Love transforms everything

 [Reflection by Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS] 

 A Dutch diamond collector was seeking for a very rare diamond. 

 A diamond dealer in New York heard of this inquiry and contacted him letting him know that he believed he possessed the diamond he was looking for. The diamond collector arrived and the dealer had his salesman present the diamond. 

 The salesman described all the technical aspects of the diamond. However, within minutes, the diamond collector rose his hand and said: “I am sorry! This is not the diamond I am looking for” and began to walk away. 

 Watching from a distance, the diamond dealer hurriedly intercepted him and he asked him if he could present the diamond again. Since he had travelled a long distance, the collector agreed to listen once again. The dealer pulled out the same diamond and started describing his admiration for this particular diamond. 

 Within minutes they were signing papers, and the diamond was purchased. 

 As the gentleman was walking out, he asked, what just happened? Why was it so easy for me to say no to your salesman a little while ago, while with you I purchased the diamond? The dealer replied: “That salesman is the best in the business. He knows more about diamonds than anyone, including myself, and I pay him a large salary for his knowledge and expertise. But I would gladly pay him twice as much if I could put into him something I have, which he lacks. You see, he knows diamonds but I love them!” 

 Love transforms everything!

The amazing ability

Sherlock Holmes and his smart assistant Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, enjoy a heavy barbeque dinner with a bottle of whisky, set up their tent, and fall asleep. 

Some hours later, Holmes wakes his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson replies, “I see millions of stars.” “What does that tell you?” Watson ponders for a minute. “Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Timewise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it’s evident the Lord is all powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?” 

Holmes is silent for a moment, then speaks. “Watson, you idiot, someone has stolen our tent!” 

Watson had missed the most obvious observation. He was clever enough to notice the complexities of the stars, but he missed what was plain and simple. 

I remember this particular phrase in the book Jesus plan for a new world, which the author uses to describe the apostles, as to how they had "the amazing ability to miss the point." Even the most best of us sometimes miss the obvious.

Influenced and altered

 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]

Pride

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'.

Faith as commitment

 I came across this beautiful but challenging narration about faith as commitment... (a reflection by Jijo Jose Manjackal)

It’s a bright morning at Niagara Falls, 1859. The mist is rising, the roar of the waters is deafening and thousands of people are holding their breath. 

A rope - just two inches thick - stretches across the mighty falls. And then he appears: Charles Blondin, the greatest tightrope walker of his time. 

He steps onto that rope one careful step at a time. The crowd gasps - some turn their faces away. Step after step inch after inch and finally, he reaches the other side! 

The people explode in cheers and applause. Blondin turns around and shouts, “Do you believe I can walk back again?” “Yes!” they roar.  

He smiles. “Do you believe I can do it pushing a wheelbarrow?” “Yes!” Then he points to the crowd and asks, “Who will get into the wheelbarrow?” Silence.  No one moved!

 Everyone believed but no one committed! Everyone cheered but no one chose! 

In our Christian life, it’s time to stop cheering from the sidelines and start choosing! 

Faith is not a feeling to admire it is a choice to commit. 

Perspective and attitude

A young salesman became discouraged because he had been rejected by many of the customers that he approached. He asked a more experienced salesman for some advice. “Why is it that every time I make a call on someone I get rejected?” 

“I just don’t understand that,” answered the older salesman “I’ve been hit on the head, called dirty names, and thrown out the door, but I’ve never been rejected! Remember, my son: Rejection isn’t what happens to us but how we interpret what happens to us!”

That's called having a perspective.  Building and living an attitude. 

Song of faith

 An interesting story that I came across today: 

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 tied 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 who allow themselves to 'influenced and altered' by the ways of the world! We may end up losing the 'song of our Faith!'

Generosity

This story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great, as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several gold coins. 

A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented: “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why give him gold?” 

Alexander responded in royal fashion: “Copper coins would suit the beggar’s need but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.” 

Generosity is not just about fulfilling needs it is a reflection of our character and our inner goodness!

Being on God's side

During the US civil war, a group of pastors met President Abraham Lincoln and while at breakfast stated, "Mr President, at this time of the civil war, we pray that God is on our side." To which Abe replied, "No gentlemen. Let us pray that we are on God's side!"

True indeed, a great reminder for each of us to seek God's will rather than expect God to support our desires and fantasies.  That religion is more about being open to God than using God as a means to do what we want.  

Spread the good

 One of my favourite anecdotes: 

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning ‘corn’ (maize). Each year he entered his corn in the fair-competition conducted at the state-level, where it won a prize. 

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him. Among the many great practices that this farmer had adopted, the reporter also learned something highly interesting about how this farmer grew corn… … and which made him to win a prize every year. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn… his best variety seed… with his neighbouring farmers! 

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are also entering into competition with you?” enquired the bewildered reporter. “Why sir,” replied back the farmer, “didn’t you know one of the important realities of life? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. 

If my neighbours grow inferior variety of corn, the cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn as well. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn. 

This is the reality of life that I have realized: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”

Theology of the Eucharist

Ethiopia suffered a terrible famine during the years 1984 to 1986.  Cardinal Hume of Westminister tells about an incident that happened when he visited Ethiopia in the middle of the famine.  One of the places he visited was a settlement up in the hills where the people were waiting for food which was unlikely to arrive.  He was taken there in a helicopter.  

As he got out of the helicopter a small boy, aged about ten, came up to him and took his hand.  He was wearing nothing but a loincloth round his waist.  The while time the cardinal was there the little child would not let go of his hand.  

As they went around he made two gestures: with one hand he pointed to his mouth, and with the other he took the cardinal's nand and rubbed it on his cheek.  

Later the cardinal said, "Here was an orphan boy who was lost and starving.  Yet by two simple gestures he indicated our two fundamental needs or hungers.  With one gesture he showed me his hunger for food, and with the other his hunger for love." 

"I have never forgotten that incident, and to this day I wonder whether that child is still alive. I remember that as I boarded the helicopter he stood and looked at me reproachfully."

[Source: Found as part of the 'homily' on a piece of photocopied paper! Not sure of the original source! Certainly not mine!]

Busily happy

A man returned to his native village after several years. Years ago when he left the village to seek brighter prospects he was sure nothing much could be achieved staying in the village. Chatting with his childhood friends who stayed on and settled down in the village itself, he was glad to see them all after long. As he listened to all that they did he finally stated, “So you really have kept yourselves busy.” One of them responded, “Busy or not, we are not sure, but happy indeed!” “What's the big difference,” he asked, “between being busy and being happy?” Another of his friends responded, “If one earns more than what he needs he is busy. And if one earns what he needs, he is happy!”

God's Rosebud!

An interesting anecdote and poem about discernment. 

A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud, 

A flower of God's design; 

But, I cannot unfold the petals 

With these clumsy hands of mine. 

The secret of unfolding flowers 

Is not known to such as I. 

GOD opens this flower so easily, 

But, in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud, 

This flower of God's design, 

Then, how can I have the wisdom 

To unfold this life of mine?

So, I'll trust in God for leading 

Each moment of my day. 

I will look to God for guidance 

In each step along the way.

The path that lies before me, 

Only my Lord and Savior knows. 

I'll trust God to unfold the moments, 

Just as He unfolds the rose.

Awake or dreaming

Came across the source of the popular anecdote about consciousness and reality, at the British museum yesterday.  Butterflies symbolise happiness and longevity and are associated with the Daoist conundrum of whether or not life is an illusion.  Zhuangzi (about 369 BC - 286 BC) pondered ...

Once I dreamt I was a butterfly... I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awoke , and there I was, myself again.  Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.

Patience and perseverance

Elisha cures Naaman, the Syrian of his leprosy.  Here's an imaginative aftermath of the event...

Many of the lepers in Israel hear of Naaman's cure and rush to the Jordan to take a dip.  Some wash themselves more than 7 times.  Some do it for 7 days continuously.  None of them are healed.  (Don't ask me why!).  Some go to Elisha and ask him to heal them too of their leprosy.  To each he prescribes a different course of action - all of which often take many days of perseverance and continued effort by the 'patient'.  Of these most give up very soon, because nothing of the sort that happened to Naaman is happening to them.  Of the few who continue being faithful to the 'prescriptions' of Elisha, not all are optimism. As time goes by and no healing happening, they begin to lose hope.  Only the most adamant and the most distressed, 'hell-bent' on getting rid of the disease continue and are ultimately healed.  But by this time, Elisha has moved on.  Those who were watching all this, hawk-eyed, have long got bored and gone on to find something more 'instantaneous' to amuse themselves with.  And those handful who actually are cured as now not so sure that it is only the 'prescription' of Elisha that has worked. 

The silent retreat

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. They began with enthusiasm and no one said a word the whole day.

By nightfall of the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk blurted out, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Hey! We are not supposed to speak!" The third monk said in an irritated voice, "What is this? Why did you two break the silence?" The fourth monk smiled and said, "Wow! I'm the only one who hasn't spoken."

Reflection:
Each monk broke the silence for a different reason, each of which is a common stumbling block in our inner journey. The first monk got distracted by one aspect of his experience (the candle) and forgot what was more important - the practice of witnessing without reacting. The second monk was more worried about others following the rules than in actually practicing himself. The third monk let his anger towards the first two monks affect him. And the fourth monk lost his way because of pride. 

Why did the fourth monk speak at all? He could have simply maintained his silence and he would have been successful in his endeavor. But if he had, chances are, the other three might have continued to argue and not even noticed his silence. Some people are like this. Their motto is "If I'm doing something good, but no one notices, I might as well not be doing it at all." They believe that the reward is not in the effort, but in the recognition.

There is a beautiful quote, "It is the prudence​ of knowledge to speak; it is the privilege of wisdom to listen." As we learn to truly listen, witness and observe without impulsively reacting with distraction, judgement, anger and pride, then we understand the true meaning of silence. 

Dying of boredom

Know not for what reason but a particular story we studied while at school keeps cropping up in my mind. Don't remember the exact title or the details.  It is a very amusing tale of a youngster who is given to laziness or thinks he is about to die or that he is already dead (I think it is the latter).  No amount of persuasion or medical checks to prove him wrong helped.  Ultimately a plan was devised.  One particular part of the house was isolated and redesigned.  It was painted white and beautifully decorated, all in white.  The youngster wakes up to find himself in this particular place all by himself.  Two persons dressed as angels appear to him and tell him that he is in heaven.  The youngster is quite happy.  However, as days go by he realizes there is nothing to do!  He can't go to visit anyone because the others live in similarly beautiful mansions quite a distance away.  As to when next he could see his family, he is told that it could take many years for them to die and reach the heavenly mansion.  A few days later he is desperate out of boredom!  He longs for some work, something to do.  When those observing him feel he has learnt his lesson, the drama is revealed. 

Lesson:  Imaginary demons are far more lethal than any actually existing ones! 
Greater lesson: Boredom is a greater curse than over-work!

Kindness

What goes around, comes around! 

Being conscious of time

Paulo Coelho's short stories 'The Four Forces'

As soon as he died, Juan found himself in a very beautiful place, surrounded by all the comfort and beauty that he had dreamed of.  A figure dressed in white came up to him and said, "You are entitled to anything you want."

Enchanted, Juan did everything he had dreamed of during life.  After many years of pleasure, he sought out the figure in white. He said that he had experienced everything and that now he needed a little work to make him feel useful.  "That's the only thing I cannot get for you," said the figure in white."  "But I'll spend eternity dying of boredom! I'd much rather be in hell!"  "And where do you think you are?" 

I could say that this was my feeling a couple of months ago.  However, for the past month, life has been quite hectic... or rather I've chosen to be active! 

Socrates' three-filter test...

Socrates' three-filter test...