Government bureaucracy

 I spent another futile afternoon today trying to sort out and bring to conclusion an issue about the property tax of one of our institutions.  It has been rolling around and never making much headway for the past 10 years.  

The assessment was miscalculated in 2016. This error was pointed out to the GHMC then itself. They officially, in writing, acknowledged their mistake and assured us that the correction would be done.  Then covid happened.  Two years later we got a fresh tax invoice with the old miscalculated amount - only this invoice also contained the penalty for non-payment, and interest on it too.  

We later found out that the file never made it to the Collector's office, where the final signature was to be affixed to confirm the correction.  So much for Indian bureaucracy!  

Now the tragedy is that for the failure of the government servants, we are to pay the hefty fine.  For the past four years, every month of March, there is some offer from the municipality and they raise our hopes that this issue would be addressed and we get to clear the backlogs - what we rightly need to pay.  The only consolation this year was that the official explaining to us was polite and honest to say that nothing can be done about the correction now.  Last year the official was rude and shameless, demanding that we pay up because 'you have money!'.  

The sad part of this kind of bureaucracy is that irrespective of who does the mistake or delay, the citizen has to bear the brunt of it all, in its totality. 

Another year of life

 Another year has gone by and I still don't claim to be any wiser!  More knowledge, yes. But not sure about deeper wisdom!  Nonetheless, am utterly GRATEFUL to everyone and everything that has come my way and assisted me in my growth. 

The morning was a good and very meaningful celebration with all from home attending Mass.  Mummy was the most moved of all!  I gather her fear is that I may not be looked after in my later years!  Hence she is closely watching how we take care of one another. I feel today's post-Mass spontaneous thanksgiving of hers was stemming from that same fear/assurance.  

Whatever it be, it was good to be celebrated... honestly and from the heart. 

Felicitations

 The art of impressing others is an feature present in most species, even in human beings. Nonetheless within the human species some individuals excel in this art. However there are some who overdo it, bordering or even crossing the threshold of nauseating flattery.

Among the priests and religious there is this tendency to felicitate and honour, often exaggerated, our Bishops, Provincials and General superiors. I personally have no issues with respecting persons, but not for holding positions or responsibilities. I'd rather respect and appreciate persons for their goodness, service and self-gift to others. 

Hence I would felicitate someone - or be felicitated myself - only and only AFTER someone has done some good; rather than taken charge of a role or begun a function! And that too, to be a genuine thanksgiving than a pompous show.

Religious discipline

Most of us look for motivation... mostly to stick to our goals and resolutions.  Hence the plethora of motivational talks and quotes that one finds on social media and whatsapp messages.  Nonetheless, what keeps one going is a commitment, a discipline, a consistent rhythm.  In that sense, motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.  

So I ask myself, is religious life and its principles, my motivation or a discipline? It ought to be a discipline.  Motivation can be temporary and not always available.  But what I can and should commit myself to is a discipline, a rhythm of life based on the Gospels.  

Life as a religious is no different from that of a sports person. Both the streams of life demand a certain stringent discipline, without which one gets no where and barely achieves anything worth at all.  Perhaps, just a difference of reason and purpose. A religious lives for God and people to whom he or she has committed his or her life to.  A sports person lives for the merit of the game. 

The beauty of this discipline is that when supported by love, it becomes a vocation; if not, it is an obsession.  

Developed India!

 Last month a couple of us were travelling by train and part of the discussion was about the progress the government claims to have made and all that political jargon. 

And at Rajamundry station we got hard evidence of it all... 

Coming around

 The luxury of choice in human life is vast and unimaginable.  We make choices every moment of our life. 

From picking up good looking vegetables, to people we choose to marry; from choosing to sleep an extra hour to deciding to quit a high-paying salary.  Even in moments when we seemingly feel we are not making a choice, for in the very act of not choosing either of the options, we CHOOSE not to act!  Whatever it be, each of those choices, has consequences and impact on our life.  

One amusing statement that I recently came across: You buy good potatoes and reject the bad ones. The bad ones return in your life through samosas, chat, burgers, chips...!

Move on

 The natural human tendency is to stay put and pitch a tent and get comfortable. No one likes to be constantly changing and moving - not even those with wanderlust! 

However, that is exactly what the Lord recommends us not to settle for.  The transfiguration scene is where the Lord tells us 'move on'. The clue for this same instruction is already in the first reading of the day, where Yahweh tells Abram, leave the place where you right now are and follow me. I've prepared a place for you.  

Interesting to note, Abram gets going.  He has no clue of the place, not even the name of the place.  What's more interesting is that when he gets there, it is already occupied by others!  Yahweh never gave it on a platter to him. 

As one striving to live by faith, the Lord calls each of us, not just to move on, but to 'follow Him'.  Therefore the prayer ought not to be: Be with us us, Lord; rather it should be: Help me stick close to You, Lord. 

For He is ALWAYS with me. 

Our time and lives

In our fast changing times and lives, we seem to be living in a paradox. 

In our times, where the funeral matters more than the dead. 

The wedding ceremony is more important than the couple or the love between them and their families. 

The curriculum, rank and name of the school matters more than the child or the student. 

Building large and beautiful edifices is more urgent and necessary than having qualified and competent teachers. 

Having several social media portfolios and channels is more important than having genuine friends or clear conscience. 

The brand of our phone matters more than the quality and content of our conversations. 

Ask, seek, knock

 Listening to today's gospel about the passage from St Mathew's text, where we hear: 

Ask and you shall receive. 

Seek and you will find. 

Knock and the door will be opened for you. 

The imagery and thought that flashed across my mind as Fr Wilson was preaching on this theme, was a totally weird and different one from the one being preached. 

Ask. Seek. Knock. 

I was struck by the third one. Not for what the Gospel meant, but for what I felt as one mode of operation. 

Perhaps at times there is also the need to knock.  Knock, not at a door to ask or plead, but to literally give a knock on one's head!  For some, we begin by asking, then really seek but if there is no response, a knock on the head is what will waken them up to straighten themselves. 

Jonah's obedience

Abraham obeyed Yahweh and we become the children of faith. 

Due to Moses' obedience, the Israelites were saved from Pharoah's wrath. 

Because of Jonah's obedience the Ninevites were protected from Yahweh's anger. 

Since Jesus was obedient, we received salvation. 

Not every one who obeyed knew or consented to what they agreed to do or be. Nor did they all have perfect trust in the one who was asking them to do something different or abnormal - yet, they obeyed. 

And others benefited!