Prayer and quotes

Here's a nice prayer (from Rabbi, sent, as usual, in the middle of the night!):

Disturb us, O Lord, disturb us, when we are too well pleased with ourselves; when our dreams have come true because we dreamt too little; when we have reached the shore safely because we have sailed too close to the shore, disturb us O Lord!

Reminds me of another nice quote that I read in a book long ago:

Lord give bread to the hungry and those who not hungry, a thirst for justice!

Then there is one which Cheryl mentioned when we met for the first time in Vijayawada:

'... we rise to the level of our incompetence...'!!

Power of media

Seems to be a very powerful movie... reminds me of 'The Kite Runner'...
That this movie won the Audience Choice Award at the Toronto film festival (2009) does speak something about it. For me, that Jim Caviezel plays one of the main roles in the movie adds another reason for it being special. 'The Stoning of Soraya M.' is a drama set in 1986 Iran and centered on a man, Sahebjam (Caviezel), whose car breaks down in a remote village and enters into a conversation with Zahra (Aghdashloo), who relays to him the story about her niece, Soraya (Marnò), whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant had a tragic ending.
"... the world must know!"

The family bonds

This morning I received the sad news of the demise of Fr PK's father. I instantly passed the information to the Province confreres. Fr Maliekal also informed the community about this sad event before breakfast this morning. There was no reaction from the Brothers. Fr Maliekal was quick to comment: "It means nothing to them. They don't know... neither Fr PK nor his father. So his death would mean nothing to any of them."

I knew that it was right but found it hard to accept. After all, Fr PK is a Salesian, one of the family-member of the Province. Now I do not say that all should start weeping, or begin a five-day mourning. But some sense of solidarity...?

To add to this uneasiness was the sight of a brother running around the house, after lunch, informing all, that Michael Jackson had died!! I really found it hard to believe and I did mention it to the Brother 'broadcasting' the news. The worse was yet to come: another brother offered the last decade of the community rosary for the 'repose of the soul of Michael Jackson'. That was too much for me! Not that I have anything against Michael Jackson or believe that he does not need our prayers - most probably he needs them more than Fr PK's father - but to see where and how our mind works/where our affinity lies. There's a confrere's father who passed away today and a celebrity (whose very name the Brother who prayed for him, could not spell!)... and whom do we sympathize with? Is Michael Jackson more a family member than Fr PK? Certainly not for me!

Lunch with God

Here's a nice anecdote I received from Cheryl today:

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cupcakes, several cans of root beer and started on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he saw an elderly woman. She was sitting on a park bench watching the pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed the lady looked hungry so he offered her a cupcake. She gratefully accepted and smiled at him.

Her smile was so wonderful that he wanted to see it again, so he offered a root beer as well. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling without saying a word.

As it began to grow dark, the boy realized how tired he was and wanted to go home. He got up to leave but before he had gone no more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to the old woman, giving her a big hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy arrived home his Mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked, "What has made you so happy today?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." Before his mother could respond he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile in the whole world!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face. He asked, "Mother, what has made you so happy today?" She replied, "I ate cupcakes in the park with God." And before her son could reply, she added, "You know, he is much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Take no one for granted and embrace all equally with joy!

Saul turning Paul

This morning I shared with the Karunapuram community my reflections about Saul-turning-Paul. The real point of conversion was the excruciating blindness and helplessness that Saul felt after having encountered the Lord. The meeting with the Lord was only the starting point, not exactly the point of conversion. Saul did have the courage to go through the dark night, the perseverance to be a 'nobody' for three days and more, the anxiety of not knowing who you will be, the courage to start afresh leaving behind the comfort zones of his education, status and power. Secondly Saul was willing to seek help (from Ananias), to play the second fiddle (to the Apostles), to be one among the crowds (just like any other disciple), the humility to seek God for assistance and strength.

Confident that the Lord had called him, Saul endures all of this and is willing and open to learn from all. It is this attitude of courage and openness that gives him a new identity, that of Paul.

Working for a Change

Fr Rayanna's goodnight was a classical one!!

There are three types of people in society who wish to bring about a change: the revolutionary, the reformer and the rebel. The first one is one who wants to see that everything outside him is good, according to his standards (noble and demanding).... but not necessarily one who would do it in an amicable way. The last one, a rebel, is one who would grumble and fight without a real motivation. The change he wishes to bring about need not necessarily have the welfare of all involved. The reformer on the other hand is one who attempts to bring about a change on the outside, beginning with his own self. The change thus brought about is healthy for all as it emerges from the person himself who has used it first on himself and is now inviting others to this.

Becoming a personality

Last night Fr CJ Mathew shared a nice reflection in view of the solemnity of the birth of John the Baptist:

To be born a personality, a celebrity is an accident. But to die as one is an achievement. John the Baptist didn't have done all that he did, but he chose to and thereby earned a name for himself for all eternity.

Recollection at Karunapuram

Long last the net is back!! The thunder and lightning here in Karunapuram did not bring down the rain but only the internet!! Anyway, did manage to catch up with quite a lot of work this night.

As I type this I realise, I've been preaching recollections at the rate of two to three per year!! Wow, that's already some work... Today was the first for this year. As always, I kept it personal and not something theoretical or theological. That's the advantage of being with the Brothers for a while... you gauge their pulse and feed them appropriately. Anyway I made a good recollection myself. It was nice making myself sit in the Chapel and spending time with the Lord.

I spoke to the Brothers about the option that all of us made to be Salesians and what it entailed. Using the analogy of a football game, I stressed on the point that it is ultimately I who made the choice to be a Salesian, that I play by the rules of the Congregation (using my creativity to live them best, there lies my skill), that all that happens (good, bad, pleasant, unpleasant) is all part of the game and finally, that I need to involve generously and joyfully to be able to continually make the choice. If at anytime, there isn't a 'thrill' there is no prison wall holding me back from walking out of the football court (religious life).

At Karunapuram

Am at Karunapuram (Don Bosco Philosophate, Warangal) for a course on Introduction to Philosophy for the first years. Coming to Karunapuram is always a sort of 'homecoming'. This evening I just walked around the corridors recalling to mind the three years that I spent here as the Assistant. Far from being the most pleasant and memorable, those years were nonetheless enriching. There were hard times too but very formative. Looking back I remember that it was tough then. But in a way, I am happy that I came in here with an attitude of learning, clearly to be 'with the Brothers', to learn and give my very best. I think it is these basic principles that kept me going even when the going was tough.

This time round, things are different: this is the first time that Karunapuram is seeing such a large number of Salesians (40 and three more yet to arrive!). It is good. Furthermore, the mixture is very very good (Brothers from Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Sri Lanka, and of course, our own Hyderabad guys). Hope the Brothers will gain and give much, enriching themselves in this whole process.

David is no more!

He was stabbed below the heart and the knife dragged inside so as to tear his stomach out and his internal organs were all forced out. His gold necklace, telephone, money were all stolen. This must have happened at about 2.30 in the morning. Poor David, just 16 years old, must have bled to death there. No one helped him then, nor is anyone now. A touching incident which occurred on June 13, 2009 in far away Hungary ... but has a message for everyone!

Read more about the fragility of human life ... the cruelty of the human heart ... the helplessness of a wounded family ... of this incident.

Thanks to Fr Simon for sharing this part of his life and mission!