Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to one and all. Enjoy reading the earlier posts. I will be away traveling. See you all later.

Tenny

I am my Brother's Keeper: A Dialogue about South Asian politics

" I'm talking about a moral deficit. I'm talking about an empathy deficit. I'm taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother's keeper; we are our sister's keeper; ....... we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny" President-elect Barack Obama

 

Its after a long time, I am writing about politics. The main reason being the sordid images from Mumbai that trembled everyone around the world taking the already troubled South Asian politics into its lowest ebb ever. As an individual, it really shook me. The degree of planning that went into the most dastardly attacks and the scale of the human casualty along with haughtiness of the politicians shook me and questioned me about what we are all about. It was a disturbing week nevertheless.

As mentioned in the earlier posts, my work for the Cancer Board study has made me obtain lot of newer friends some of them the very ones from Pakistan. Naturally the concern for them was whether India would actually attack Pakistan or not. Your truly was actually having a really good conversation with one of them regarding the matter. The argument from my side was that India hasn't attacked a country in 5000 years and will never do the step. The opposing argument not only nullified it, but also pointed out that the terrorists were from the Indian part of Punjab and so on. Well as a true Indian, I did get miffed so I decided that it was hightime he got a dose. I replied " Yea!  Manmohan Singh one night decided to attack Pakistan. Next day he went to his generals, Ok get ready we are going to attack Pakistan now. The generals replied, Sir, attack karne ke liye Pakistan to hain hi nahiin.." It did leave the fellow Pakistani co-worker stumped, nevertheless, the tube-light he was, took time to get the joke. When he actually did, shared a good laugh with us amid cries of bossadi wallah...!

Amidst the tiny mirage of laughter in this insecure times we do have a problem in Pakistan. It was the quintessential North Indian Congress politics that created Pakistan. Everyone from Gandhi to Jinnah had a role to play in the creation of this country. It was a creation of hate where the intellectuals from Lahore and tradesman from Sindh along with the ethnic Baluchis to Pashtuns found their way to this quagmire. Three wars, nuclear tests, IC 814 what do we get, still the status quo doesn't change. Talk peace and you get Mumbai, talk war and you get the looming nuclear threat, keep quiet and mind your business, you get Kashmir to Kargil. What is the actual problem of this nation called Pakistan ? Hate. What makes them hate us so much? What is in the religion of Islam that actually makes them create Kashmir to Kargil ? It's this very problem of Pakistan that made me study Islam when I was young. Searching through translations to commentaries, I wasn't able to find a source for his hatred.

Now, the question is should India go for the onslaught ? Should we go ahead and finish this menace once and for all ? Or watch as the dog of Islamic fundamentalism bite its very master to its certain death ? The question is far complex as in both ways we are going to see the onslaught of the largest refugee displacement ever seen in human history. The Brits who cunningly gave us this gift of the Damocles sword in the form of Pakistan has kept quiet. Only in Barack Obama we see a candid confession that Pakistan is not an ally in terror but the very source of this terror. Why is this terror linked to a religion that actually brought civilization to the Arabs ? The answers are complex. From Taliban to the madrassas everything revolves around the Wahabi form of the religion. Its a pity when young lads go around shooting innocent people in the name of jihad. The hatred that people begin to have about the religion has seen an increase in an exponential manner. What is the solution ? Why are the elites of Karachi and Lahore silent ? What happened to voice of the common man in the country ? How could any country elect someone as corrupt as Zardari as its president or let a rogue agency like ISI run the foreign policy of the country ? What could be the solution ?

I thought about this situation as a very active watcher of Pakistani politics, the politics of the Legharis, Sharifs to Bhuttos. The solution to this impasse is simply military intelligence along with peace and reconciliation. I don't ascribe to the notion of secret services that creating internal unrest in the country is a solution but nevertheless as part of any solution we need is a strong military intelligence agency first. This puts it in direct confrontation with ISI and should be able to neutralize the ISI, the same way Mossad nullified everything from Black September terrorists to PLO. Violent form of Islam has to be tamed through a more active and tolerant form of the religion through religious intervention, discussion and propagation. Pakistan should be made the Most Favored Nation of India in trade and we should stop the support given to Mohajirs and Baluchis. Its this very fact that has alienated the educated Pakistani people and made them to look down at us with suspicion. Pakistani students should be allowed to study in our universities and made to see the secular fabric of our society. Our politicians should restrain from using Pakistan as a tool to garner votes and like any foreign country, Pakistan should be given respect it deserves. I have always maintained that we erred in supporting the creation of Bangladesh and how the country looks now just supports the very fact. On all levels, we need to have a debate with Pakistan, be it culture, trade, sports to religious discussion. When this happens, the source of this religious hatred will be exposed, the very person from Dawood to Maulana Azhar who ascribe to this inspiration for their various acts will have no standing and naturally will be made to move out. When we can beat them in their own game with intelligence, tolerance, sensitivity and compassion, the war with Pakistan will cease and we shall have a peaceful South Asia that we can always be proud of.

Picture Courtesy:

Image 1: http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0711/postcard_wagah_1130.jpg

Image 2: www.pakistani.it

Great Expectations

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln

Expectations. Well a very abstract term in scope; very convergent in ambition. We all have lot of expectations from future, from our families, from our career, from our friends and from everything that is associated with us. Our life revolve around lot of expectations as well. Hence it is a web of cross linked beliefs and faiths. It's very common for expectations to be broken, so it is for expectations to be fulfilled.

I knew someone. Well he had this knack of expecting, a lot in-fact from life, people around him, his loved ones, from his career and his abilities that most of the time, he used to make sure that his expectations are met. Ambitious in his nature, zoomed past his contemporaries never for a moment realizing that in the process he was missing out a lot in life. Expecting too much from life and love, he got bored with them both and eventually let go of both at a stage in his life. Losing life was bearable, but the pain of losing love hit him hard. Disillusioned, he stopped expecting from anything in life. Just moved apart and watched life craft its amazing tale around him. As he watched, he saw life in a new light, places he never felt he could be, doing this he never expected he could ever do and in the process becoming a better person. When he was all settled, he started to expect love in a new way, in a way he never thought he could. But love never came back, but life still ushered him happiness after happiness. He became disillusioned, ignoring the happiness, instead running behind love all the time. Still it ignored him. Frustrated, tired, he just gave up disillusioned. For a moment someone offered him the hope of a drink. Looking up to that someone with gratitude, he asked for a name. Life came the reply. Surprised, he asked again, but the man just disappeared. After an introspection he realized that all these times, his life was his true love, his expectations from his life his true companion.

This story might sound utter gibberish and trash. But the question I wanted to pose to many people is, do you love your life ? Are you selfish about your life ? I am. I always feel we needs to be selfish about our life, the way it is. I know that its always harsh to believe the fact that love, faith and God should come first in our life and etc. I agree with them and I don't want to corroborate that very fact. These days people love to associate anything and everything around them to destiny. Isn't that the very reason that we worry in life ? I have always felt people spend hours and hours in meaningless worries about life that the very time for constructive activities get diminished. The moment a man is comfortable in a comfort zone he becomes the master of the situation that he ignores his potential and just slogs on. They don't dream or think higher. Countless people that I know just vanished into obscurity because of this very fact.

Let me tell you a very funny incident. I have been using a Macbook for the past two years. All these times, the Mac was just used for general purposes only. Over time, it slowed with time and it ended up being a tool for browsing the Internet only. Couple of days back, yours truly was seriously thinking of buying a new Mac when the thought hit on why not I format the whole thing? After formatting, the Mac started to work just like a beauty till about today when again by mistake, yours truly spilled water all over accidentally and the Mac won't work. I am keeping my fingers crossed. On my way to university today, my Eritrean colleague and myself were discussing the very issue when he mentioned that's how life is. When we live life with zero expectations we get the best in life: be it in career, relationships anything. The moment the mind starts to weave its control or seek ownership, the sweet turns bitter, the success to failure, the love to hate etc.  The same was the issue with Mac as well.

The question remains: Why ? Why does this happen ? Why does a person who studies till Ph.D burning oil, struggle for months to get a job, insulted on various factors from his religion to his degree on this very issue, turning his job hunting into a nightmare. Disillusioned, the moment he stops expecting , life just gives him many jobs. Why does a person who when he wants to go for further studies doesn't get into a single university, but when he least wants it universities come calling ? Why does it all happen ? No one knows. No one will know. Expectations are supposed to be our best companion, but they invariably get broken, the moment we aspire for them to be a reality.

One of the thought provoking books that I read this year was Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day by Joel Osteen. This book had a profound impact on me this year as it really shook me and crafted me into a sculpture of a true personality from the debris of the severe identity crisis I had earlier this year. It speaks about the same thing: Expect, Dream and Belief. Joel also mentions how important it is for us to prepare for whatever we believe in and letting it go once we are 100% prepared. Now any average reader might ask, what the hell is that ? But that's the invariable truth. The anecdote of a tale he mentions is about a family he knew. They were living in a rented apartment. The husband always used to tell his wife that we are going to move into a new house and hence used to buy expensive items to fill the new house. The wife though a bit perplexed about the man and his intentions, supported her husband fully. One day unfortunately, the man was laid off. Then neighbors jeered at the family for their folly as they used to spend their money on this freaky expectations by the man. The wife supported her husband fully in this ordeal which lasted months. The man never lost hope. Later he found a new job which paid less than the former one and he continued to prepare well. This time the wife would have none of this crap. She rebelled vehemently, to which the man said "I will stop when I am 100% prepared". As months passed, the man was promoted quickly and before anyone knew it, he reached a post where he could easily buy a house and the rest fitted in like a glove. That's the power of preparing.

Concluding, expectations about life makes a man. Its all about expecting, preparing yourself and letting it go. One day somehow the butterfly comes to the very net prepared for it soon after the hunter leaves the chasing game tired and discouraged. That's life. How expectations are met nevertheless how much battles were lost in the due time, the war will be always won.

Image Courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/2066123813/

The Assiduous Power of Belief

"....Mr Obama I am waiting for 2008. Maybe in this Age of Aquarius you are our man for the job!!" Tenny on March 31, 2007 (Barack Obama and the Law of Infinite Growth and Hope)

Seriously speaking, I don't like self-praise or acclaim when I start this post with a quote of mine. But watching President-elect Barack Obama yesterday on CNN Pipeline, I was more than just flabbergasted. Man! he did pull it off...royally. The first colored president of the United States of America. Years after the civil rights movement spearheaded by Mrs Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, the resonating cries of oppressed slaves from times gone by, the belief of Abraham Lincoln who risked everything to fight slavery, it was a climax of biblical proportions. As the scripture says "...to hold on steadfastly without losing hope" after a prediction made a year and a half before, I just humbled myself in front of this amazing power, which has been bestowed on us: the power of belief.

Next morning, my friends all over the world, left me scraps, offline messages and even calls to congratulate me on a absolutely amazingly true prediction. Couple of them even made me delve into my wallet for their lunch. I was more than happy to accommodate that, for happiness whenever and wherever it happens, has to be shared nevertheless. Here I had to admit without any arrogance that it was a prediction that went absolutely true.

At 24, I feel life has come full circle. I saw God, years back struggling for my life in Central Hospital Abu Dhabi. There he came to me and told me that I will be cured and before leaving, he promised to take care of my life henceforth. There were many incidents in this year that made me actually doubt its veracity. But, again time and time on, I have to admit that whatever I have actually believed in has always come true.

Without wanting this banter to sound like utter narcissism, let me quote some examples. In 2002, I had the opportunity to lead the youth of my native church back in India. It was my first hands on experience in leading the youth of a church which was deeply fragmented. I did face lot of problems from the established lot, from the people in authority of the church and I struggled to leave a legacy which never made me happy. Seven years later as I write this post, I have successfully handed over the reins of the youth group in the church in Edmonton to safer hands after a remarkable year of mind-blowing achievements and a legacy I am always proud of. That is just one of the many examples of the power of belief.

Some of my most loved ones have always told me not be overwhelmed by my achievements. Some people ask me not to be under-whelmed in the same tone. I have always felt that whatever I achieve is not because of any of these or my abilities. Most of the time, my crowning achievements have been whenever I have believed. Life has from time on tried to teach me this very lesson about amazing the power of belief. The power of words. The power of ideas. The power of dreams. They do come true, provided we believe in them, prepare ourselves for them and wait for the results to show. It may not show now, nor tomorrow but at the apt and right time. For its always said "...when the teacher is ready, the student shall come".

What should we believe ? Anything. I remember a chilling incident in 1993. I was in Dubai and glancing through the pages of the school magazine of my cousins. There was an article about World War IV in 2000. The writer had apparently predicted a world war then and it was to be led by one Mr. George Bush Jr. In those times, after the successful Operation Desert Storm conducted by the Americans, Mr. George H.Bush was nothing short of a hero for us and it was simply naive to assume then about a World War in 2000 with his son in realm. Years passed and I was in St.Thomas doing my senior school when there was this election between AlGore and the actual Bush.Jr. Everyone predicted an AlGore victory and to me based on this tale years back, assumed Bush to win. Though the manner in which the victory was achieved is debatable, to me the belief years back from a mere reading of a school magazine struck a chord for its prophetic form.

Many instances in life, from coming to Canada to working in the oil industry in Abu Dhabi have happened due to the power of belief. Though then I have never admitted it, now at this age, I feel more than ever that, yeah, it happened not simply because it happened out of destiny, it happened because once a time I actually believed or thought that it would happen. That I feel friends, is the power of belief. We live in an age where we are opulently blessed in resources both monetary and physical along with the power of knowledge. All over people are worried about tomorrow and what it brings for them and their family, their career and lives. But let me ask a question, instead of worrying in that tomorrow, do you believe in that tomorrow ?

These days, I work part-time collecting data for cancer research at the university. I met up with a colleague who speaks the same language as I do. A middle aged man, unfortunately physically impaired but fortunately blessed with dreams and beliefs; most of which he has accomplished or came true. He was telling me a tale of how he met his wife long time back. Years ago, a chance meeting with a lady, he felt that inner calling in him that she was the one. He went and asked her hand. She refused saying that she was getting engaged soon. This did not dissuade him and he asked her parents. Her father kicked him out due to his financial condition then and apparently his family too dissuaded him as well. Disappointed, yet not losing hope and heart, he moved on in life to better himself in his career. Couple of years later after making some money, on a chance visit to his hometown, he came to know that this woman had been widowed unfortunately. Without hesitation, he went and asked her hand this time around. She had no hesitation to agree and today they are a happy family. That my friends is the power of belief.

I have had a successful run this year in predictions. People ask me how do you do it. I have only one answer, if you believe deep down inside for something to happen, it simply happens. There are no paranormal explanations nor is it voodoo or black magic nor any chants of faith. Just the power of belief. The assiduous power of belief we have deep down inside. The gift we never realize that we had. So the question today for each one of us: are we ready to begin believing ?

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France

Image Courtesy: www.cnn.com

I am a Hindu Christian!

“Not until we see the richness of the Hindu mind and its essential spirituality can we understand India” Lyn Yutang

Couple of days ago, on Diwali, I had a great time with my friends. For the first time in my life, I went for a Diwali party with my friends. It was at the house of one of my North Indian friends here in Edmonton with his parents and his brother. After the initial gup-shup about politics and current affairs, we had puja conducted by my friend's dad, the man of the house. It was an awesome experience on my part to take part in that puja. The puja lasted about 15-20 minutes during which yours truly also had the privilege to offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi. According to the Puranas, the goddess of Wealth, Prosperity and Luck Lakshmi was born from the churning of the Milk Ocean, along with other magical beings and objects including Amrit, Kamadhenu, Chintamani, Halahal aka Poison, etc. I stood there and prayed these few words ' My God and my father, to me, you are everywhere and you are the very one we offer prayers now, bless us your children who offer prayers now on this auspicious day'. It was simply powerful and magical. I felt a voltage surge through my body (it happens always when I pray with that realm of spirituality, a vindication to me that God has listened to my prayer that very moment). I felt gladder than never before in my whole life. After the puja, we went to the mandir in Millwoods and offered prayers there also. Not to forget the awesome display of fireworks that completes the festival of lights!

Recently, there was very big debate regarding this very issue in the local church I go to. To the non-discerning reader, I am a reformed Syrian Christian (Nasrani) following the traditional Orthodox church of Kerala. The debate was over one of the members, actually following Hinduism or the various aspects associated with it. The debate was pretty fierce but it actually did open a whole new strain of thoughts which I feel I should share with you people. As a background, as mentioned earlier, I come from a reformed Orthodox church which is very liberal in nature. Four of our ten bishops did their post graduation in Bhagavad Gita so as the official stance of our church that believes in our strong roots in the community. Again the reader might pose a question regarding why did the debate happen in your church in the first place. Well again the influx of right wing Pentecostal Christianity into the various spheres of the church has diminished whatever that remained of our strong traditions and propagated a false sense of teaching that is anti Christian and anti tradition.

I am proud to say that my church is so liberal in this method of thinking in a day where Hinduism is confused by many as a religion. To me Hinduism never was and is never a religion, its a culture. My culture and the culture of every proud Indian. The thaali that even Indian Christian woman wear today that symbolizes marriage is a powerful epitome of our culture and its strides, Similar is the case when we commemorate Onam, Diwali, Holi etc. These are inclusive of any religious setup as such. The respect we show to our elders; love for everyone irrespective of caste, color and creed; family values of love, honesty and trust; arranged marriages; etc are all Indian or to be specific Hindu in nature. The friendship, trust and respect that Duryodhana had for Karna, Krishna instructing Arjuna in battle which later became the Bhagavad gita, the ability of Ram to sacrifice and go to vanavas though he was wronged; the sacrifice of Mahabali; the motherly love of Yasoda; the faith of Draupadi to Krishna, the Hindu mythology has scores of examples that we Indian Christians boldly claim as part of our rich heritage and tradition. So I guess when we boldly claim all these, shouldn't we be calling ourselves Hindu Christians?

If the teachings of Jesus who became Christ through his death and resurrection inspires us Christians to follow all these Hindu traditions from wearing thaali, to folded hands in prayers and the drawing of cross, I believe we are to be rightfully called Hindu Christian and I am proud to be one. Wouldn't this thought actually help drive us from animosity as seen in Orissa and many other places to one of brotherhood and love. Far as I know, Jesus never wanted to convert anyone leave alone even establish a religion. He wanted his followers to spread his message to the ends of the earth. His legacy was his teaching which through eons, morphed into a religion of convenience for the Romans who incorporated their then fledgling beliefs into Christianity as the new religion was called. Antioch where the believers were called Christians took a different rout as some ended up being part of the East Roman Empire or the Byzantine Empire ultimately culminating in the Ottoman Empire. We see that Christianity was always a teaching and the dire straits that the Church finds itself today is because of the inability of the church to accept this very fact.

When St.Thomas the Apostle brought this teaching to India and people followed him, they dint leave their strong traditions behind. It was alleged that St.Thomas converted over 400 Brahmin families in India. But later on when the Roman Catholic missionaries came, they were surprised to see Christians in this part of the world with stronger Christ-like values, living in harmony with other religions than they could ever imagine. It made their task easier. That to me friends, should be the stand of Christians today. We are simply proud Hindus who have accepted the teachings of Christ into our lives. Let this belief lead us. We will be secular in a way we never thought we could and through our lives, people will actually realize what made Jesus the Christ he became in the end. Through this propagating the teachings of Christ will be easier and we can save more souls than we could ever imagine.

Authenticity of Love, Hope and Faith

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Source: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7


One of the greatest lessons I learnt in life at the age of 24 is about love and how strange and magnificent an emotion it is. It's not that I have never been in love before or something like that. But the authenticity of love, the authenticity of missing some one, the authenticity of rejection, the authenticity of lost love and the authenticity of failed love and hopes!

I had a very close friend, a powerful and really good friend. Over the span of years we got closer and one day yours truly started having feelings for the person. Sheepishly I tried to circumvent through it and ended venting it out in the most messy matter as possible. The expected rejection through the travails of distance and destroyed feelings intensified from chronic loneliness landed me into the worst seen emotions ever, un-experienced never before in my life. Shrugging away all attempts at a rebound, you finally realize how you are finally a man. Really felt how authentic and powerful love was.

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth "you owe me".
Look what happens with a Love like that!
- It lights the whole Sky. (Hafiz)

I was thinking why do people fall in and out of love ? Why do people really love breaking hearts as if it is the most honorable thing to do ? Why does a male and female attach themselves under the false guise of friendship, over a period of time, fully knowing each other, just break apart like total strangers (like seeing each other for the first time) the moment the word 'love' is mentioned ? If God is love or if love is the finest of emotions bequeathed to man by the creator, why does it hurt? When you fully know a person, is committing to that person so bad ? Agreed not all male and female who gets attached need to fall in love, is it so bad that long time friends when they start to have feelings should hide it forever? These questions raged in my mind for months.

I just took some time off and went on with my friends. There were similar cases like this all around. People living heart broken lives. Not that they were weak personally or professionally but definitely yes heart broken. Cowards love to go for a rebound, brave people live through the experience. So I went to these people (couple of my friends); I just told them 'Just believe the girl will be back'. Miraculously for them and luckily for me, many of them came back. I doubt if it was prophesying power or a miraculous intervention; one thing is sure it worked!! But I still believe I just told them what they wanted to hear and it worked!

Love is a testimony to the great human condition we have. All our achievements, successes are just a speckle of dust before love. When you truly love someone, you actually worship that person for what they are; the moment they leave, feelings of loss, despair resulting in heart break and the actual 'mourning process' that ensues shows that no matter how mammoth the we are in ego, persona, ambition and riches, we are actually frail and weak just to our emotions and feelings! See the check that God has on men. How the greatest of men are held captive to this unseeingly powerful emotion!

'What goes around comes around' or karma is another notion that is used. It's true. I believe life is one big diary of checks and balances. Let me share a personal experience. When I was in college, I used to get even at my ever quarelling grandparents with a lethally potent weapon called 'silent treatment'. Tried it couple of times and my grandfather used to tell me it was painful. I discontinued it's use after that, coz it was potentially lethal in a relationship. Still at times I used it one loved ones. When I got at the receiving end this year, man life came full circle.

Life as always said is a giant balance book. Ever since I have been careful about what I speak, what I think and most importantly the importance of being mature with the age. I still believe we individuals have a free run. But one day we are held responsible for our actions.

Then hope. After with the case of love 'returning' for a couple of my friends, the power of hope is even assuring. But to hope you need to believe. I believe in the power of words; the power to inspire people and put down people. It is imperative that through our words, we need to inspire people and a heart broken person rather than being consoled, if he is made to believe that the love will return, it returns faster. And trust me its not magic, nor a miracle, just the power of words and the spirit of belief.

See how its all in our words and deeds. Loving someone is not bad, if there is a chance to be taken it has to be taken. But to me the the dastardly of all human actions is actually giving hopes and then breaking it; pretending nothing happened; deceiving it. It is the worst nightmare and I do have friends who actually go through the nightmare. Same is the case with messy divorces and separations. To concluding hurting love does no good, nor is breaking hopes resulting in lost faith.

Then there is consolation. Actually it is great to be heartbroken. simply a great feeling to be heartbroken if the energies are utilized in the most positive manner as possible. I have seen people achieving the very impossible from heart breaks and rejections and vice versa also. But once it is lost, don't stay back, forgive the person who wronged you and support them with love (expecting nothing in return), move on with life and be the victor realizing the fact that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!!

Youth: A discussion about their roles in church, society and community

I had a chance to speak for the Youth Sunday program at the Trinity Marthoma Church Edmonton. The following is the full text of my speech:

Youth or young age is an important phase in the lives of many people. Some call it a transitional stage between being mature and childhood. But nevertheless it’s a very important stage of human evolution where one has his life in his hand like a dice. All he has to do is roll the dice. How he/she does it is very imperative as it formulates his destiny. The social establishments like the family, church, community, media play a huge role in this evolution. As of today when our churches all over celebrate the Youth Sunday, lets have an overview about the roles that are expected of the youth specially when it comes to a church environment.

1. Rise Upto the Occasion:
David was just like any other youth except for the fact that unlike many of the youths in Saul’s army including his son, he rose upto the occasion in dealing with Goliath. What we had in that situation was the large Philistine army and the larger stature of the giant but it required a mere shepherd boy to rise upto the occasion his armor being stones and a sling!! His strength being his unquestioned belief in his God. We youths today are faced with similar situations everywhere were churches are failing, from very basic social unit families to communities failing with strife and despair its highly important to seize control whenever a vacuum created is noticed. When we look around we see a society that needs direction, a community that is short of objective and people confused about their faith, worried about their economic condition. They need is a new direction, a new hope. Two thousand years ago, a man in his early thirties took charge and through his words and actions influenced a whole race of people, altered the course of world history for ever. Today we see the sojourn of a junior senator in our southern neighbour and we look at awe and inspiration. That, my brothers and sisters is the power of youth, the power of rising up to the occasion. You don’t need any theology, any ‘so called’ teachers of faith, just a strong belief in your creator and the guts to take control and see the fruits of your action…like David and like Jesus. I call upon you…rise up, seize the situation and take control and don’t regret or turn back.

2. Pressing on to the Goal:
The greek poet Hesoid once remarked “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words.” That’s the view many of the older people have today regarding the youth. When we look around in society we see this inertia in handing over responsibility to youth can be attributed to this very fact: recklessness. That is why in Philippians 3, apostle Paul stresses on the importance of pressing on to the goal that is in his words “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead” Its not easy unless we have a higher view of things. All the great entrepreneurs from Sam Walton to Bill Gates had higher goals, higher mountains to climb but they kept pressing on to the goal. Its not easy and losing interest is easier. Let’s go back to David…Saul tried to dissuade him in the beginning by telling in verse 33 you are only a boy, and he (Goliath) has been a fighting man from his youth. But to David, yes Goliath was a giant but his God was a bigger giant he dint see this obstacle big enough to be even perturbed and he had a goal: to see his God glorified. It’s like this to the mountain in front of us and we don’t see it because we see a bigger God! And when we have sights on that God, we will never lose direction. We should never lose that direction for as apostle Paul reaffirms in verse 20 of chapter 3 “our citizenship is in heaven. Cause we await a saviour from there”. So as said before, we rise up to the occasion, set goals and press on to those goals without losing heart.

3. Transforming Ourselves: David grew from a shepherd to being the most revered of all the kings in the Israel history, Joseph grew from being a dreamer to being the second most powerful, non Egyptian in those times of famine, Elisha grew from ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen to being a major prophet of Israel…we see youths who rise up to the occasion, pressing onto the goals simply undergoing transformation. The whole process changes us and it influences our walk ahead in whatever we do. Paul emphasises the same tone in when he instructs Timothy to set an example for everyone in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity and to watch his life, doctrine and ministry carefully with full perseverance because for you to be saved. It is important to move on, change with the new found responsibility. It was the success behind King David especially in his dealings with his people, his dealings with God and to illustrate the point clearly in the Baathsheba issue, his remorse and his repentance. . Again this change, the step-wise transformation we see in Jesus from being the son of a carpenter to our Lord and finally our Christ. I hope you get the tone of what I am telling. We take responsibility, with clear cut path to the goal and we transform ourselves so we attain the final victory.

That today my brothers and sisters is the message for the youth today. We today are like the rich man who went to see Jesus as we see in the gospel reading. We have everything, we are trained so well, we have the best education, the best of all facilities whether it is again church wise, community wise, society wise etc. Yet we feel left out. We live confused lives as we don’t know who we are. Where do we stand, what is our identity and what we are . This explains why we feel inadequate and troubled when we move on in life both professionally and personally. Jesus again implies the same tone when he tells the man to give up everything to get the treasures in heaven and then follow him. The Bible tells that the man just walked away as he was too rich. Let’s take the idea today. People go around telling how they feel left down in church, how they can’t connect with the church, with customs, with language and with the community. They live confused where their standing is. That my friends, is the ideal breeding ground for the Devil, and we have issues of false theologies and false teachers, wrong doctrines leading to immorality in church resulting in a fractured church. I ask all of you…What today is your contribution to the church? If the church is Christ’s body and if we are all the members of the church, if the church is dysfunctional, stagnant and reformation-dead we only have ourselves to blame as we the youths have failed in our responsibility. For the church is greater than an individual, a family, or a group of people….the church is you and it is imperative that we youths should ask this question today, what are we doing for the church. Once we realise that, we just rise upto the occasion, press on to the goal, and we undergo the transformation on our own and thereby we grow, the church grows and finally our Christ is glorified.

Image Courtesy: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/image/l/o/ypg_1__1.jpg

Historical Times

Hello All,

With the previous post, my collection of 'themed' poems comes to an end. All of them are inspired by certain incidents in my life of which I am entirely grateful to many people. These incidents have made me laugh, cry, think, reason with the powerful 'human' condition that we all go through and I am eternally thankful to God for educating me in the process.

Nothing has captivated me like the ongoing American presidential election and its far reaching implication on the way world sees its lone superpower. The timing of a novice like Barack Obama, the preparedness and the in-depth planning makes this election a wonderful experience. This election nevertheless of its outcome and the earlier said events will be the cornerstone in the next step of evolution in my life as a personality. I will be running a series on my blog on some of my political observations with respect to Christianity and the current world perspective. I promise that it would jolt you with profound thoughts and I humbly request you to come back for more updates.

Regards,

 

Tenny

The Search for Happiness

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

"You are so ugly,
and more are you so silly,
I don't love you,
nor will I marry you;
forget me and don't tout"
said and went he did my life out!

Cried and Cried me,
for that the rejection giveth he,
broke just not my heart,
shredded whatever in it prompt.

Love me him so much,
Gaveth my life for him much,
Was there whenever he needed me,
Hurt he me with those words slew!

Happiness! where art thou,
longed I since childhood for you,
Why do you evade me the sinner,
Days and days do I ponder,

'Happiness is like a butterfly,
chase it and does it fly,
forget it, comes to you sly!'
loudly did the teacher say!

Remember me not those words,
Faintly do I hope for the shouts,
that follow cries of joy shorts,
passed and passed did with it times;

'What do you see in this paper',
cried again the teacher out louder,
showed he the students a white sheet,
to ponder over a dot so black in it,
'black point see we in the center',
cried the students of the spectre!

'Life is like the white paper,
see we only the black that makes us sadder,
forget the white around that makes us gladder'
roared louder did the teacher!

Realize did I my folly,
never did I think about the flay,
of happiness I needed so many,
was right there for me in the fray,
for seek should I it for the say!

Happy became I for this the revalation,
elated for attaining the salvation,
moved in life through the elation,
confidently in full happiness!

Image courtesy: http://karenknowler.typepad.com/living_in_the_raw/images/happy_girl_jumping_1.jpg

Loneliness

Loneliness is this world's worst kind of pain.
Sabaku no Gaara in Naruto

I wrote this poem not just for the loneliness content. The feeling of loneliness is painful and disdainful at the same time. But at the end there is hope, promise, love and life which never ends. Me like anyone have gone through this phase and I feel so happy so energised and full of cheer. As they say 'What cant kill you, only makes you stronger'

Life passes through my eyes,
as I walk through the paces,
making my way through the humanity,
living its very own dignity,

slowly, and slowly I make my way,
to the seat that lay empty,
for to sit is my choice,
for sit I lonely in peace.

I look back in time,
through times that chime,
in happiness unbound,
times i laughed out loud,
chatted and bickered,
showed my worth!
Now I look feeling so empty,
Deep down in heart that lay,
awaiting the spring of love so lost!

Oh! what a feeling of being unworthy,
so unwanted yet so painful,
tears drip and drip so full,
finding solace so lull,
for love to return looks so dull,
like a mirage so playful,
but pain so disdainful!

Hands brush my hair,
I look up for the angel near,
she looks to me full of cheer,
Dont feel lonely my dear,
I am here for you my lover,
Never to leave you a loner,
To you I give a life with no mear!
For the spring that veer,
I give you happiness so dear.

That's the spirit of life. Fully energized and ready to go. Let's have a blast!

Sustainable Growth

It's been a year in Canada. Phew! how time flies! It's been good and great so far. Slowly and slowly I am integrating into the mainstream society. still there is lot of work to be done.

Emotions..

Lonely as I sit in my solace,
Unperturbed by life and its pace,
My mind drifts off as always,
to the ocean of tranquility,
I run through the pristine virginity,
of the sun-soaked beach,
as calm waters rush all along.

Suddenly, O Suddenly,
the waters turn crimson,
violent the waves turn in unison,
thunder strikes so badly,
I run all along for shelter.

Pray I loud for relief,
Life for its perturbed stiff,
Alas! how fast things changed,
Cry, I aloud, Oh aloud,
What thy sinner do for this deserveth.

Come here, cries aloud a womans voice,
Stunned as I am by the whisper in the rage,
Open arms welcome me,
with the touch so serene,
and the kiss so soothing,
I forget the chaos that led me!
As in her arms, complete becomes my solace,
as I slaved myself to love.

Again o Again, everything calms down,
I look around once again,
normal as things they may seem,
look around for the woman,
that made me feel so calm,
as life and all around it turned.

Where is she I wonder,
Run again do I for her ponder,
I run and I run for her,
Not a mirage to be found,
neither a footprint that led,
Oh Lord, what do I say,
Why do you do this play ?

Angry as I am for the creator,
Curse I for his follies yonder,
Time passes as I surrender,
To these thoughts that made me wander...

Image courtesy: http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs15/300W/f/2007/004/8/1/real_emotion_by_Qa9ed2000.jpg

“A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” Oscar Wilde

Long time Love

It's been a long time since I wrote anything useful. Thought of writing a poem and let me see...:)

I walk alone these days,
Thinking of the times,
I spent with you always.
Never realized how you were,
there for me,
through your smiles,
and foolish talks,
I lived a life so dear,
Leaving you alone was so painful,
I expected to see you one day,
But fate had its way,
You saw a face that made you walk away,
I never wanted to hurt you,
never wanted to trouble you,
just wanted to say how much I love you,
but never knew how to say to you.
Now as I stand miles and miles away,
the chinook winds say,
you will be back one day.
I wait for that day,
with deep breath and I pray,
for patience and hope that sway,
on sinners like me may,
receive solace and pity..
I love you...so dearly..

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

- Captain Corelli's Mandolin. "Love is the beauty of the soul."

Image Courtesy: http://www.desicomments.com/user/2008/02/2982/LoveHurts-diane-candyass.gif

Missed Calls

Missed Calls!!! The ever growing menace specifically with Indian mobile users. Its again kind of funny when India has the lowest calling rates in the world. Neverthless I had a humorous situation to render.
I had a college pal Kapil Kurien Palathingal who is currently working in Dubai. Due to some shit reason on his part, we had to split as being friends. He tried to woo me back with missed call syndrome. He used to call everyone from his mobile at around noon-ish UAE time. Well any layman knows that the timezones vary from place to place. So it is 2.30am here that is in North America. First I just ignored it. Later as I started having bout of sleeplessness this became a menace. It went on and on. And yours truly having bitter experiences with him over the past, dint want to antagonize him: just let it be!!
It went worse. Even after moving to the new residence, despite repeated requests it all fell into deaf ears. So one day I called him up and explained to him things in a jocular manner. I told him, your problem is a disease and it has to tackled scientifically. I told him to make a list of people he needs to give missed calls to. Then when it is morning in U.A.E, he should give missed calls to the people in North America. Then later in the noontime, the regions around the subcontinent and South East Asia could be covered and the evenings for Australia and New Zealand. This gives him a wide coverage of area and ample options indeed. Though the suggestion might appear off the cuff, he understood the tone behind the whole arguement. Like Russell Peters says "Somebody is gonna get hurt really bad tonight."
Never heard of him ever since. lol!

Giving

I won't forget yesterday that is the 20th of May. For days prior to that, I had taken a letter slip from Silvy Aunty in Millwoods bearing the name of The Leukamia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. I badly wanted to donate some money there, but I dint. Felt I will do it later and hence kept on procrastinating.
I dint have a comfortable experience staying in Hub. So as I vacated, I was supposed to give the room as per 'move in' conditions. I did the best I could. The penalities for a small stain is $50. On the final day, my friend Mandeep saw the place. He commented, Tenny you would be fortunate if you get at least $10. I had suffered more than enough staying in that place with all the accumulated bad experiences, I felt fortunate, at least I am getting my life back!!
Coming back, the urge to donate was more than I anticipated. So yours truly went to www.lls.org and signed up for a monthly donation of $15 in the name of my late grandfather.
Later in the noon, I made myself to the UofA Residences Office to enquire about the fate of my security deposit, knowing fully that I wont get anything. When I asked the receptionist, she said "Well Tenny, you will get $153.50 as your deposit with $3.50 as accumulated interest!!!!!!
Well giving is magical than we could ever think!!
“If you have much, give of your wealth; If you have little, give of your heart” Arab Proverb

Image courtesy: http://www.walnutstreet.org/images/giving.jpg

Prayer

This is from a forward I received:

The president of a large company wanted to talk to the factory's manager about an urgent matter. But the manager's secretary said, "He cannot be disturbed. He's in conference—as he is every day at this time."

"Tell him the president wants to see him," the man responded impatiently.

The secretary firmly replied, "I have strict orders, Sir, not to disturb him while he is in conference."

Angrily, the man brushed past the secretary and opened the door to the manager's office. After one quick look he backed out, gently closed the door, and said, "I'm sorry!" The president had found his manager on his knees in front of his open Bible.

The purpose of a daily devotional time is to stimulate regular, intimate meetings with the King of kings. We need to seek new orders and instructions each day from the One who has planned our lives and provided for our needs.

Have you spent time in conference with God today? It's never too late to start. — M.R. De Haan

Begin the day with God,
Kneel down to Him in prayer;
Lift up your heart to His abode,
And seek His love to share. —Anon.

Begin the day with prayer; end it with praise
Let's spend valuable time with God… to make our time invaluable!
May God bless us all and keep us all…

Decisions....

Every once in a while there happens to be a situation where we are faced with taking decisions. I have heard that the greatest danger in the world is indecision or lack of decision. Both the greatest danger is the inability to stand with our decision whether they are right or wrong. It's kind of humorous but no one knows the outcome of a decision and the outcome it delivers. I have found that as we grow up the decisions we take bring in a certain plethora of baggage associated. For example when we were 5-6 years, the decision to select between a Snickers and a Mars!! Or when we are 10-15, the decision to select between clothes and many things of fancy value. Once we are 20-25, the choices in making the right career decisions and so on. But I have seen the degree of uncertainity in each decision we make as we grow in age and the ever looming risk of failure. It teaches us some valuable lessons in patience leading perseverance and hope. But one never knows the right decision to make at any given point of time. Imagine Archduke Ferdinand taking a shorter route to reach his destination and the outcome it caused. Similarly when we read history the mishaps caused due to lack of decision outweigh any bad decision. The order might be changed, but one has to be comfortable and adjust to the new order whatever it is.

Mother's Day

On May 11th, the world over, it is celebrated as Mother's Day. My aunt in Calgary had informed me earlier on the significance of that day. To a person like me, all these festivities offer just a fancy value nevertheless I made some excuse and told her that since I dint send any card on Father's day, its futile sending one on Mother's day !!! lol!

That day, the church service in Calgary was an ordinary one. For the first time, the designated speaker couldn't make it to the worship and there was no sermon at the worship. It surprised me when the secretary, Ashok asked me to come up and speak about Mother's day. Something in me said, since I don't have anything to lose, might as well give it a try. I went up to the stage and though unprepared I explained how my mother has been a great influence to my life, how she was there for me during my meningitis and how I endured those times along with the miraculous recovery. I went on explaining about the various mothers in the Bible:- Sarah, Rebecca, Mother Mary etc. I was unprepared and words just flowed on. I ended it within 2-minutes and I got a round of applause. After the service, people came upto me and told me that was a good sermon. I looked at my aunt and I wondered, what a Mother's day gift!!!

Welcome back

To all of my friends, my blog is up and running once again after a temporary shutdown earlier this year :)

And what a year it is turning to be. The experiences I went through could have slumped and slaughtered any man but the wealth of lessons it has offered me and in shaping my priorities from now on in life are huge and enormous!

I realise one thing. Each of us has a certain degree of goodness and evil within us. I believe than the evil around us, it is the evil from within us has the maximum destabilizing power when provoked and I tell you the magnitude is huge and enormous.

I don't wish to scare my readers with silly, sordid tales but I plan to continue what I do the best: writing good and feeling good.

Move over Amitabh and Aamir, I am back in the reckoning!!

Tenny

End of a fascinating year and final post

Rockies


Drumheller


Pincher's Creek


I plan to shut down this blog and focus myself on much newer interests. I thank everyone for their continued support and comments. Meanwhile all my profiles on Orkut and Facebook will be active for the time being. Please don't hesitate to mail me at yotenny@gmail.com.

Regards,

Tenny
1st January 2008