Not for what he was but what he made of us...

Last night (or I should say, early this morning) after being surprised by the news of Fr Benji passing away, passing on the information to the Province, friends and well-wishers, posting the news on the website and mailing the same to others interested, I hit bed again. Only this time, sleep evaded me. It was only then that the fact that he was no more, really started to sink in. To have met him, spoken to him personally, driven him around the city, helped him with his talks and presentations and given him a bear hug at the airport before he left for Chennai, to imagine that he was no more, was a very uneasy feeling. No fear or sorrow, just heightened anxiety!

The day just passed by in trying to convince people/confreres that Benji really passed away and in the sudden manner that he left us, made this all more difficult. Anyhow, after all the hustle and bustle, I took up today's newspaper and my eyes fell on a beautiful quote about Nelson Mandela: "Every time Nelson Mandela walks into a room we all feel a little bigger, we all want to stand up, we all want to cheer, because we'd like to be him on our best day."
Thank you dear Fr Benji, not so much for what you were, but for making us what we are!