Alms

Any place of worship we go in India, we find a long line of disabled and sick men & women sitting on the road side requesting alms. Well at Vallarpadam too we have some. Unfortunately, I am not on their favorite list. They see me frequently coming to the church, but they know I do not give them anything. Last Sunday one of them was loud in expressing their feelings for me.

"God wont hear your prayers unless you give" That was their advice.

Thanks giving

At Vallarpadam, near the altar, some times we find "Bread offerings" made by grateful faithfuls for miraculous physical healing received. These breads will be in the shape of legs, hand or the whole human body itself, depending on the healing received.

Three months ago, my mother hurt herself on under her feet with a small thorn wound. Unfortunately it got worse with puss and we had to take her to hospital, where the young doctor cut out the affected part making it a gaping wound.

She was diabetic with a heart condition. It took two months to heal completely and all the while she was laid up pretty much depending on us for her daily needs. For us it was a testing period that all of us stayed together in love and took care of her patiently.

Thanks to His grace everything went well and she made a "bread offering" at Vallarpadam.

Indeed when we have troubles, the way we pray, the way we remain close to god is different. Wish we had the same intensity when things are good too.

Offerings

It was some time before mass on Wednesday evening, I was sitting on the bench near the main door of the church enjoying the silence and the solace when this grandma who was sitting in front of me turned back and asked me, "where can I meet the priest?".

Well it seemed she had an offering to make, thanks giving for sure, and she was visiting "Mother" with her two sons and their family. She gifted a gold chain and was happy when it was put on the likeness of Infant Jesus. She had her heart and eyes full.

I couldnt help thinking about the kind of frames of mind of those who gather there everyday to pray, some from the height of gratitude with offerings, some from the low of misery. Though I belonged to the latter some how I was happy at heart.

No gold, nor silver I have Mother,
Empty hands full with worries and anxieties,
But happy at heart, You taught me to understand,
And to use a blessing, when its granted.

Many a time, my cup was full and brimming,
But I was careless, spilled and ruined,
Only to understand later with regret,
It was your mercy, that I took for granted.

Now, among ruins am happy, more than ever,
You taught me in my fall, humility above all,
Keep the home and its bread, Here on my knees,
Lord, offering my heart with its flaws.

Phayan Cyclone

'Orange Level' was the warning that was issued for the cyclone that was developing strong in the Arabian Sea and moving towards the west coast of India. Though Gujarat and Maharashtra were the ones who were going to take most of the blunt force, we in Kerala was not that much worried still Vallarpadam Island being on the mouth of the Sea we were expecting some Gale force.

I was at the Meenakshi Restaurant at Vallarpadam around five in the evening when heavy winds and torrents of rain hit the island with a menacing force. I sat there sipping a hot tea listening to the very loud drumming of rain drops on the tin roof of the restaurant. As the minutes passed, drumming became violent we all started panicking.

The rain was getting stronger and wind was blowing harder. Through the grilled ventilation on the west wall the winds from the sea swept in the rain drops which was running down the wall wide and thick.

On that wall they had few power plugs where refrigerators and coffee machines were plugged in. All were drenched. We pulled out two and was little skeptical about the other as it was wet completely, when the rains slowed down suddenly and sky cleared.

For twenty minutes it was Phayan unleashed.

HG Dr. Daniel Acharuparmabil

The Arch Bishop was there on Vallarpadam the week before Mary's birthday, September 24. On that special Sunday His Grace, adorned the blessed individuals whom the church honored with titles for their service to the society. They had a huge stage on the Rosary Park of Vallarpadam and the whole diocese came in procession from Ernakulam and Vypeen. By the time I reached there at Vallarpadam as the far end of the line, the place was so full, all I got was a distant glimpse of the Arch Bishop. I couldn't even take a picture. A miss indeed.

This picture I took when the flower decked vehicle carrying the body of His Grace was brought to the St. Mary's Cathedral around seven in the evening, it was a sad farewell for one of the most loved spiritual leader by one and every of his flock.


His Greatness was he used his faith, intellect, education and authority to be one among his flock in every way and lead from the front.

Farewell father, we will remember you and always thank Jesus for your humility and love.

How colorful is the me in your heart...

When more than anything else, we hold the peace of our heart, as the greatest wealth in this world even slight fall in the level of that peace hurts our rhythm. In the first place we came to value our peace from the bitter experience of our life, the bruises and hurt we received from pursuing happiness of the world, the unbelievable failures and disgrace.

The last two visits to Vallarpadam for me was very disappointing. I had a few things running in my mind which was having a negative impact on my being. Usually spending time with Mary at Vallarpadam calms me a lot, but this time the demons inside me seemed to be stronger. I left the church quickly on both the times, bit scared to sort out the "demon" myself and afraid I might wreck someone else's peace with my grubbiness.

Vallarpadam is the first church in the whole of Asia which is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. So no matter who we are and what we do, if we have the heart, Holy Spirit work in us while at Vallarpadam, no matter how strong and old our demons are.

We can never control what others think of us, how we live in their heart, sadly most of our worries and fears are just that, what others think of us, how we live in their eyes.

Well, I could only smile when I finally touched the thread of my own demon thought which was wrecking me for a few days. Its how we think of others, its how we deal with others that "should" matter to us than worry or fear about "us" in others heart.

We have only one commandment, which is to LOVE, if our thoughts and deeds are in that, we surely do not have any thing to worry. When this realization hit me, I could feel the delight of my peace returning and felt the sensation of the cool, clean feel of the floor at Vallarpadam on my feet.Those old stones are one heck of a touch...:))

The day was won at last! :)