A prayer

The creator of heaven and earth, our God, praise and worship, power and authority be always with You. May everyone everywhere who are praying in their own ways be praying to You, The Creator, and they be blessed with your peace and joy. Please do not let anyone anywhere perish. Thank you for allowing us to know more about You from the culture and tradition of the country you let me born in. I pray for the forgiveness of my sins which I have committed in my human impulses by offering the body and blood of Jesus Christ as my sacrifice for reconnecting with You. Not my grace but Your Mercy Father. Thank you Apostles for bringing the good news to us. Thank you Joseph and Mary. 

At Vallarpadam, again!

Though I came back to Kochi a week ago I could make it to Vallarpadam only on the following Sunday. It was very good to be back at my favorite church and its environs. It was about afternoon and the church was not so  full with devotees coming and going. The 4pm Tamil mass was very spirited but I would have preferred a local mass since I haven't been to one in months. I should have come little more early.

My thoughts were jumbled when I left the college after the semester. There were a few things I had started towards the benefit of our students and all those were left in the midway with no way to continue the effort after I left the village. It was rather disappointing, so much of efforts has been put into all those, but then I was also expecting it too. When ones work is under a contract one cannot predict what happens once it ends.

A day and night journey from the East coast to West coast. 

The cyclone Fani was rattling Odissha when I left the East coast village. Luckily we were spared the destruction. Immediately after that Chennai and our area just three hours away from that big town became unbearably hot. Koimbedu, the big bus station at Chennai became my refuge as I waited for the connecting bus from Chennai to Kochi.

Thank you my Lord for the wonderful opportunity to move around, help me do it well and complete the associated requirements on time and well. Bless us with our working tools and the knowledge to use them well. May everyone my Lord have the means to earn their bread and the grace to do it well gratefully. 

Holy Week

The liturgy center on Easter morning. After the Easter mass at night, not many came for the morning mass. 

I observed my holy week at Nellore along with some of the acquaintances. The celebrations were not as big as Christmas though the church took every care to make it auspicious as the occasion demanded. 

We were nearing the end of the semester and the classes were going tight.  Coming to church on everyday during the holy week was too much of a wish but still I could come on Chrism mass day. My life in the village lead me to and through the holy week gracefully. Thanking God for it though I should admit that it was more the circumstances than my attempt. 

The unfortunate events in Sri Lanka and the news about it took our joy away and we mourned for those innocents who lost their lives.

We understand God, the world has not been easy place to live, ever, the threat from the fellow beings being the biggest. We pray God, those who sought violence as their means, may they realize their folly and return. Their brothers and fellow community those who realize that a mistake has been committed,  may they have the courage to stand with the truth. 

Lent

Democracy is our greatest gift and elections are its greatest strength, a mechanism that ensures our systems carries on in the direction those great leaders of our freedom movement foresaw. May we all have the grace to use our votes wisely and the process goes on without any interruptions.

The Lent days are on, the meagerness of life has helped a lot in staying in tune with the spirit of the Lent, frugal and abstained. Though it is mostly by circumstances than by choice. Being thankful to be that way.

A Guava gift

May we all have the blessing and grace to think and do what we have to do every moment, every day and all through our remaining days.

A huge wish. Though it may sound simple, perhaps its the greatest wish a man can make. Personally, I have always problem with staying focused. Life seems to happen in phases, there are days which are highly productive and days that are wasted. Even during  a single day, there are hours which are well spent and there are some which are idled.

So here at the small village where I am now in Andhra, when I am bothered with bad time management which spoils my day I know I have to take some time out to get the system corrected. Back in my hometown a visit to the local church is always a very helpful option. Here we do not have much churches around in my reachable neighborhood.

Interestingly, there is a small temple which is visited by thousands on Saturday night. I have found solace in its compound, sit somewhere quietly and meditate.

After my quiet time there, I came out and was watching the dance offering of a group from a distant village when I came across a hardworking young woman I know and her two school going children, the younger one just starting the school. The conversation was so pleasant with the elder boy asking me things about school and studying and I was telling them all I know.

Before they left, they gifted me a Guava.

Sunday at Vallarpdam

The walk around during last Sunday at Nellore, got me down with a swelling on my gums. I wasn't sure whether I could make it to Kochi, where I have to come for meeting some arrangements of life. :) A few days late, I could manage the trip in the hot weather with the help of antibiotics. 

Kochi too, was hot. When I reached the church the 11.30 am mass was on and the church was crowded... a lot of pilgrims from all around. I stood out during the service in the north yard where the sea breeze still blows. Many construction around the church has stopped the wind from blowing and unlike earlier, we cannot be comfortable everywhere around the church if we have to attend the service standing outside in the yard. 

It's been almost a month since I have come to Vallarpadam  so being here on this Sunday was very important for me. Inspite of the emotional and spiritual need I was very distracted after the mass. I did not get the satisfaction of being with the God in meditation. A few things were going on yesterday and the day before yesterday since I came home, the business of life, it had gone well too. Still, I got distracted from holding the whole heart to God for sometime. :(

The church, as always, looked clean and neat, this old stairs to the balcony was so pleasant I couldn't help taking a picture of it. 

As soon as the mass was over everybody left and the church became empty around noon. The heat was having its toll. At Vallarpadam, the church is never so empty. Few dozens of devotees will always be there. But that few do not make our big church in anyway full. 

After having a simple lunch from the Meenakshi Restaurant I came back to the Church and spent some more time. Fr. Abel CMI's, way of the cross was on sale at the church shop, I bought one and read through it. Since I havent gone to church on Ash Wednesday initiating the Lent, the feel of Lent surprised me on my first visit to my Parish Church on Saturday. 

Wish you all a good Week my dear friends, May we all think good and do good and be happy that we could so. May the distractions be not so severe to take our mind of our motto. 

A hot Sunday

After the Sunday Mass I took a shared auto to the area around the main bus stand. The sun was getting warmer and warmer as it was in the last week. Walking around I found this small hotel who served the most splendid dosas of Nellore. 

Later walking around the crowded business part of old Nellore , I came across this small church named after St. Antony. 

The mass time was over, still the church was open and empty. I could sit there for a while in the cool comfort of the church praising and worshipping all alone. I felt very happy and thanked God for the opportunity. For those of us who have to seek divine help to survive the hurdles of the day such convenient prayer opportunities are God sent indeed. 

On my way out I met a boy who was coming from the presbytery who helped me with reading a board in local language and told me directions on how to go back to the bus stand. He had surprisingly good English. Now looking back I wonder why I did not take his picture. 

I have met some good people in this old town who have been extremely helpful to me. Thank you God 😊