Kids and their world

 This evening I went to Lumbini Park.  Not for sight seeing, but to meet my old friend Rabbi, who was accompanying his students from Don Bosco, Egmore.  It was great meeting him!  

While waiting for him to arrive with his boys, I was walking along the pavement just observing people.  There were a few young people clicking away photos, at various angles and unimaginable times!!  In bygone days, not even an official photographer would have clicked so many photos in an year, as many as some of these youngsters were clicking in those 25 minutes that I spent on that pavement. 

Then there were young couples, sharing a snack or two and all engrossed in one another.  There were young parents of small children, whose whole attention was to ensure that the 'mobile' kid does not come under some passing bike or wander under the vendors stall.  I know not how much of the scenery they were taking in, but their world was that being on two tiny feet!! 

My attention mostly was drawn to a small girl, perhaps 2 or 3 years old, being hand held by her grandfather.  She had one of those heart-shaped helium balloons tied to her wrist.  Her world was that floating balloon!  So she cared a damn about where she was stepping or which direction was she headed in.  Her eyes and head was totally tilted up watching the balloon bob up and down with every stride of hers.  In the meantime, her grandfather was all focused on her!! At one point he noticed me, watching the both of them in amusement, and he too smiled.  But that was only for a couple of seconds.  He could not and would not distract himself.  That little girl was his singular focus!  

True indeed, kids live in their own world;  and they are their parents/grandparents world!!

Posing for photos

 Yesterday Mummy sent me a black and white photo.  It was one taken in 1983.  It was the traditional - a tradition that is still carried on, in practically every school! - class photo of my younger brother, when he was in LKG or UKG.  

The first thing I did was to look for my brother. Of course, I have seen this photo umpteen number of times over the years. So I didn't have to 'search' for him because I really knew where he was seated. Then I noticed Fr MA Jacob, our Parish Priest.  (God rest his soul. He passed away just a couple of days ago, on 20 October 2026).

The next thing my eyes noticed is the boy on the last row, right behind (Jennifer) teacher.  He was certainly distracted at the moment of the click.  But immediately it occurred to me: those days and years, we were not used to posing for photos!! Clicking photos happened so rarely that, as children, it was practically a big exercise getting us all in line, ready and FOCUSSED!! 

Children these days, the moment they see someone taking photos, are ready with a pose.  Even babies!! They are used to the technology and the procedure.  But not too long ago, there was a time when posing for photos was a novelty!! Just look at that fellow there on the last row and you'll understand what I mean! 

Spotlight

 

Futile efforts

 For the past one week, I've literally been glued to my phone - hands, ears and eyes!  Just waiting all the time for the screen to glow, the message to ping or the call to come through.  All because of two parcels that have been causing untold havoc with my schedule and mind! 

One parcel contains a set of coin batteries that I need to return, because instead of 10 batteries that I ordered and paid for, I received only 8.  But that pick up is not happening since two weeks!! The online status of the product keeps changing more often than the clothes our movie stars change in a movie song! But none of those updates are true.  Sometimes it says I'm not available. At times, the agent couldn't reach the customer.  Other times, the pick up is being scheduled.  And most of the time it is 'on the way' - so I've no clue as to which day or time the pick up guy will actually land up!  

The other is a laptop replacement screen that I ordered from Bangalore.  This time, it is the delivery guys - the same useless, Delhivery service!  Five days ago the online status indicated that the parcel has reached the closest dispatch store, which is 11 kms from where I live.  I went in person two days ago to collect it, but it wasn't available.  The store manager even gave me the assurance that the parcel would reach me the same evening by 5 pm.  And gave me his number as well.  Neither did the parcel arrive, nor did the manager attend my calls!  For the last three days, I've been getting calls each day that the parcel is out for delivery and that 'my issue' would be resolved 'today'.  That 'today' is yet to dawn!  

For the time and peace of mind I've sacrificed for these two petty things, I could have truly achieved something great.  This morning as I sat for meditation, asking the Lord to help me sort myself out, it occurred to me that if I were to have invested the same time, energy and passion in pursuing these items and ended up getting frustrated, anxious, upset and angry, into the noble protests of the Gen-Z and CJP, it would all have been worth it.  I falsely calm myself saying that it is not about the money, but the principle of keeping up one's word, respecting deadlines, being professional that I'm challenging.  But truly not worth fretting about these things! 

One consolation of yesterday: managed to get the SIB mirror+ app installed and activated for one particular account - an effort of 6 months!! 

Set free (3)

 

This virtue of being sensitive to the needs of others is perhaps one of the many qualities a religious should acquire.  Not all ask or even speak out.  Yet they have something to say or are in a dire need.  Noticing them, is the first stage.  Without that we would only be responding to our imagination than an actual need felt by the other. 

Set free (2)

Jesus in liberating the woman possessed by the demon for 18 long years, rebukes the other Jews who cite the law to prevent him from curing the woman, all because the day is a Sabbath day. 

So besides the demon and her own physical illness, there is also the society and the 'normal' people who are keen not to see her well and whole.  As it is, there are umpteen number of things that plague us individually.  To this when others add chains and burdens, life becomes all the more tedious and painful.  

Secondly, this woman was suffering for 18 years.  That's quite a long time. I admire her courage to be able to live with this struggle for that long and still carry on.  I'm not sure how confidently or with what amount of faith she approached Jesus.  I'm not even sure if she came wanting to be healed by Jesus.  Because, it was Jesus who noticed her - not she imposing herself on him.  But I have an inkling that even if she were not to have received that cure, and got healed, she would still carryon with life, without a grudge or giving in to greater pessimism.  

In that sense, she had already freed herself, even before Jesus set her free.  That setting oneself free was the initial step for her cherishing the greater freedom.  Because I'm sure, if she had not grown that deep, even after her complete cure by Jesus, she would have still found something still binding or crippling her, of which she would mourn - and be bent, in a different way! 

Set free (1)

 We often think and assume that it is our addictions and inordinate passions that bind and cripple us.  In fact, nothing or no one can actually bind us.  

It is we ourselves who bind ourselves. We let our habits and behaviour imprison us.  Most often unconsciously we let ourselves be led into a trap and eventually into the prison.  And just like getting in is not a one day achievement, getting out too is not a one day conquest.  

Nonetheless, no matter how much of help we seek and receive, human and divine, it is ultimately I who need to set myself free!  Because it is I who have imprisoned myself, in the first place! 

Passion-extreme

 The tamil word for 'terrorist' is 'theevaravadi'. It is a different word than the meaning in other languages.  I think telugu has the same word - could be wrong, though. But the difference between the english and the regional words is the notion of who or what one does.  

The english word stands for one who spreads terror, destruction. The regional words, on the other hand, stand for an 'extremist', or a radical.  The latter can also be interpreted as someone who is a very very passionate about an issue, passionate to the extent of bordering on fanaticism.  

That said, it is also a fact that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter (coined by Gerard Seymour in his 1975 novel Harry's Game)!  In the light of the recent protests and struggles, across the globe, and especially a closer unbiased review of each side on either struggle will reveal that no one is without reasons or valid issues fueling the struggle. No honest struggle can ever be termed wrong or bad.  

Tell me why - Declan Galbraith

 

Laity and the mission of the Church

 This morning's reflection on the laity in the church was an interesting one.   Just when I thought and was getting ready to listen to a long series of thoughts we all know, but are unwilling to practice, I was in for a surprise.  

Fr Albert Johnson, citing Christifideles Laici, reminded us that as priests and religious we DO NOT SHARE the mission of the Church with the laity.  Hell, we do not own it for ourselves in the first place!! The laity (defined as those called to holiness in their own way of life in the secular realities of the world) own the Church, as much as priests and religious.  The latter do not have the monopoly over the Church! 

As priests and religious we have a particular role and responsibility to fulfil - the religious aspect of the mission.  Similarly the laity have their role and responsibility clearly cut out by the Church - the temporal sphere or aspect of the mission.  (I guess, the clarity is in the documents and among some sensible people. Most bishops, priests, religious and even lay people themselves are not aware of neither the definition nor the mission!).  But together our collective mission, that of the whole Church is, evangelisation (the Kingdom of God).  

The clergy and religious carry out the pastoral and sacramental dimension of this mission.  The laity carry it out in the temporal or the secular sphere of the world.  The mode and the place are different, but the mission is one and the same!