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.

PROMOTING INTER-RELIGIOUS HARMONY

This picture that I found on a friend's Facebook page contains a very pithy message...

SR. PRISCA THANGKHIEW FMA - THE SMILING NUN

Yesterday we laid to rest Sr. Prisca Thangkhiew FMA. She passed away on 6 May 2011 - the Feast of St Dominic Savio and the First Friday of the month of May. Her last words were: "Thank you". She was a perfect example of one who always lived up to her name, expressing her gratitude for every little favor done to her.

She had an angelic smile and a very kind heart. Perhaps the current "greeter and smile-giver" at the Pearly Gates asked the Lord for some help and assistance. Seeing the "crying need" the Lord decided that Sr. Prisca was the best person for the job. And then recently she had been suffering much - a fall and some broken bones taking a heavy toll on her. So, a two-in-one solution was found. Freeing Sr Prisca from all her earthly ailments and helping the good souls entering Heaven to feel welcome.

Thank you Lord for giving us Sr Prisca - thank you also for taking her away from suffering and pain. But honestly Lord you could have warned us that you were taking her. Yet, we surrender to Your Will and we know that She will be at peace in heaven and bring much joy and happiness there with her smiling kind ways. We will miss you much Sr Prisca...but we will try to give more smiles and express more kindness and gratitude to others in tribute to you. Adieu till we meet again!!!

Men's and women's brains

This is hilarious - but so true!!!

PREPARING FOR A ‘GOOD LENT'

It’s Lent again! So what, it’s going to be the same thing all over again. I will go to Church on the days required (as if I had a choice) and do a bit of fasting (imposed on me by others) and praying and some almsgiving and soon – real soon it will be Easter (wow!). But wait a minute. Can I make this Lent different? I know it is not going to be different unless I make some effort towards that. What can I do to make it different? Maybe I should just for once open myself to “What God wants to give me”. After all He is giving me all the time and I am deaf and blind to His actions.

So I am going to just begin the process of preparation from now – a few days before Ash Wednesday. Anticipation increases the excitement. Yes together with my friends and community I am going to prepare for a good Lenten Season, knowing that it will culminate in Easter and the beautiful season of Spring. All that I need to do is to desire it and focus on it.

How about beginning each day by the edge of our bed (as we look for our slippers) and asking the Lord for the grace to be open to His action in our lives? And then we could also close the day at the edge of our bed, thanking Him for all that has happened during the day gone by (once again in those few moments it takes to get out of our slippers and into bed). This simple pattern (at the start and end of each day) can stir our hearts to look forward to each day of the Lenten season with anticipation and to allow God to change us gradually and gently.

This Lent could also be a time to practice new patterns; new patterns of prayer, eating, generosity, and of life in general. I could, for instance, start giving more time to God in my daily life – a short time for personal prayer, the daily reading of a few verses from the Bible, attending mass with greater attention. The idea is to start something that is good and continue it even after the ‘penitential’ part of the season is over. In the area of eating – I may be able to think of some dietary habits I have that are doing me more harm than good. I need to discipline myself and this Lent could provide me with the perfect opportunity and the good feeling of being more in control of my eating. In the general tenor of my life, too, I can make many changes. Maybe I spend too much time in one particular activity that is not doing anything good for me. Anything that does not contribute to my general well-being (physical, spiritual, emotional, professional) needs to be seriously questioned and in time changed.

The Lord invites me at Lent to “COME BACK” to Him. This return can be in myriads of ways. All that it takes is the first step – which as all of us know is the hardest. Lent can provide each of us with that impetus to get back on track, to ‘return to the Lord’ and to journey to a better more committed life as a Christian. I will surely ‘rise again’ at Easter, if I have taken the journey seriously. And, what can be better than feeling that I have grabbed a wonderful opportunity to grow and be a better person. Conversely, how sad it will be if I ‘miss out’ once again on a chance to make a new start.

“He is Waiting” – “Are you ready to return?”

THE SILENT INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

This was shot at Don Bosco School, Matunga and directed by Amit Sharma of Chrome Pictures. Released on January 26, this video is flashed across screens in all the BIG Cinemas, before a film commences.

“The idea is to urge Indians to rid themselves of prejudices against those who are different from us,” says Bobby Pawar, chief creative officer of the Mudra Group.

Words are inadequate to express the sentiments this arouses - just go ahead and watch it>>>