Do I enjoy..?

Today, I was taken by surprise when I went to the Sunday morning church service.

There was a band of African brothers called ‘Chariots’. They came to entertain us by singing carols.

Wow!  I always wanted to listen to traditional carols. I wanted to learn .. but I never did.

They all came up to the stage.. They spoke among themselves in hushes and gesticulations. All set, with no music, just the sheer rhythm of their voice and clicking sounds of their fingers, they started singing…

It was not a traditional carol..I realized after the first line that it was not even in english but in an African language. I thought they are making a mistake. Normally when you want to sing to a crowd, you would want to start singing songs in which are familiar to the crowd in the language known to the audience. That’s the way, I think..my logic.

They sang their first African carol… though not one person in the audience understood their song.

But to my surprise…I liked it … I turned to look at the audience. Crowd’s eyes  were intently watching,… all people’s lips were extending to show a smile… ‘Chariots’ song made everyone in the audience to look at them with joy.  Their beautiful enthusiastic voices, resounding hummings, their faces which clearly showed that they are enjoying their song.. not lightly but thoroughly.. No wonder the audience including me gave a big ovation..

The next song.. was again in African language. Everyone loved..seeing them enjoying their singing.  When one brother sang, the other six just hummed.. They all took turns singing this way.. Nevertheless, it was a fabulous song… though none got what they sang. Their last song was in English.

By that time, I start wondering does my logic ever holds. When audience see…. performers enjoying what they are doing… It brings an exquisite attractiveness even when they don’t understand the language nor one word in the song.

I am tempted to ask  this: As a teacher, do I enjoy teaching?.. As a singer, do I enjoy singing…etc..

You : What does Mother Teresa say about You?

In our efforts to listen to God’s words to us, we often neglect what might be called his “first word” to us.

This is the gift of ourselves to ourselves: our existence, our nature, our personal history, our uniqueness, our identity.

All that we have, and indeed, our very existence, is one of the unique and never-to-be-repeated ways God has chosen to express himself in space and time.

Each of us, because we are made in God’s image and likeness, is yet another promise that he has made to the universe that he will continue to love it and care for it.

(Mother Teresa, Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4)

Why do we shout in anger?

A saint asked his disciples, ‘Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?’

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, ‘Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.’

‘But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?’ asked the saint. ‘Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you’re angry?’

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.

Finally he explained, ‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.’

Then the saint asked, ‘What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small…’

The saint continued, ‘When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.’

MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.

Source: Email Forward

Thing BIG!- Calvin and Hobbes

© Universal Press Syndicate

End result of True Learning

All my learning can be tested…

Are you wondering how ? or You know how – by test, exams etc…

No…

“Change is the end result of all true learning” – Leo Buscaglia

Now, I wonder -did I learn anything?

Academia – Here I come! -Calvin and Hobbes

© Universal Press Syndicate

Seneca’s Poignant Quote

“So called pleasures when they go beyond a certain limit, are punishments”

From ‘Letters from a Stoic’- Seneca

Dil se re! (From the heart)

God is not interested in bringing a behavior modification but for sure He is more into bringing a heart transformation in your life. -  A sermon on ”True Holiness’ by Pr. Joseph Prince.

You don’t change by revamping by your external behavior but only by true change in your heart.

Holiness is not coming from changes in behaviour but by a transformed heart. Do not look to change behaviors. Focus on allowing our heart to be transformed.

True holiness stems from heart.

Khag – one of my Everyday Hero

I can never forget this guy. Khag, a Masters student from Thailand was working with me alongside in Boots-Waterloo station, a retail outlet in London.He was a friendly chap. He doesn’t speak much but have some unique gentleness in all he does. Endearing guy. He works at terrific speed and precision. Very dedicated to the work at hand.  Affable manners… We became good friends -chatting at work, eating together, cracking jokes.. Had a good time.

So what made him, my everyday hero?…

It’s the conversation I had with him during lunch in the dungeon like stock room of the retail shop.I think it would be good if I put in dialogue format – as I remember the words he spoke still.

We were eating sandwiches in lunch usually..As I was curious about Thailand culture, I started the conversation about the culture, religion and beliefs.   Later…

Me: Hey, Khag, Have you got a girlfriend?

Khag: Yes, for the last two years. She is working in Thailand, have’nt seen after I came here for a year or so… She might come here to UK for checking me..

Me: Cool, so when is your marriage?

Khag: Yeah, she has not yet decided whether I am the guy…

Me: Oh, That’s tricky.  What are the chances she might not choose you if you could say? Given that you have not seen her for long, man

Khag: I don’t know … I can’t still figure that out.

Me: Hmm, Sorry for asking, will it not hurt you if she chooses another guy?

Khag: Infact, It will not hurt if she does that properly.

Me: What do you mean by that?

Khag munching food and sipping coke in a non-chalant manner looking at me honestly.. said

Khag: I will not worry if she leaves me for an other guy  who is better than me. But would feel bad  if she chooses a wrong guy who is worse than me.

Now, you know why he is my everyday hero..

About My Everyday Heroes & Heroines

This section I am going to focus on the everyday heroes and heroines who have inspired me.

They cannot be found in popular books, magazines and news. The popular world does not know them at all as they look very common place and not extra-ordinary.  I found them in my daily grind of this so- called mundane life at odd timings. But these people make it look what’s lifeless as worthy call to live fully.

But to me, they are extra-ordinary and deserve the title as Heroes & Heroines.

I have met them once or being with them for years in some cases. But they instill some value of worth -for which I owe  every bit of appreciation.

They deserve adulation and praise nevertheless. I am choosing them as my everyday heroes and heroines – for they are actually real.

Whenever I think of them, I am reminded of the value they birthed in me.

Life is beautiful becos of people like them who God placed in my life.