Sarabaites, Landlopers and Gyrovagues

 This evening for our reading we were reflecting on an article by Mahimai Dass on sheep becoming shepherds, in the context of the Salesian history.  Boys who grew up at the Oratory of Don Bosco went on to become the cornerstones of the Salesian congregation.  It did not happen by chance.  This was something Don Bosco made happen.  Rather than look for people from outside to assist his work, he built up his followers from within his boys.  But interestingly Don Bosco was very VERY clear about the purpose of the congregation: NOT to carry further his works, but the salvation of one's own soul!! 

Don Bosco was very clever and astute. He was well aware and deeply conscious that he did not initiate his activities in response to a need, but to a call!  He was only responding to a divine invitation directed towards the poor young.  Without that divine dimension, he would have done some good, but not the great wonders he achieved - some of which still continue to unfold!  

However, what struck me most was the concluding part of the article: Some Salesians have nothing of the Salesian spirit!!! The whole point of being eager to ensure that our names are recorded not just in the Province directory, not even in the necrology, but in heaven!!  In this context and in the light of some confreres getting on my nerves in the last couple of days (purely because of their lethargy and absolute laziness - and 'acting' sick), I couldn't agree more with that statement of some Salesians have absolutely no Salesian spirit.  Leave alone Salesian spirit, they have neither the religious spirit nor do they make the least effort at acquiring the human spirit!  

Interestingly St Benedict too was plagued by some such characters, whom he called Sarabaites and Landlopers and Gyrovagues. The Sarabaites were those monks who followed no Rule.  They lived in their own world, and believed that what they lived by as the values. The gratification of their desires was law unto them.  Whatever they chose, they called holy. The Gyrovagues were the wanderers.  Never settling down. Always on the move.  Whom Fr Albert Johnson, during his recent retreat talk, referred to as 'mayors' (a spin off on the Tamil word for 'grazers'). Never for any in depth or substantial effort.  Merely skimming the surface.  

Dry humour

 I was reminded of a word which I haven't used in my conversations or writings for a long long time... although, those who know me will confirm that this is what I engage in often: dry humour! 

Those who get it right, it makes a big impression.  To those who don't really get it, the expression appears as if the speaker has made a vague statement - totally inconsequential and bland. In short, it is an art! 

The lethargic!

 What to do if a member of the province or the community is living off on the sweat and blood of the benefactors and others in the community, contributing not an iota but sapping all energy and resources, and still feeling that others should be more sensitive to him?  

My simple and direct answer: Set his arse on fire! Time and again! 

The womb and the tomb

 Today as we commemorate all the deceased, we thank God for their presence and influence in our lives. 

 Last night I read a rather interesting analogy to the whole notion of death, as viewed from the Christian perspective.  Death is viewed as the parting of the twins in the womb.  For the one still in the womb, watching his/her twin leave the womb is a sad moment of separation.  The one left behind feels lonely, abandoned, especially after spending months together, in such proximity.  However, what he/she does not know is that there is a whole new life awaiting his/her twin outside.  Moreover, he/she will soon be united with the sibling. Life is not ended, but there is only a change of mode. 

Our whole life does not end here on earth, but through death and resurrection, continues to be in a different realm and mode.  

That's one analogy people can relate to and understand! 

Sanctity

The feast of all Saints reminds us of all those who have been canonised AND all those who have made valiant efforts, but not yet recognised or forgotten.  Without the latter, the commemoration loses its essence.  Not often does every act of kindness or every deed towards goodness gets recognised.  That does not negate its occurrence or existence! 

Most genuine acts of virtue often go unnoticed or unheard of.  All those behind those repeated acts of virtue are indeed saints, even if no one notices or writes or speaks about them.  

Then, of course, there is the actual challenge of this feast...

Learning of the day: PS/2 devices

 Learning of the day: 

On a rather old computer/desktop, if you are connecting a PS/2 device, the BIOS will recognise it only at the time of boot.  So if you connect the device after the system has booted, the system will not recognise the device. Unlike USB devices which are detected immediately after insertion, the PS/2 devices are recognised only at the boot/reboot. 

So if you are testing a PS/2 device (keyboard or mouse) make sure it is already connected before you push the power button. 

Not a random photo, but a memory

 This morning Mummy posted a photo of the neighbouring paddy field.  The field is owned by a school and they use it to cultivate crops and this time round they cultivated paddy. Every other day one class of students are brought to the field and they get to 'get their hands dirty'! Literally.  Children get to do some sort of gardening or farming.  Of course, it is anyone's guess that they create more of a mess than any great help.  But at least it does offer them the possibility of engaging with the mud, the grass, the crops, ground water... They see for themselves and learn that rice does not grow in the supermarket.  Or that tomatoes and chillies automatically appear in the fridge.  

However, this morning when I saw the photo of that paddy field, it struck me: Mummy did not send it to me - which she usually does. Rather she posted it on the family group.  And there was a string of likes.  Out of curiosity I checked who are all those who sent in a 'like'.  I noticed that it was all her siblings and immediate cousins or in-laws.  

I know that that sight, the view of a lush paddy field floods her mind with memories.  All childhood memories.  Her love for gardening and all related matters is purely her way of staying connected with her own childhood and family.  She grew up in a farming household. She and her siblings have worked all their childhood in the fields.  They have seen their parents and elders all engage and live out of the hard work in the fields.  The sight of the paddy brings back to her all those memories.  And the same for her siblings.  Hence it is they who appreciate that field most.  They know what it means for the paddy to appear so. What it entails. The hours of toil. The days and nights of careful watching and observance.  The constant presence in the field.  The feel of the slush, of the grain stalks, of the mud, of the tools. 

The next generation of us have had none of it!  Hence her sharing that photo in her family group makes most sense than sharing it with me because that photos means a whole lifetime for them.  For me, it is just another any random photo! 

Challenges and resolutions

 Over the last couple of weeks, there is one particular confrere who has been calling me regularly expressing his difficulty and challenges in carrying out his duties, especially in the presence and due to a cranky head of the community.  This particular confrere who has been sharing his difficulties is not that exceptional, but certainly quite balanced. He has his own limitations and struggles, but this particular one isn't his making. 

Today was a breaking point for him.  He decided to walk out of the house. Prior to doing so, and not wanting to put the whole community or anyone outside the community into difficulty, he cleared all the bills of the house to-date.  So that the head could have a clean and neat experience - a first hand experience, at that - of what it means to run the house without sufficient funds.  Not that the community has no funds, but the other department is not willing to share or contribute. 

Rather than sympathise with him, I challenged him to look at this whole scenario from his own perspective. Rather than moan and view this whole situation from the perspective of the challenges or difficulties.  I asked him to think carefully and discern what could and should be his most appropriate course of action, given this context and given the set of individuals he is living with.  Abandoning post is the most easiest thing.  Challenging oneself and working out possibilities, is not easy.  While understanding his situation, I did not want him to give up.  Basically I told him to view this as an opportunity to bring out the best in himself, and rather than focus on the issue, look out for solutions, that too without arguing or fighting.  

Rejoicing in the growth of others

 One of the many great virtues of Christianity/humanity is the ability to rejoice in someone else's growth or happiness - even when we have not been part of that growth or happiness process! 

In the Gospel of the day we see the religious elders of the day, being unhappy and condescending the healing of the man suffering from dropsy.  Jesus has compassion on this man and cures him.  He does this the day he encounters him - which happens to be a day of Sabbath. Jesus could have been 'prudent' or cautious and asked the man to come and meet him the next day.  But for Jesus the man and his well being was more important than a rule which was in place for the sake of divine-human rapport. 

I'm sure not just the man who is healed, but his whole family rejoiced in his regaining health.  So would have several others who witnessed this healing.  But the religious elders were stuck with the law! Interestingly, St Paul in his letter to the Philippians (the first reading) expresses his approval and fondness for the people, purely because they were able to see the goodness the Good News brought about and embraced it whole-heartedly.  They were happy that good was being done, even though, I'm sure, not each and every one of them must have experienced a personal miracle. The people of Philippia were happy to see others happy! 

Photos: Secretariat, at night

 A couple of photos I clicked while waiting for my friend Rabbi, at the Lumbini Park. 

The Telangana State Secretariat building is well lit and is indeed a sight to behold, especially at night... 

The Telangana Martyrs memorial