AN EXTRACT OF MY DOCTORAL THESIS

Five years after defending my doctoral thesis at the Alfonsianum (Rome) I have had the extract printed here in Shillong at Don Bosco Press. They have done a good job at the layout and the quality. Thanks to one and all who helped me during the years of my study and then during the years of my teaching...God bless you all!!!

LEARNING FROM SNAILS

One fine beautiful morning, a chirpy sparrow flew out of his cozy nest and sat near the apple tree. As he surveyed the world around him, his eyes fell on a small snail. The little snail unaware of anyone watching him, was painstakingly trying to climb the tree. The sparrow flapped his wings to catch the snail’s attention but in vain.

Then in a sarcastic tone he said. “Don’t you know, friend that it is not the season for apples?”

The snail replied.“True, my dear friend, but it will be, by the time I get there."

And the little snail continued his effort in climbing the tree.

(From the assembly of Dominic Savio High School, Andheri)

WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson

Lovely presentation of the source of good ideas...(Thanks Glenn!!!)

CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND

Two little children (a boy and a girl who are siblings) were left behind after school yesterday. School ended by 3 pm. When no one had come to fetch them by 4 pm, the school authorities began calling the numbers given in their handbook. The teachers and school authorities found that the phone numbers in their handbook were not in service. And so the teachers waited and the children waited. Fortunately, there is a boarding attached to the school and the sisters were able to take care of the children. Also, being brother and sister they were supportive of each other. The parents came looking for the children after 11:30 pm by which time all gates were closed and lights were out.

I met the children this morning after my mass. They were rather quiet but did not seem too perturbed exteriorly. However, the other children who were with them told me another story. Both of them were sad and hurt that their parents and grandparents had not come for them. They had put up a brave front but I guess they were traumatised by this "abandonment".

While we may not pass judgment on the parents, who I am told are busy running two businesses, my concern is for the children. What are they feeling right now and how is this going to affect their relationship with their parents in the future? Lessons aplenty to be learned for all of us - parents, teachers, school authorities and those who care about what is happening in our society today...

CREATING A GREEN AND HARMONIOUS WORLD

Some years ago I read the story of an old man who was planting an apple tree. Seeing him undertake this exercise a friend commented: "But aren't you doing this a bit late in life? You are never going to eat apples from this apple tree." The man replied: "It does not matter, all my life I have eaten apples from trees I never planted. Those were planted by people who came before me. I am planting for those who come after me."

Well, that is the key to understanding the ecological crisis of our day. It helps us to see what we need to do in order to make a clean, green and harmonious world. God created this world a beautiful place with all the things we need to have a joyful and comfortable life. If, we still enjoy the world and all that it offers it's thanks to all those who came before us. They cared for this gift of God, preserved it and even did their bit to make it a little better than they found it. But, we cannot ignore others who did not care much for the earth, who thought that they were the owners of the world, that they could do whatever they pleased and so destroyed the forest cover, polluted the water bodies and depleted the ozone layer. They ate the apples and never thought of leaving some for those who came after them.

It is our decision about which of these two groups we are going to follow. Are we ready to care for Planet Earth, treat it well, use its resources wisely and leave things better than we found it. Or, will we join the selfish people who think that everything is meant for "ME"?

We would all love to live in a world that affords us peace, that is clean - green and full of every good thing. Why we would also love to enjoy apples. So we are encouraged to remember the people who come after us - our children and their children. They would love to eat apples, too.