those who are an outright burden on the earth! Real plague! 

Then there are those who show promise.  They are a finders keeper!  They not just complete the given tasks diligently but add value to the place and apostolate they engage themselves in.  They find ways and means of enriching the lives of those around them and in the process add a distinctive flavour to the whole atmosphere.  Living and working with such individuals is more than just a pleasure; it is an inspiration and a challenge.  

Barefoot mum runs 3k race for daughters education

 Ms Ramabai Ranvir, a working mother of two daughters, in Pune (Maharashtra, India), and a widow for the last 14 years, single handedly supporting the education of her daughters, worked another miracle (besides the consistent one already mentioned, as do most mothers!) a few days ago.  

She heard of a prize money of Rs 3,000 (Euros 30) for a race being organised in her vicinity, from her employer (the Police academy).  The previous day her younger daughter, studying in another town, had called her asking for some money to pay her food and rent - and Ms Ramabai had none to spare! So when she heard of the prize money, she hopped onto the pickup vehicle transporting the police aspirants to the race venue.  No prior running practice or experience, wearing a saree, being the only one running without shoes, her slippers giving way during the race forcing her to run barefoot, aged 40+, no breaks on the course... none of these mattered.  Nothing at all! All that mattered was her daughters education, for which the immediate focus was the finish line and the prize! 

And she won!!! She was awarded Rs 5,000/- (Euros 50) instead!

A single parent slogging day and night, saving every penny for her children, with the sole dream of educating them for a better life and future, is itself no ordinary miracle in everyday life.  A miracle most mothers perform, everyday, everywhere, at all times, even without realizing it.  Add this incident to that L  O   N   G  and INVALUABLE miracle list of a mothers determination and courage! 

Learning patience - 2

 While there are spaces and places wherein I still need to acquire the virtue of patience (maintaining my equilibrium), there are other times and places that I've really learnt the art. I can now boast, to a certain extent, of 'waiting it out' with grace, in or on such occasions... 

calmly walking up and down the railway platform, waiting for an already delayed train to arrive, with co-passengers literally swearing at every other person, because the train has not yet arrived. 

doodling or scribbling away on my notepad waiting in the parlour, for the patient or colleague undergoing a surgery or attending a session, and is supposed to have been out an hour ago, but is still to come out

at hospitals or government offices or courtrooms, awaiting for the concerned official to turn up, leave alone review my file or case! 

waiting for the unending sermon to conclude, having heard the preacher use the phrase 'the last point' or 'last of all' for a dozen times already, almost 30 minutes ago. 

Learning patience

 Ever waited for a particular bus at the bus stop and noticed that every bus, going in every direction, except the one you are waiting for, turns up!! 

Or on other occasion, you wait in a queue for hours, and when you ultimately reach the counter, the clerk shuts the window with the 'lunch break' sign. 

Of late, there are these OTPs and codes being sent, for any and every interaction and transaction, albeit with a timer of 30 seconds or worse still some have only a 15 seconds time out.  And the OTP arrives not lesser than 15 MINUTES later!! 

Then there are those instances when you ought to upload a file to the government website for voter ID or income tax or property tax.  Most often these work (if at all they work) at night.  I guess it is because of the heavy traffic load on the server.  Even at those precious last minutes, the site page totally never moves!  The circle keeps rotating and never stops!  And eventually the deadline closes!

These are precious moments to learn patience! 

Re-reading prayers

 Most often, I barely pay attention to the words of the psalms and canticles I pray during our lauds and vespers.  The recitation is clear and loud, but the meaning is barely dwelt upon or even considered.  I guess it has become a routine and therefore the recitation is more in terms of familiarity with the text than meaningful prayer. 

However, today there was Katrin with us for morning prayer.  I'm sure she never ever recited the lauds ever before and therefore offering her the breviary and indicating the prayers, I felt the need to read the text as if she were reading.  Virtually how it would be that she would understand the same words and phrases of the psalms and canticles, that I'm so used to reading so often.  

It was surprising to note that quite a few bits felt odd or even not contextual.  Perhaps even out of place or redundant.  At times it felt as if the words did not do justice or fell short of actually expressing the real feeling or sentiments. 

Nonetheless, an interesting experience it was! 

Man in defence of God

 Very many times we think and act as if we are defending and protecting God.  We act under the impression that God needs to be defended.  This is done in all innocence and goodness. No malice or sense of pride.  Pure good will. 

And it is exactly in some such contexts, God jolts us from our thoughts: "Get behind me Satan!" 

What we fail to DISCERN is that, it is not God who needs salvation; but I!  

Temptation of Christ (Ilya Repin)

Linux vs Windows

 I've been a fan of Linux OS since 2009.  My personal laptop has had Linux since the time I left the Provincial Secretary's office in 2010.  And I've never regretted or needed to rethink switching back to Windows, ever since.  Even in 2021 when I bought my present Dell laptop, the first thing I did was erase Windows and install Linux.  

So, every time I see Linux roasting Windows, I can't resist! 

Informed citizens

 A recent headline that caught my attention...

Read the full article, published on Down to Earth, which hits the nail on the head, not just about the Ganges and the right way of protecting it, but about everything that we hold important and valuable!

Felt truly good reading the content of this article.  After long, came across the following words, phrases and their interlinkages: curiosity, conservation, nature interpretation, 'the river we see, but don't understand', context-specific content, engagement vs information sharing, informed and engaged public, measuring success beyond buildings, creating connections, the greatest achievement is still not the number of people who walk through their doors, but the transformation that takes place after the visit, informed advocates rather than mere spectators, lasting impact depends on something less visible, but equally important (understanding)...

Infrastructure vs Empowerment

 In the last council I had to AGAIN speak strongly about rethinking our investment and the priorities of our mission.  

Most of our financial reserves and earnings are being funneled into buildings and renovations!  Truly a black hole!  I firmly believe that we should shift the emphasis on building people, rather than buildings!  

Investments on infrastructure are a trap.  The attention they need and the constant care that eats ones time, resources and energy is huge.  That's one of the biggest drawbacks of institutionalisation.  We never have 'enough' of buildings and institutions!  We first invest in construction, then in maintenance, then in renovation and constantly seek beautification!  Not even half of that is invested in, what I feel is the most essential: people!  Skills, training, education, creativity, thinking... these need and demand attention.  That should be what we Salesians should be pouring ourselves (and our resources) into.  And for most of these, infrastructure is not the most essential; even if it is, very minimal of it would do.  

 I am convinced that if I truly offer QUALITY training or education, no matter how poor or little infrastructure I have, young people will soon realise the CONTENT and be the most direct beneficiaries.