Superb title and inspirational lives

 This evening after supper as I was glancing through the news, I came across the following headline and it certainly caught my attention

Meet India’s first family of Chess: Father who never watched, mother who can’t name the pieces, two grandmasters

I could easily guess from the title what the content of the article (published in Financial Express) could be. But the title itself is superb! 

More interesting and inspirational is the content of the article.  It describes how the family still continues to live in the same house, as before.  That the father of the house stays home (primarily because of his disability) but watches his family earn name and fame across the globe.  The mother accompanying the siblings as they travel the world, playing off world champions and becoming grandmasters themselves.  The parents themselves are grandmasters, albeit in a different life game - like most parents, in the whole living kingdom. 

Salesian poverty

 An extract from the book titled Don Bosco Up Close, by Teresia Bosco (English translation) 2023 edition, p. 122. The following is a testimony shared by Fr Francis Dalmazzo, during the process of Don Bosco's canonization and who had the fortune of being one of Don Bosco's boys at the oratory.  

When he (Don Bosco) came to Rome once, when the Salesians were still living in Via degli Specchi, he found very poor lodgings, so poor that I (Francesco Dalmazzo) was obliged to give up my bed and sleep on the sofa, and when he looked at the table in the middle, made of ubleached wood, covered with a miserable spread, he was consoled and said to me: "Oh, this is what I like: here is a real Salesian house!" And he laughed heartily.  

As I read this passage for our spiritual reading, I could not but think if anyone today would have the courage to say such a thing at any of our Salesian houses.  First of all, there would be the totally opposite scenario: lavish dining hall, exquisite furniture, posh flooring, special cots and mattresses, costly electronic gadgets and a lavish spread at the table. 

Don Bosco grew up poor and knew the value and necessity of poverty for our apostolate.  He could have very well continued being a diocesan if he wished to become rich.  Working for the POOR and abandoned youth, and being materially rich are incompatible!  

Addiction and responsibility

 Among the many vices some of us find ourselves making exceptional progress with, there is one who is an alcoholic.  He attended a 5-month deaddiction therapy at a reputed institution.  The person in discussion, was asked to stay on another month at the centre and was then assigned to a particular rural community, as teacher.  

From the de-addiction centre the staff accompanied him to his place of appointment.  The very next day, this particular confrere went into town and got drunk.  The very next day!  So much for a 6 month therapy.  This drinking binge continued for a couple of days and then he was 'air-lifted' to the centre because his body started to react badly and he needed to be hospitalised.  

Within two days after being discharged from the hospital, he is now getting ready to go to another therapy centre to take part in a three-month course!  

The travesty of this whole episode is that everyone, except the one in question, is keen to make a change!  And everyone thinks attending courses or therapy session will make him get rid of his addition.  He is barely given time to make that decision and LIVE IT! This is like sabbatical after sabbatical, with hospitalization sandwiched in. The confrere needs to take responsibility for himself. And if he isn't willing to, then he ought to bear the consequences of that refusal.  Pampering one for eternity is detrimental not just to the Province/Congregation, but worse for the individual himself. I fear we are making all the decisions for him and he is happily feeling guilty about it all, without making any serious efforts at change, relying neither on God, nor on self-control, nor out of righteous fear of any repercussions. 

Drops or floods?

 A few years ago there was an itch to engage in new ministries, new types of apostolate and be creative in reaching out those in need.  While the concept in itself looks appealing, there was a lurking danger: the focus was on trying something new, not on the purpose!  

Often we try to multiply or increase the number of services.  But the fact is not about the number of services or the creativity with which we engage in the outreach, although each of them has a significant impact, but about making our outreach impactful.  Rather than do a hundred and one unrelated good things, which do not have a direct impact on the lives of people, which create only a temporary or illusory effect, the attempt to be make our apostolate integral.  Rather than carry out the ministry as piecemeal, or scattered or segmented, the effort should be to make it unified and complementary. 

We do all that we do, with a singular focus and purpose.  Without that primary binding motivation and guiding principle, all our efforts remain scattered and like drops in the desert; while the efforts are proportionate to a flood in a desert!  

No luxury to worry about the heat

 This year's summer has been extremely hot!  The worst prolonged hot days, ever!  Nonetheless, life goes on. We all adapt and carry on.  

Often I've thought and in the house spoken about the poor people who work, out in the open.  Being inside the building and barely stepping outside, we feel cooked. What about those poor people slogging it out, eking their living out in the open, under the direct sun. However, there too, life goes on.  We grin and bear (and burn!). 

The following quote from one poor lady in Madhya Pradesh, (as reported by the BBC website) about the Indian summer sums up the reality of Indian life, especially that of the poor: 

Poor people don't have the luxury of worrying about the heat.

Most of us Indians, have greater adaptation and endurance capacity than other world citizens.  We adapt.  More out of necessity than choice.  

Cockroaches on the move!

 With the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) making headlines (certainly not on Godi media, but everywhere else), there is both entertainment as well a great hope.  The hope is that this satirical act and response to a stray comment by a legal authority, is talking, and talking perfect practical sense, which is being recognised.  The very fact that the government is banning and closing and accusing it of all 'anti-national' traits, is enough proof to say that there is some truth behind CJPs thought. The best aspect of this 'movement' - if one may say so - is that it is youth who are driving the process. Whether it sustains the momentum and results in some radical changes and growth, helping Indian democracy and future, is something to be seen (this statement qualifies me too to be a member of the CJP - lazy and waiting for someone else to work for the results!)

That said, I liked the following summary of the eligibility criteria: (an extract from the article of Fr Jose Maliekal) 

Dipke used AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to design the website and manifesto within two hours. The movement's eligibility criteria are openly satirical yet strategically inclusive: unemployed ("by force, by choice, or by principle"), lazy ("refers only to physical activity"), chronically online ("at least 11 hours daily, including bathroom breaks"), and able to rant professionally ("content must be sharp, honest, and point at something that matters").

I specially like the last criteria! 

Conversation with a stranger

 Two days ago I received a call from an unknown number. It was a lady on the other end of the call.  She introduced herself as a housewife, mother of two kids, living at one end of Hyderabad city.  She called because she wanted to enroll herself for some skilling course and procure some employment.  From her voice her desperation and need was evident.  I listened to her.  Asked her a few particulars about her location and educational qualification. Then based on the information gathered, I directed her to call one of our Dhisha units offering career guidance and job placement opportunities in Hyderabad. Also recommended that she visit the office and meet the Dhisha staff or coordinator to speak in person, since she lived not too far from there. Besides she could also see for herself if there was a course beginning at Tech Mahindra, which is right next door to the Dhisha office. 

She later texted me saying she wasn't able to get through to speak to the person whose contact I shared.  Then asking if there were any other possibilities or opportunities in Hyderabad itself.  I guided her as best as I could.  We texted back and forth over the next two hours, with her basically updated me. The last text hours later the same day was that there were no courses or programmes on offer through any of the people she contacted through my reference.  I had my hands full that day with a hundred and one other things and I couldn't right away offer her any further options. So I marked that whatsapp conversation as unread, to offer her a reply with some other options, in a day or two - when I could think of something.   

This afternoon she called me and stated that she joined a particular skill training course with MagicBus, very close to her residence - starting today.  And she began to thank me profusely.  At one point I told her, "It is I who need to thank you, for having the courtesy of informing me of this opportunity that has come your way. But why are you thanking me? Because I wasn't of any help to you." She replied, "Sir, your willingness to help me was a great blessing for me! That's why I'm calling back to inform you of this opportunity that I chanced upon." 

It has been quite sometime since I have had such an experience.  Some stranger getting back in touch with you, just to thank you for being with her in her time of desperation, for being concerned and willing to help... even though I wasn't really of any use to her. Right now, I'm thankful to God too, for I did say a prayer for her - that she would get help, because she needed it. That prayer was more out of my own guilt of being unable to extend her the help she needed, than anything else.  God bless her!  

Nehemiah, the new discovery!

 This morning hearing the presentation on the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, I realised I heard something new from the Bible.  The text and the story of Nehemiah.  I can't remember hearing it before, leave alone reading it myself.  But the story left a deep impression on me.  There was this animated video of the story of Nehemiah played, as part of the narration of the Encyclical, and it was inspiring.  

• risk of power without accountability 
• prayer before action
• trust in God
• synodality and participative leadership
• response modes and content of the response, in the face of adversaries
• facilitating rather than autocratic domination
• restoration of not just the walls and gates, but of the people 

But as we finished viewing the animation clip, I said to myself I need to review the same clip, but this time, without the self-glorification of viewing myself as Nehemiah!  I certainly need to see that clip! I should read the text! I need to see and feel God's grace speaking!  

Prayer

This morning we began the annual leaders meeting.  There were several aspects going through my heart and mind and I was aware that I was disturbed.  There were a couple of presentations, that I was mostly coordinating, and was anxious not knowing what actually the presenters will finally come up with or how they would put across the core ideas. Besides, I myself was handling a delicate topic and was anticipating trouble from some lousy participants ... and was itching to wring someone's neck!  But sense prevailed... or let me be honest in acknowledging God's help in understanding my own situation.  So I said this silent prayer and even wrote it down, right in the hall, in the midst of the preliminaries: 

Lord, let me say and do what builds and paves for growth or transformation, rather than assuage my hurt feelings or boost my own ego! 

At the end of the day, as I re-read the same prayer from my scribble pad, I sincerely THANK GOD for hearing my prayer! 

Lizards around the tabernacle!

 In his sermon today, Santiagu spoke of four ways in which we who claim to be men of God, can turn to be Godless men.  

It was his description of the second stage that amused me most.  He spoke that in the second stage we use God for our survival.  Rather than Him being the centre of our lives, he becomes a tool we use to make a living for ourselves.  

The analogy he offered was the best: lizards around the tabernacle.  Those creatures who practically live around the tabernacle, do so not out of love for the Blessed Sacrament or because they have a personal relationship with Jesus (perhaps they do!), but because that's the easiest place to secure their food.  With the tabernacle lamp glowing day in and day out, insects naturally get attracted to the light and become prey to the lizards. Moreover, most tabernacles are placed in such a way that there is enough space to hide behind or around it.  

Great!  Fits some (or most) of the lives of priests and religious!