The canal

The public works department of our town are widening and concreting the roadside canal of our village. They dug up the entire canal network deep and wide which got wider infront of the Mercy Home run by the sisters making it difficult for the children and the elderly sisters to cross over to the other side over a narrow makeshift ledge.

Cyclone

As the cyclone passed over our town Nellore without rain but winds blowing strong, we were busy going to church and farmers planting rice plants.
I reached the church very late. Infact the service was over and members coming out of the church when I reached there.
A very special Sunday as the week that went by was the one in which my students took the university exam in the subject I taught them. Since the paper involved statistical maths, it wasn't easy for some, as they prepared only for the problems and ignored the theory. Those who prepared for the theory had a good day.

December

The fields around our village in Nellore are busy with the rice planting. An auspicious time with the best wishes for a good harvest.

I am away from Vallarpadam for a long time now. The wonderful opportunity I have got to engage with graduate students here is keeping me busy.
The semester has closed and my brief engagement will be over in a few days.

The most beautiful Christmas month is here and some stars are already up in Nellore. Christmas and New year are very well celebrated here, as Nellore was a prominent town during the British Raj for many centuries. The tradition still continues.

November Sunday

The onset of Autumn has brought the morning mist onto the wind swept fields of Golaga Mudi. It was a beautiful sight as I set out for the church in the morning.

In five minutes difference our village bus left for town and I had to wait for a long time to find a shared rickshaw to the town.

The delay made me go to a nearby church ⛪ where I haven't gone at all. A big church with only few attendees. I was glad I went there. I could meet an elderly sister who had given her entire life for the welfare of the broken hearts ♥ and those with family problems. Bless you sister and thank you very much for your life.

Just the other day I was thinking about the purpose of giving our entire life to a subject or a career and the wisdom in it. The opinion of King Solomon who says everything is an illusion and at the final end would make no difference whether one was successful in this world or not.

True, given the futility or the non permanence of everything concerning life, God advices us to engage in good things in life even if it doesn't make a difference in the end.

The career, the wealth, everything we doin this world, no matter how successful or miserable we are, it doesn't matter God could take it away from us in a moment.

The disappointment or the joy, we shouldn't take I to our hearts ♥ as it was just an option for us to engage our mind and body everyday while we are here in the world.

While we engage ourselves, we have to give our best.

Last Sunday in October

Nellore St. Joseph's catholic cathedral church.
My classes here are about to finish. The subject I teach is almost over.
Since I came to Nellore immediately after the Kerala flood I retuned home only once. Its been so many weeks since I went to Mary at Vallarpadam.
Yes I miss Vallarpadam but not God. God is always with in us no matter where we are. Yes certain place help us to connect with Him more.
Thank you my lord for the wonderful opportunity to be in the village where you sent me. Bless me with the grace to do well what you have sent me to do. Help me to be useful to the people I come across. Never let me go to stray away from you.

Bless everyone Jesus who are in similar situation, struggling with life to make ends meet still enjoying the near finishes and misses.

Bless you my lord!

Realization

May you have the blessing and grace to be aware where you are in life, accept it with all your heart-good or bad and know fully well that your life's situation can change any moment no matter what you think or do.

Sunday at Nellore

23-09-2018
It has been two weeks since I went to Vallarpadam. A surprise opportunity for a guest lecturing at an institute in a village at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh has taken me away from my home town.

I went to the St. Joseph's church at Nellore for the Sunday mass. Though the mass was in Telegu  and I did not understand most of it did not lessen the importance of it. There was one of my students who came with me to the church. Though he was like me from Kerala and had the Same language problem, he never missed a Sunday mass. I had noted very proudly he was very attentive too.

Nellore town at the moment is celebrating the state festival of Rotella Ponduga at The Bara Shahid Durga. An event which signifies the religious and political harmony of the town. Both Muslims and Hindus exchange Rotis at the Durga, a ritual of thanks giving for a wish granted and a wish prayed for.

It was so nice being back at the St. Josephs, but I couldn't meet any of the sisters I knew at the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master.

Though, I couldn't be at Vallarpadam the spiritual happiness of being in the Gods  presence was the Same and the blessed memories of Lady of Ransom kept me smiling while riding a share auto rickshaw back to the village where I stay.