Dependence

 My recent reflection based on the FCRA cancellations and the upcoming concerns with foreign funding, brings back to the fore our reliance on projects, to the extent of crippling out initial passion to work by ourselves. The availability of funding actually makes us lazy!! 

Earlier our predecessors worked with a vision, firmly rooted in the context of the place. Their humble initiatives were not project-bound. They just did all they could. Their time, talents, will and available resources were the investment. Recognising this total and joyful commitment, donors offered their mite by way of financial resources. The focus of our early Salesians was not projects or funding; it was the apostolate. At no costs did they halt the apostolate, even when funding dwindled. God provided. 

Today we ride on the merit of their hard work. Our commitment levels are far lower than theirs. Riddled with personal agenda and selfishness, our apostolate is often a showcasing of ourselves rather than a genuine concern for the growth of the young people. In such a context, external funding only feeds our lethargy and selfishness. 

So I wonder, if my insistence on accountability is misplaced. The greater emphasis should be on discerning the real needs of the young, with a far sighted vision for their long term growth; earning by the sweat of one's brow; maximum utilisation of available resources rather than new resources - with a clear firm focus on the young and God, taking ones own wants out of the calculation. 

Carryon!

 Another instance of consistency and focus, rather than getting lost in the maze or craze of power politics and positions: the story of Elijah and Elisha.  

The latter asks for a parting gift from his mentor.  The master, does not promise him.  But states that if he does see him being taken upto heaven, he will have his wish granted.  Elisha sees the other being taken upto heaven.  I asked myself, what if he had not seen him and he was not granted his wish.  Would he still have carried on the apostolate?  

I guess he would have!  With what he had.  To ask and pray for more and better is fine, but the granting or receiving of it is not a criteria to carryout one's work.  One does what one is to do, not because there is some reward or award but because that is a good thing or the right thing to do. 

Construction

 The construction work is laborious - naturally for the one doing it, but also for the one who is carrying it out (the owner).  Without supervision, there are a hundred and one things that can go wrong, which the masons and team will not bother look at or see to. Not that the mason and team are bad or malicious, it is just that they are so focused on their task that they do not tend to notice any other tasks their job has created! As the home owner, one looks at the whole house, rather than just one portion that is being built or renovated. 

But one thing is sure, investment in construction and worse, renovation, is a dead investment! 

St Joseph, the worker

And though they son were God indeed 

over that home no Angels sang 

but still through years of toil and need 

hammer and mallet bravely rang 

and surely t'was a gracious thing 

when standing at his father's knee 

the world's great craftsman and its king 

not king but craftsman learned to be. 

The Lord himself learned to be a carpenter under your care,help us too to appreciate the beauty of hard work and to recognise the dignity of every labourer.

Job satisfaction and fulfilment

 Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with one of our former staff.  Although he had resigned, he was still on board for selected but scattered tasks that we asked him to come on board.  So far so good. 

The discussion began about our present work condition and I thought he was keen to know how things work within the organisation.  However, sooner than later he stopped me and said, I came to basically share with you my difficulties!  I didn't see that coming.  Nonetheless I listened to him and very soon realised he was looking for some challenging role and responsibility.  He wasn't asking. He wasn't demanding. He was placing himself before me and asking me to challenge him with a task.  He wanted that thrill of being felt useful and capable.  He wished to pour out his energies into something that others had failed at or feared handling or proved incapable of completing.  

Later in the night I discussed what I had in mind for this particular individual with the others in my organisation core team.  They were more than excited about how perfect a fit it was: the man, given his capacity and experience, and the task/role I proposed. 

I guess it is not always about money or fame.  At times and more than we like to think of it, a job is not merely a monetary source - it is a vital source of meaning and fulfilment in one's life.  And I hope and pray that more and more of us priests and religious see our life and service as meaningful and fulfilling rather than anything else. 

Herd theory

 

Government buildings and work

 The last couple of days I've visited a few government buildings.  Since the work was taking its own time, I had the leisure to walk around and take a close look at the buildings.  

Just one word that best describes the condition of the government buildings: pathetic!!! 

There's one that I've visited thrice already. And it was built in 1910. That it is still standing is one miracle.  The next miracle is that it is still being used.  Of course parts of it are already dilapidated and can very well be turned into a museum or a heritage building.  But the other parts, rooms are being used!!  In some places the files are all wet and in some places even plants growing on them. Some furniture rusted or so corroded.  The cupboards hardly able to support themselves, leave alone the files stored on them.  Trunks with documents left out in the sun and rain.  

Then there are the new buildings. That's another story!  They are either half done, and even if completed, they are all so dirty, with dust, debris, garbage and filth everywhere.  Broken furniture is strewn around. Stairs and corners are full of beetel nut spit.  Then there are the stray dogs - perfectly at home with the hundreds of people moving in and out of the buildings. The floors sinking. Ceiling peeling off.  Perhaps only the higher officials offices are a bit tidy.  The rest of the offices are most often messy with waste bins overflowing.  

Most walls and terraces have plants growing and pipes leaking.  Not one electrical line or cable is concealed or in proper place.  All exposed and precariously hanging. The stationery and office related items are bare minimum.  I'll not speak about the toilets, because I dared not go anywhere close to them - that is, if they did exist! 

All said and done, what struck me most, was the fact that work goes on!!! While we religious and priests feel that unlike every bit is in place and fully furnished, no work can be done, the government staff clearly show us how things move on - not just a few or once in a way, but in gallore and everyday - with nothing, or minimal but pathetic facilities! 

The art of waiting...

Over the years, I have quite happily mastered to a great extent, the art of waiting... for long! Knowing that a task is delayed is one thing. Not knowing when at all it will ever be completed is another! 

And what better place to practice waiting than at an Indian government office! Of course, hospitals also offer a good practice ground, but nothing beats a government office and officials. 

From another perspective, I think deadlines - or rather an obsession with deadlines - do play a big role in the process of mastering the art of waiting. Once you take out the deadline issue out of the equation, then it is another ball game altogether.  

Like Buddha taking out 'desire' from the world to end all sorrow and suffering! 

A bank account

Today I got myself a bank account... purely for official purposes as my responsibility and role as Economer, warrants one!  

The process of securing an SBI account online sounded pretty much straight forward. But the practical aspects of going through the process saw me spend more than half a day, going around in circles.  It was the video KYC way that I followed, rather than the old-way manual mode of appearing and running to and fro the bank branch office, with papers and documents in hand.  I was told that the former is faster and easier, if one has all the documents needed. Looking back, I agree.  

The most frustrating part was getting the video call through!  I spent half a day, staring at the phone or laptop screen watching the timer tick by and my order in the queue. What I did not realise (or perhaps I was lucky by noon) that after the selected slot runs out, without me getting a call, I shouldn't close the window or tab.  I need to stay on and await the call.  Not sure that works that way, or that I just got lucky by noon! 

Anyway, the joy of having ticked off an item on one's 'to do list' is never to be underestimated! 

Formation and apostolate

What is the major difference between formation houses and houses of active apostolate?  Or in other words, between formation and apostolate?  

I know I'm splitting hairs.  I am also very aware and conscious of the fact that the two are not different or segregated.  Nonetheless, there is a difference.  There should be a difference.  

During the discussions about getting familiarised with the GC29 documents it occurred to me that perhaps one thing that distinguishes formation from active apostolate is the degree of accompaniment.  While formation is all about accompaniment, during the initial years of formation, the young Salesian is offered a greater possibility of being accompanied.  During apostolate in full-fledged active communities, the level of accompaniment is significantly lower.  Of course, no accompaniment at this stage is bad; the fact is that the luxury formation settings provide for the type of accompaniment offered is not possible in communities with multiple sectors and works.  

Blessed are those who realise that formation is all about accompaniment; helping the young Salesian personalise the formation process so that no matter where he goes or does, he makes that an opportunity for learning and growing.  Just like Don Bosco who did not treat his seminary years as years of formation;  his whole life, every incident, every achievement and failure; every task and challenge, he turned it into a formation experience!  

Devil - the hard worker

Most often, the Devil is cited as evil incarnate and that he/she has no good quality or virtue. The devil is said to be the absolute negation of good. 

However, perhaps he does have one virtue and that he is really good at it (perhaps there could be more such virtues). It is the virtue of hard work! 

None can deny any of the following: 

1. The devil is always at work.
2. He is consistent in his goal and mission. No concessions! 
3. The devil is creative and inventive. 

So there is something after all that we can learn from the devil! 

Being vs Doing

Doing usually flows from our Being.  Character often dictates or heavily influences our actions.  Therefore a greater focus on being is never misplaced.  

Nonetheless, our actions too have a bearing on our character, our being.  Besides ratifying or expressing our character, they do have an effect on our character.  

In short, the relationship between being and doing is not necessarily a one-way traffic; it is perhaps more of a Indian market-scene where everyone is in the right direction!!!

The ocean and a drop

Mother Teresa once compared her own charitable works to a drop in the ocean; nonetheless qualified it as important by concluding that if she were not to do that work, the ocean would be less by a drop! 

Lessons: 

1. We do not see drops of water in the ocean; we merely see the ocean. If each drop were to seek a distinct identity and not be seen as in union with the other, there would only be drops but no ocean. Unity in diversity is the key; not the latter alone! 
2. Only the ocean survives the summer heat, not individuated water drops or small water bodies. Our vision should outlast our life and work. 
3. Strive for quality; not rest on the laurels of some minor achievements. Aim small, achieve small. Aim big, achieve big!
   
   
   

Doing the best

With all the talk and push for greater visibility and marketing of our services, in contrast to the earlier humble silent 'do-your-own-work' mode, there is always the risk that one may go overboard with this advertising model.  

I firmly believe that we truly need to showcase our works; not so much to impress others but to put out there what we truly do, in the light of all the rumours, character-assassination and negative media bias.  Nonetheless, we do what we do because we are truly convinced of it and give it our best. 

It is said that Michealangelo while painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel would spend hours doing very fine art work.  One of his young artist students asked him as to why go through so much pain and effort at something no one will notice from the ground.  "Why put in so much when no one will notice?" To which Michaelangelo seemed to have replied, "I will!"  I do what I do, because I can and I will! 

Early bird?

I have been travelling by road for the last one week.  Most of the time we set out early to beat the traffic to the next place.  Invariably it is still dark and being winter often misty too.  Nonetheless the most common people we see already up and about their work at that time of the day are the vegetable and fruit farmers and vendors. 

The farmers or the vendors are either transporting their produce or products to the market or are setting up the shop, for the sale.  And I wondered if the vegetables or fruits are not sold.  It is a double loss for them and their families:  They do not earn much and unless they themselves consume the fruits or vegetables, they are going to get spoilt.  From the mere observation of the lives of these poor people, they'd hardly afford fresh products for themselves.  Even if they have to eat it, rather than throw it away, they'd wait till the end, hopeful of some buyer purchasing them. 

The rest, those who sell imperishable goods, I suppose do not have such a tension.  They can conveniently pull down the shutter to their stores, hopeful for a better sale tomorrow - assured that their wares are not going to get spoilt by then. They can afford to open the shop anytime after 10 am.  

And we say, the early bird gets the worm!

Religious apostolate

As religious our apostolate is taking up tasks that need to be done, and there’s no one doing it. We undertake works that are urgent and necessary but none willing to do. Doing what everyone is doing, especially if they are doing it better than us, is no charism. That’s the corporate mode or race. Not a religious commitment. 

Secondly taking up something new is not for the sake of ‘doing something new’ but because there is a felt need and our apostolate is a response to that need. 

Contextualising this for us Salesians I ask myself: As SDBs what is the need that is demanding our intervention, especially in the youth sphere? 

Whatever the need I could think of (work for migrants, those addicted to drugs or social media, those struggling with mental health issues, young couples...), it struck me that our response necessarily does not mean starting something totally new. It mostly implies transforming existing modes of apostolate into something relevant. Perhaps it is easier to start something new, rather than adapt obsolete traditions and works to something relevant for the day and today’s need.

 

Creation lessons

The creation story in the Bible has God working six days of the week and on the seventh day, taking rest. There is from then on, this whole lord of the work vs lord of rest debate.  Interestingly the Lord works six days and rests only one day... after admiring all the good he has done.  In general, we tend to focus on the final day of rest as special, important.  So Sunday is always special.  It is holy day.  

Let's look at it from the creation's perspective.  I think there was nothing special about the day.  From the work and creation perspective it was a break.  A pause.  A time to recuperate, rejuvenate, revive.  Not just the Lord, the creator but creation as well.  

As for the debate between the lord of work vs the lord of prayer... we need to primarily keep in mind, that ultimately it is the same Lord!!  

An eternal work-in-progress

During my last visit home, looking around the garden, it struck me that it was 'work-in-progress'.  That was nothing different or surprising, but what hit me hard was the realisation that it always - ever since my childhood - has been so!!  An eternal 'work-in-progress'.  The whole of it; all the time!

All my time at Chertsey, I took care of the garden of the house. Looking back even that garden was a w-i-p!  No sooner that I left, Godwill took it up and John sent me some photos of the transformed garden - it was so beautiful. Perfect. No more w-i-p!!  

I think there is some strange tendency among us - should I say, Indians or particularly gardeners - to never ever achieve completion.  Looking further back, at our gardens and farms in Mangalore or in the Province, nowhere are they complete.  They are always 'under construction'.  All of it. Not just some part of it, but all of it, all the time!  

I think it is basically an art or style of functioning.  We always have work to do!! There is always something that needs to be done.  And it can never ever be completed!  

St Joseph the worker

 An excerpt from the Vatican II document on the modern world (no. 34)... 

Where men and women, in the course of gaining a livelihood for themselves and their families, offer appropriate service to society, they can be confident that their personal efforts promote the work of the Creator, confer benefits on their fellowmen, and help to realize God's plan in history.

The childhood of Christ by Gerard van Honthorst

Martha's action

Most often while interpreting the episode of Jesus supporting the role of Mary during his visit to his friends' house in Bethany, over and above that of Martha, we try to see and show how both action and contemplation are needed.  From a practical point of view too both are essential.  

Imagine a house where there was only Mary.  Jesus certainly did not go alone to their house.  It was mostly along with his apostles, I guess. What if there was no Martha at home?  Only Mary who preferred to sit by Jesus' side and listen to him.  The apostles and even Jesus would long for someone to offer them some water to drink and a bit to taste!  The word of God satisfies the soul, but it does not satiate actual hunger or thirst.  

The difficulty comes when one has to judge or grade one over the other: action or contemplation?  Martha does that.  She strongly feels that her action is better than that of Mary's contemplation.  She seeks Jesus' opinion to endorse her view - and gets shot down!  The key is to relish what one does best, rather than compare and contrast it with someone else's choice.