Suffering and climbing down

I liked the reflection shared by Alex this morning, something common between the Gospel of the day (Transfiguration) and the first reading (Moses willing to sacrifice his son Isaac). In both the readings the theme of climbing up the mountain is prevalent. Both the instances take place on a mountain top and both have the intervention of the supernatural. Alex however preached on the dual and integral aspect of suffering and joy in human life. He described how climbing up the mountain is synonymous with suffering and hardships one ought to face in life.

However, I thought more than climbing up the mountain, it is climbing down the mountain that is most painful. Climbing up is always with a great fervour, we have our goal set, our energies are at an all time high and nothing seems so difficult. But the climbing down... well there is nothing more to be achieved besides getting back to the plain rhythm of life and though easier by way of physical exertion, dangerous because it takes more strain on the knees and joints.

Ask that of anyone who has his knees injured!

Lenten fasting and feasting...

It's already three b'day celebrations that have gone by and we're still in the first week of Lent. Gathering for such celebrations, is always sort of funny. There are some who convincingly deny any non-vegetarian food or drinks or special items of the day - some don't turn up at all. There are others who battle out the 'moral' 'Christian' dilemma of Lenten practices and personal preferences. But what they ultimately decide to do or follow, is somewhat tinted with a sort of uneasiness.

Somehow, I feel very comfortable amidst all of this. If I decide to join a celebartion, I join whole-heartedly. I'd be there for that person and share in his joy. Rather than feel guilty about restraining myself and indulging myself, I go by what is most conducive. I'd prefer to eat meat and get up next morning and go to Church with a clear mind and conscience than deny eating what is laid before me and think about it the whole meditation time next morning!!

I know it is not the best of all practices but that is how I feel and go about. Of course, the best and first thing is to firmly decide what celebration is worth, especially in this season of prayer, fasting and reflection.

Meetings

The dynamics of any meeting are interesting to observe... but not when you are involved. Sitting for the council meetings, I get a fair glimpse of how and where things proceed and can by now tell where and in what way a discussion would end. Yesterday's commission meeting too was interesting. Each of us with a different perspective trying to put our heads together for a common purpose. It was easier said than done. But in all this I should say, we gain a greater clarity - but not always. With so many elements involved, most importantly our prejudices and attitudes, things do get complicated. We intend to something, but say something else, it is understood as something else and finally recorded as something else. So there you see! The best part of all this is that it happens with the best of intentions. There is no malice or confusion, but great zeal to do the best.

Music

A pleasant surprise from Fr CM Paul this morning... link to a free devotional music site United Worship. I checked it out and it is great.

Excercising will or power

The latest attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team while in Pakistan and the subsequent accusation of one of the Pakistani ministers that it is the handiwork of Indians (Pak minister blames India for attack on Lanka team) is a strange twist to the whole debate of terrorism. We Indians have always thought of Pakistan as a terrorist state and viewed every Pakistani as a terrorist. Statements accusing Pakistani infiltration come easy to us. Now for once we are on the receiving end. Of course, the first reaction is to brush it off as 'bullshit'. But all the same it is good to introspect and see what it really means - and feels - like to be accused of something. Whether the accusation is right or wrong is another issue. I think we need to be fair enough to be open to such a criticism and introspect rather than jump the gun.

Our strength lies not in the amount of ammunition we have or we use but in the will power we exercise in retaining the ammunition in our stores - long enough for it to decay!

Fr Lens and his people

For the past two days we had the joy and company of Fr Lens and his niece, Hilda and grand-niece, Leela. Both came from Belgium to visit their Uncle, our beloved Fr Lens. But each of them have a very interesting 'her-story'. Leela is an adopted daughter. She was adopted when she was just 7 month old baby from Kerala. Today she is a young lady - totally Indian in appearance, but that's all! She is now working as a volunteer in Puducherry, TN with the Salesians. At times it was hard to understand her 'different' from who see appeared to be! Anyway, she is a thoroughbred Belgian!Hilda is an amazing woman. Along with her husband, she has to-date adopted 17 children besides the three sons of her own (Leela was the first to be adopted). Of these 8 are still with her at their home and most of these are physically or mentally challenged children. She showed us the photos of her children and it was very surprising how she looks after these children all by herself.

Perhaps all of this is much more understandable when I say to myself, "She is Fr Lens' neice - it runs in their blood!"

Disparities in life...

This day I witnessed the two extremes of life ... know not if I am balanced and comfortable in both. This morning in the vegetable market as two of us were carrying our vegetable sacks to our vehicle, I had some time to observe a small girl who picked up a plastic bag and began collecting all the discarded vegetables. The girl would be hardly 8-9 years old. Yet she walked about with a keen eye for any vegetable rolling off the sacks, or throw away by the vendors ... While our eyes were fixed on the best, she was very very focused. She never ever glanced at the neatly laid out vegetables. From what I observed, if she wanted she could have easily took a handful of beans, or chillies or leafy vegetables from the good stock - she was too small to be noticed in the crowd. Yet there was no such indication from her face. She was only looking out for the discarded ones.

In the evening to celebrate my b'day the Community went out for a meal. The bill at the end of our 'simple' meal dampened all our appetite and brought a lump to our throats! Well, two extreme situations of life.

However, sitting back in my office, I realise I felt more comfortable in the vegetable market amidst all the dirt and disorder than in the posh cool hotel this evening. The only consolation of the latter was the company of my community members.

Maliekal's rainbow

Fr Maliekal has his own words, phrases and ideas - fresh, crisp and laden with meaning! The latest was today's sermon... Speaking about the rainbow (Noah and the ark) he said that God's ways are like the rainbow - parabolic but man's ways are straight!

Now that's some insight! God has his own ways of reaching out to us but we always would prefer to have a direct and immediate two-way network... shorter the better!

Politics and debates

I came across the following statistics on ibnlive.in.com ... (Old guard beat young MP brigade in Parliament) concerning the young politicians and their participation in the parliamentary debates: Young MPs, those below 40 years, were the least participative in the Lok Sabha proceedings. Occupying 11 per cent of the seats, they spoke only in seven per cent of the debates. MPs older than 70 - the old brigade in Parliament - accounted for 10 per cent of seats and nine per cent of total debates.

Now this is surprising! The very young turks who boast and give talks and conduct rallies and create hysteria among people - all to win their votes - merely warm the benches in the Parliament - the place where they should be actually doing the talking? That the elderly ministers are most vociferous is quite heartening. (Of course, what and with what intention they talk is another question - but at least they talk!)

The concluding line of the article is befitting: Most young MPs will be hoping to contest elections again, making speeches and holding debates. Their constituencies hope their representatives will take their talk to Parliament too.

Kids in the Shrine! (2)

This morning I managed to find out the name of the mini Tsunami-in-the-making who I see whirling round every Mass. I was surprised to see her with Kenny - another synonym for confusion and destruction! I realised they looked related. After Mass I caught hold of Kenny and asked him what was his younger sister's name? "Angela!" What a name for what a kid!!!