Small pockets but large hearts

Last night commenting on the parable of the multiplication of loaves by Jesus, Fr Palli offered the boys another version of the 'miracle'.  He said that perhaps Jesus did not really 'multiply' bread and fish.  But how then did the five thousand men eat to their fill?  Well, they certainly had their own tiffin boxes and carriages.  All that Jesus really did was touch their hearts to help them be generous enough to share with all what each one already had.  Thus not only was the food sufficient but there was extra/left overs too.

He concluded his goodnight thought saying: Even if the pocket is small but the heart is big, wondrous things can be done!

I guess this is the real story of most of our benefactors.  People with small pockets but large hearts!

Praise... the right kind

I came across a very interesting and highly educative RSA doodle about the link between praise and learning.  The basic premise is about what are the success indicators, the educators or adults endorse? We may praise a kid for being smart ... and possibly ruin his future efforts or praise the kid for his effort and keep alive the innovative streak in him.  It is ultimately important to challenge and help children try different and difficult tasks and all along praise the effort, not the results or the already gifted skills.

Some profound insights from the video: 

• Praise the process rather than intelligence itself.
• The latter leads children to a performance or achievement oriented direction; the former (praise for process) leads to further efforts, even if the child suffers setbacks or failures.
• The focus is to help children stay engaged and eager to learn, rather than achieve results.
• When a child says 'it is boring', it actually means the child is afraid to try!
• Convey a value system to children (that hard work is more valuable than rank; that effort is more fulfilling than appearing smart; that honing one's skill is better than resting on one's talent...)
• Keep alive the learning curve... learn at all times and at all costs.

Shutter-happy

Another great vivid example of how 'shutter-happy' most people are was 'enacted' out today in our campus.  The daughter of the former Chief Minister, Mr YSR, Ms Sharmila made a stop at our place this afternoon.  The request was to let her, and her alone, have lunch in our dining hall. It was agreed on condition that her whole entourage  not follow her inside the house.  She was to have reached our place by 1 pm.  She made it only at 2.30 pm and when she did enter the campus, she decided to have her lunch in her caravan itself.  Her bevy of ministers though took the chance to eat indoors in our community dining hall.  Luckily they kept their promise of getting their own food.

Well that was one part of it.  The real point is the drama that unfolded when she came out of her caravan after lunch.  Everyone trying desperately to come close to her and get a photo clicked.  Barely was anyone interested in listening to her or letting anyone - anyone at all - to speak!  Everyone just wanted to crowd around her.  Perhaps I was the only fool who was watching all this from far, having made some arrangements for meals for the hungry bodyguards.

Some of our staff members were quite surprised to see me comfortably sitting at the entrance porch showing no sign of interest in joining the crowd!  Neither did they understand my wonder at their craze in being amidst a sea of people!  When the whole crowd dispersed I heard one of our staff members asking another staff member who clicked some photos to send him the photos so that he could upload them on his facebook page! Umph!

I suppose, each one is a city - an eccentricity! 

Creative enthusiasm

Two youngsters, whom I've met a couple of times already, in the past two weeks or so have begun to earn my appreciation. One has an MBA and another is a web designer by qualification.  Both of them have teamed up to bring out a rather qualitative year planner.  Not just a planner but one with some thought and research involved.  They tell me that this is not their maiden venture either.

What I find interesting in these youngsters is the enthusiasm to do something new and different.  In the process they are also earning something.  But the freshness and creativity and enthusiasm for finesse and quality is something worth emulating.  They are not just a couple of guys who are keen on earning big bucks by getting employed by some corporate sector bigwig.  They are out on their own, experimenting, kindling their creative genes and exploring... and most importantly enjoying!

The making of a legend

After much delay and deliberation and delayed deliberation I continued reading the novel which has been rolling around my bed and table since two months... untouched!!  Now that it has reached my office table, I forget the title really.

It is a rather interesting one by Amish about the Immortals of Meluha (I think that's the title). It is about a man of no distinct nobility rising up the ranks of hierarchy primarily due to a particular sign (a blue throat).  I'm still in the initial chapter wherein most people who see this person are all awe and show extreme reverence.  There are a couple of skeptics but very very few who recognise the sign and yet behave normally.  The person himself is yet to understand the significance of the special trait for which he is almost revered.  However, I was struck by one quote therein:

... whether a man is a legend or not is decided by history, not fortune-tellers.  

No on becomes great or let me use the right word, noble just because he has some features already he is blessed with or has some inborn talents.  It is basically what one does with what one is blessed with that makes him or her noble.

New Year's Resolution

Firmly convinced of the futility, further endorsed by Mark Twain's comment, of new year resolutions, I haven't even thought of one (or any)

... harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody... 

Read more of Mark Twain's thoughts here.

Reminiscing 2015

As the year 2015 comes to a close, I realise it has been on the most touching years of my experience.  Surely there have been more 'downs' than 'ups'.  Nonetheless, I'm contended with what has been laid before me.

It is a year that I've

• seen the worst of Salesian religious life, not so much the scandal but the mediocrity which is perhaps the hidden and the beginning of the former.  
• waged an almost losing battle against a sort of lethargy and complacency against the very people appointed to ensure a certain credible standards in our life and behaviour.
• been frustrated at my own efforts of being a passive observer in spite of my vigorous attempts to be and do otherwise. 
• also had a refreshing break at Punganur (which would not have been if not for all the above).  The warmth and the freshness of a school setting, in a rural area. 
• had and still enjoying the enriching stay at Ramanthapur with the children from a different setting - each one a world apart.  
• come close to several of whom were almost at the edge of my life. Met friends (though not in the most joyful of circumstances) after two decades or so. 
• been supported by quite a few, understanding the pain and suffocation that I was going through within.  Their concern and guidance has indeed been a great source of strength.  
• questioned much... my principles, my values, my methods, my priorities and in doing so learnt to see things around me in a much different light.  
• missed the classroom. 
• spent three months without the internet and enjoyed bliss! 
• had very many moments of total blankness... a sort of dilemma unable to decide what next... but surprisingly been very calm and serene about and in and through it all. 
• gossiped much, prayed less, written very little, hardly read ... but observed quite a lot.

In a courtroom

For the first time I entered a courtroom today - a civil court in Sangareddy, Medak district. It was in connection with a land dispute we are embroiled in for the past ten years. I accompanied our accountant, who was to be cross-examined today as one of the witnesses who signed the gift deed (which is now being contested).

Anyway, I was impressed by the neat halls, verandahs and the whole structure of the building.  What impressed me most was the decorum in the courtroom.  Everyone who entered the courtroom, the lawyers in particular, would greet the judge with a namaste or a gentle bow.  That the judge hardly noticed these salutations is secondary.  It reminded me of our entry into the Churches and Chapels!  Then it struck me that this too is a place of respect and reverence.  Not necessarily for the person but for the role he is carrying out - that of ensuring justice for all.

The second thing I liked was the reverence all the lawyers had for the judge.  I'm sure not all would be pleased with him or approve of his decisions and that some - or most - would even curse him outside the courtroom... but in his presence they were all very very respectful and disciplined.  Even the senior lawyers much beyond the age of the judge himself, were of the same attitude.

Finally, the judge himself was very stern and sure of his role.  He reminded me of Fr Ivo who has the knack of asking one sharp question and leave us all bewildered.  Right at that moment we would not understand the relevance of that question but a calm and prepared reflection would help one see the centrality of that question to the matter in discussion.  This judge too had that unique ability.  He was stern but polite and most importantly swift.

No Jesus here!

Two days ago I let one of the 7th class boys accompany me to a Parish to deliver the cake pieces the Parish Priest had ordered from our bakery.  Upon reaching the place, the Mass was going on and the boy was surprised at the huge Church - in comparison with the small community Chapel we have.  So I asked him if he was interested in seeing the Church from inside.  He was eager. So once we handed over the cake, we walked into the Church. I asked him if he wanted to take a closer look at the sanctuary and the altar and he nodded with a smile. Since the Mass was already over, we took some time admiring the Church and as we came out, I noticed the adoration chapel attached to the Church.  I asked Gowtham, if he was interested. He was.  This was a small bare room, well lit with the Blessed Sacrament.  Once inside Gowtham smiled and said, "Our Chapel is bigger than this!"  Then he made a very solemn proclamation, with a very serious face, as if he had discovered something: "Anna (Brother), there is no Jesus here!" Well there certainly was no statue of Jesus but Gowtham did not know anything about the Blessed Sacrament and I did briefly tell him that Jesus was indeed present. He then seemed satisfied to know that it was still a Church, sans all the paraphernalia.

As we drove out of the place, I smiled to myself thinking, luckily the Parish priest did not hear Gowtham's comment or else he would have installed a statue of Jesus - and a couple of others - in that Chapel too!  

Why only me?

I had a similar experience as this with one of the smaller fellows who is just getting used to sitting in a class for a while (even if that "a while" is less than 30 mins) ...

Also a further insight, we never think as adults we learn something new or different everyday too. As children this is considered a 'must' but as adults we feel we have learnt enough!  Perhaps life would be as entertaining it is for kids, if we as adults too keep learning things rather than behave as 'know-all wisecracks'!