Sometime in the morning, while scrolling through a news article, I came across this particular teaching asking her students to come up with a creative writing essay about the conversation between two dogs. I thought it was a brilliant idea evoking and tickling creative energies of children. I'd love to see what my nephew and niece would come up with, if I were to assign them this task!
And just as I was calling it a day - or night? - I came across this cartoon!
After long - really a very long time - feel a sense of excitement about the various tasks being carried out. I think, today I practically touched every field of work that I have ever involved myself in (except Philosophy!!!).
Almost completed a script for a 60 sec video on the theme of solar energy production, keeping in mind for a school ... in line with my own responsibility of administration. But with my media experience! Feel good about it. Of course, the video itself is not started. But the concept, and it taking the shape of a script is greatly fulfilling.
Then there was the issue of property tax and its nuanced loopholes and solutions as well. Great lengths of discussion and learning about it today.
Land matters is something that is becoming something of a common topic everyday! More problems and in a way, more possibilities as well. Talking about it with people of interest, gave me a possibility which never occurred to me before. That was exciting!
Then there was a large chunk of the day spent on moving forward a project on digital documentation. As I confessed in my mail to all those involved, having people so excited about it and breathing down on our necks (in a very very positive manner) propels the rest of us to action. Besides the adventure of the work itself, there is also the thrill of working with like-minded passionate people. Oh, it is a great adrenalin boost!
Being the economer, not a day goes by without doing some math! So it was!
Today I have been discussing with various people, about various issues, legal and land matters. It has been very diverse and complicated. During one such conversation after supper at table, here in Vijayawada, I remembered an incident nearly four years ago.
I had just taken charge as the Economer and one day along with Thathi and KP Mathew found myself in Mallepalli, Nalgonda. We were doing a land survey of a plot of land promised to us Salesians. As I was assisting the surveyor, with his tape and digital pole, at one point I noticed Thathi smiling. When asked what he was amused at, he replied, "Instead of some chalk you are now holding tapes and poles!"
Well, at times I chuckle to myself. From what to where have I come, in these part four years! From being a teacher of philosophy to a financial administrator! That too with no background whatsoever about matters related to law, land, administration and finance! That said, do I have any regrets? None at all. Because I know what I am here for is not to do what I want to, but what God and the Congregation wants me to. Mine is not to ask what and where, but to do with my whole heart whatever it is that is asked for the good of all, especially the young.
A group of two brothers were roaming in the forest, when they found a couple of tiny birds of the family of linnets. When the boys got the birds home, they put the linnets in a cage, opposite the canary bird, which was held in another cage. (Canary birds are known to be “Singing Birds”)
They explained to their mother that they hoped the linnets - being so young - would learn to imitate the singing canary. Instead of cheeping as normally birds do, they expected them to sing (like the canary).
The next day the boys entered the room, and exclaimed: "Mother, come here, look what has happened! Our canary is cheeping like a linnet!" The mother came in and found it so!
Instead of the linnets learning to sing, the canary bird forgot its ability to sing! Thus, the canary had to be separated from the wild birds of the wood and kept under cover for a time before regaining the singing ability.
Such is the case with Christians or anyone who allow themselves to be “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world! We may end up losing the “Song of our Faith!”
[Reflection by Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS]
We Salesians have earned for ourselves a reputation for 'going big'. Our interventions on behalf of the young are often mega events and involving large numbers.
Our buildings and homes are huge. So much so, that if we have a small residence or building we feel claustrophobic - the young therein are absolutely not bothered by the size of the building though!
Perhaps this has been one of our characteristic style of operating. But we need to realise that we have huge multiple buildings but no children therein! If we do, they are so few that even if we allot a room for each, we will still have rooms to spare! We may still be blessed with 6-7 digit figure project funding, but those projects define our apostolate; not the need of the place or the poor that define our mission.
Sooner than later we will need to radically rewire ourselves, our attitude and our approach to see apostolate as disjoint from buildings, projects, and a 'me-first' outlook. Move from 'going big' to 'going deep'.
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| Don Bosco's boys spilled all over the place and then he built bigger places; he didn't build mega houses and then look for boys to fill the house! |
I had a good laugh when I came across a statement in a letter written jointly by the Formation councillor and Economer General. The statement reads 'Rome is not the place to 'park' out of the province for a few year difficult confreres'.
What an expression!! Park confreres! Very very apt and direct. Couldn't agree better!
I remember almost two decades ago when I was in a student community comprising of priests and religious from various congregations, there were a couple of priests who certainly were there purely because their congregations had 'parked' them there!! No other reason! Not for studies. Not for their growth. Not for the mission. But purely for those back in their own Province or Diocese, to breathe easy for a couple of years... at the cost of that student community! The only good thing the rest of the community felt because of their presence in our religious house was that the lives of two families (if these two gentlemen were to have got married and had families of their own) were saved!
I guess that's one of the serious drawbacks of priestly and religious life: when someone is absolutely an unfit - even by his or her own judgement - in the community, province/diocese, anywhere and everywhere, no one can do anything other than bear and bear (the patience to grin is long evaporated!). Neither will the person himself/herself have the moral conscience to walk out; nor can others throw him/her out.
A former and famous world heavyweight boxing champ, considered among one of the greatest sportsman of all time was also infamous for bragging, often saying, "I am the greatest!"
Once before the take off on an airplane the stewardess reminded this boxer to fasten his seatbelt. "Superman don't need no seatbelt," he told her with pride.
The stewardess was unwilling to compromise. So she retarded, "Superman don't need no airplane either."
The boxer was naturally discomfited in his pride. In shame, he fastened his seatbelt without saying an extra word.
Pride can block a person from being open to the views, trends and wavelengths of other people and situations. Even shutting out God from our plans, proposals and journey - under the impression that 'I can do it all'.
Teaching profession is considered and IS more a vocation than a career. There are very many teachers who treat their work more as a service than a timed-duty which they fulfill merely for the remuneration. These are the teachers who go over and beyond the mere classrooms and exams and marks. They see students more as children... at times, like their own!
However, with the shift in market trends and culture in the society at large, education is more seen as a ladder to prosperity than a moulding of character. In such a context, it is often the teacher who ends up at the receiving end. Parents demand that teachers 'teach' their children, convinced that having paid the fees, it is now the responsibility of the school and teachers to 'educate' their children. Their role as primary educators is easily forgotten and passed on to the teachers.
I came across an article which aptly described today's education scenario as a 'customer service' enterprise, where parents and students are out to demand from the teacher. The wrong notion that the parent or the child is a customer is at the root of it all. The worst is to misunderstand education as a commodity; rather than a value based skill to improve one's character, personality and convictions.
The teacher, like stated by Socrates and Aristotle, is only a facilitator who assists the student to become wise (not merely a basket of knowledge or information). The teacher does not 'pour' or 'fill' the student with knowledge - that would be an insult to the child/student itself!
Everywhere I'm looking now I'm surrounded by your embrace Baby, I can see your halo You know you're my saving grace You're everything I need and more It's written all over your face Baby, I can feel your halo Pray it won't fade away
