A FRIGHT OF OUR LIVES

It quaked again - so what's new - it has been doing this frequently since I got here. For one thing, if this was the end for me it could not have come on a better day. I would have come into this world and gone out the same day just 48 years apart. But, I live to tell the tale, even as we remembered all those who lost their lives.

Here is one news report and it ends with a recap of the major quakes in the last two months...quite a list there...

Tremor rocks the north-east

TNN 21 September 2009, 10:11pm IST

GUWAHATI/KOKRAJHAR/SHILLONG/ITANAGAR: For a fifth time in 40 days, an earthquake rocked the North-East on Monday afternoon and claimed at least three lives in its epicentre, Bhutan.

Measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale, this was the strongest of the nine tremors that rocked the region this year.

Bhutanese officials confirmed that three persons died at Mongar, about 180 km east of Thimpu, and five were injured. Sources said the victims were believed to be labourers from Assam's Baksa district. Some unofficial reports, however, put the toll at seven.

Kunjang Wangdi, the deputy commissioner of the Bhutanese district of Sarpang, said some of the victims were Indian workers and they died in the Gyalposhing area when a building collapsed. He, however, could not provide the exact toll. Bhutanese website Kuensel Online quoted government officials as saying that reports of damage poured in from eastern Dzongkhags.

In the northeastern region of India, Monday's tremor triggered a widespread panic across Assam with hundreds of people seen running out of their houses in sheer desperation, frantically looking for safer places.

According to the Borjhar-based Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati, the earthquake occurred at 02.23 pm with an epicenter in Bhutan between 27.3? North latitude and 91.5 ? East longitude.

"This was the strongest quake in the North-East this year," RMC director D K Handique said.

Even as officials of the state disaster management department claimed no casualty or damage to property was reported, TOI found some highrises in Guwahati developing cracks. A seven-storey building in the city's Bhangagarh area tilted and touched another apartment. A witness said people staying in the two buildings ran out of their houses. "All 72 families staying in flats were scared," said a member of the apartment society.

Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Prateek Hajela said he had got news about some buildings developing cracks and asked his officers to verify the reports. The lower Assam districts of Nalbari, Baksa, Kamrup and Kokrajhar bordering Bhutan were also jolted by the quake.

Hitesh Das, the deputy secretary of the state disaster management department, said they had verified reports from eights districts. "So far, no casualty was reported. We are awaiting reports from other districts. We have already put all district administrations on high alert," he said.

State revenue and disaster management minister Bhumidhar Barman has convened an emergent meeting on Tuesday to assess the situation.

Met officials in Shillong said there was no immediate report of any damage to life or property in Meghalaya. Tawang, the Buddhist monastery town in Arunachal Pradesh, too, experienced the quake for about seven seconds. Sources said there was no report of any damage.

Incidentally, the North-East is located in the seismically active Zone V, making the region one of the most quake-prone areas in the world. Assam had already experienced two high-intensity earthquakes one in 1897 and the other in 1950. The two tremors had triggered some topographical changes in Assam and changed the courses of a number of mighty rivers, including the Brahmaputra.


2009 Quakes

Sept 4: 21:08 am Indo-Myanmarese border M 5.9

Aug 31: 12:57:44 am Manipur-Nagaland region M 5.3

Aug 19: 4:15:15 pm Sonitpur M 4.9

Aug 11: 3:13:39 am Manipur M 5.6

WE CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT TO BECOME

I was sent this story some time ago taken from Shiv Khera's bestseller You Can Win, and I shared it with the community today.

When I was in Toronto, I heard a story of two brothers. One was a drug addict and a drunk who frequently beat up his family. The other one was a very successful businessman who was respected in society and had a wonderful family.

Some people wanted to find out why two brothers from the same parents, brought up in the same environment, could be so different. The first one was asked, "How come you do what you do? You are a drug addict, a drunk, and you beat your family. What motivates you?" He said, "My father." They asked, "What about your father?" The reply was, "My father was a drug addict, a drunk and he beat his family. What do you expect me to be? That is what I am."

They went to the brother who was doing everything right and asked him the same question. "How come you are doing everything right? What is your source of motivation?" And guess what he said? "My father. When I was a little boy, I used to see my dad drunk and doing all the wrong things. I made up my mind that that is not what I wanted to be."

Both were deriving their strength and motivation from the same source, but one was using it positively and the other negatively.

(Shiv Khera, You Can Win, New Delhi: MacMillan India Ltd., 1998, 102-103)

In life we meet all kinds of people, some appreciate and help us grow modeling good values. Others put us down, cause us suffering, and are poor role models. What we become is not about them but about us. We can draw good from both types of people deciding the kind of people we want to become. The choice is ours and we cannot blame others for what we make of our lives.

FAMILY REUNION

Much time has passed since the last posting. The class schedule is getting hectic. And then for a week I was away in Mumbai at a family reunion. It was great to spend time together with most of my family - all three living generations of it - after a long gap. Besides the good food and drink, we spent some quality time together. Each of us had chances to recount the good times, to evaluate things that had not gone the way we would have liked them to, and to receive counsel for the days ahead. Well as they say good advice is cheap - what really matters is putting some of that to good use.

The occasion was Dad's 80 birthday. Here are some pics posted by my cousin Roymario of the party we had.

Greetings and prayers to all...

AND IT QUAKED AGAIN!!!

Guess what - we had another quake! It happened (Wednesday) exactly a week after the first at 4:15 in the evening. At first it seemed like some heavyweight was rushing down the corridor to my room. But, it was soon clear that this was another quake. This time I sat still in my chair and before I knew it all was back to normal again. My insertion is becoming a reality. No one else took serious note of the quake...it was taken in stride.

THE EARTH QUAKED

Early this morning at 3:18 am - to be precise - we had some "rock and roll"...not the harmonious musical kind - but the shake, rattle and roll of a small earthquake. At the time of writing we are still awaiting news of how strong the quake was and reports of damage if any. We are all safe but for those among us who had their first quake experience, you can tell that it was an 'unforgettable' experience.

So while we pray that all those injured will be restored to good health, we also pray for those who may have to bear the loss or destruction of property. The earth is still settling down and that is what causes earthquakes - we hope to be able to settle down without causing quakes.

GOD IS WITH US - ZEROES OR HEROES!

(Reflections on the readings of 19 Sunday in Ordinary Time)

As a young boy, I have indelible memories of a good lady - a family friend - who loved to sing a song called "Johnny Zero". It was the story of a boy who did not do too well in school and was nicknamed Johnny Zero. Well, with due encouragement he slowly turned his academic performance around and one day the teacher was proud to announce that "Johnny Zero had become Johnny Hero".

Reading through the experience of the prophet Elijah we could note a similar trajectory but in reverse. From being the great hero of Yahweh who had the courage to take on the prophets of Baal who enjoyed the patronage of Queen Jezebel, in this Sunday's pericope he is almost a zero - running from a band of assassins out to kill him. He is broken, discouraged and gives up. And it is Yahweh who sends him food and drink to strengthen him along his journey.

In today's Gospel we see Jesus present to us the Eucharist - His Body as food for nourishment. In the face of criticism and opposition - he is unfazed and goes on to present the meaning of Eucharist. The "Bread of Life" discourse is a message of hope. The reading suggests the bread of life, the Eucharist, as the breaf for the journey of faith as we journey up the mountain of God.

Our lives are very often roller-coaster rides - sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down and very often we are somewhere in between. Zeroes to Heroes thats the way it goes. But, what remains certain is that we have a loving God who cares for us and will not leave us alone. He comes to be with us.

God provides a mysterious food called manna for the Israelites in the desert. However, they were told not to stockpile the manna, but to gather only what they needed for one day. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about tomorrow. He said, when you pray to your heavenly Father, you are to say, “Give us this day our daily bread.” No matter how difficult life may be, for those who trust in God, and who live one day at a time, the manna falls every day. We are not told to pray: "Give us today our weekly rations," but "Give us this day our daily bread."

So in the face of problems and difficulties - the message is clear. Jesus is not necessarily going to remove those blocks and obstacles, but he is surely the one who is going to be with us, strengthening and nourishing us with the Bread of Life.

NEW BEGINNINGS WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

(D. Maria Gerald sdb)

The inauguration of the Academic year 2009-2010 of Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong on 6 August 2009 commenced with the Eucharist at 8:30 am which was presided over by Most Rev. Dominic Jala sdb, Archbishop of Shillong. Among the concelebrants were Rev. Fr. Francesco Cereda, Salesian General Councillor for Formation, and the Salesian provincials of Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi and Dimapur. In his sermon, Archbishop Jala invited the students to an experience of God drawing a parallel to the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. He exhorted one and all - staff and students -to an experience of the transfigured Lord which would result in proclaimingHim to others. The mass was followed by a break for refreshments. By 10:15 am. all had taken their seats in the College Auditorium for the commencement of the Inaugural Function.

Among the highlights of this annual academic event was the keynote address delivered by Fr. Cereda entitled: "To Do and Study Theology after the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God". The ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held at Rome from October 6-26, 2008 examined the theme of "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church". It underscored the division that had crept in between exegesis and theology. Fr. Cereda indicated ways in which this could be remedied using the insights of Dei Verbum, establishing a new rapport between exegesis and theology, and through the practice of Lectio Divina. The presentation of the Academic Report took the audience down memory lane recalling salient events of the year gone by, while presenting the new avenues opening up in the year ahead. Each of the provincials present also had a chance to share their views on the college and indicate ways in which all could use the new year and its possibilities to grow in their faith and knowledge. The release of three books (two in English and one in Khasi) that have been authored by professors of the college was done by Archbishop Jala. The two in English are entitled: Salvatorians among the Khasis by Dr. Aloysius Hemrom sdb and Contextual Theology by Dr. Barnes Mawrie sdb.

The Academic Function was followed by time for the students to get acquainted with the program of the new semester and to elect their representatives. This year the college has about 130 students in the various programs it offers. They hail from different parts of India as well as from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The faculty has 22 professors (of whom 12 are in residence) on the permanent teaching staff, with another 27 visiting professors. The year ahead holds great promise for growth in knowledge and holiness, two pillars of Christian life and ministry.