tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22465182374378092032024-03-29T12:11:39.866+05:30Lemon Barley WaterEmmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-80724905332368157502023-10-21T00:49:00.001+05:302023-10-21T00:49:21.977+05:30Recall Recognition Relationship<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">I was reading this verse from the Book of Isaiah a few days ago. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The ox knows its master,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">the donkey its owner’s manger,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">but Israel does not know,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:3<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">If we ponder on this verse it is about memory.
The animals have a memory, God has a memory, however, alas the human’s memory
seems to fail. What does having a memory mean? It enables us to recognize
persons and places. The ox has a memory of its master and therefore connects
with the master. The donkey often the butt of jokes for not having intelligence
also knows where the owner's stall is. Despite grazing in the open freely their
memory takes them back to their owner’s and their place of stay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">“my people” indicates the relationship God has
with the people of Israel. While God is seeking out His people, his people are
not able to connect with their God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">The Ox is aware of who its master is, and the
donkey knows its dwelling place. The learning for us as Humans is to respond to
the call of our Master and be aware of our eternal home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Can we recall the goodness of God, Recognize His
Divinity, and build our relationship with Him so that we are assured of our
Eternal Home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">Emmanuel David October 2023<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-82127616964978916532023-05-29T13:54:00.001+05:302023-05-29T13:54:32.740+05:30Finding Meaning in a Church Greeting<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was pondering the theme for
this month’s Remarkable and thought it rather a difficult one to write about.
However, listening to the services (sometimes twice on a Sunday), I heard these
oft-repeated verses at the end of every service:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Minister: The Lord be with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">People: And also with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Minister: Let us depart in peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">People: In the name of Christ.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I thought I would delve deeper
into this greeting that we so easily say.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The origin is Latin, and the
exact words are ‘Dominus vobiscum’, which means “The Lord be with you.” The
response in Latin is ‘Et cum spiritu tuo’, which means “And with thy spirit.”
Later, in our contemporary translation, it was changed to “And also with you”
so that the Lord is with our full being.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This greeting of the minister and
the congregation is what unites each of us as the Church of Christ. So, as we
leave the sanctuary, we are leaving with the assurance to each other that our
Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also affirm to depart in peace
in the name of Christ. These are only 20 words; however, they give us
assurance, affirmation, and a call to action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assurance: The Lord was with
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego at their moment of trial by fire. The Lord was
present with Moses at the burning bush, and with His disciples during the
storm, as well as with the two on the walk to Emmaus. We are affirming to each
other that the Lord will be with us in the coming week, day, or perhaps even
the next hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If this is so, what is the call
to action? Having the Lord and the Holy Spirit with us would mean that our
behaviour shows the fruit of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of months ago, after
driving out of church, I was upset with someone in a public place, and
Nazarene, my wife, asked me a provocative question: “Can’t we be peaceful after
attending the church service? What witness are you leaving behind?” When we
tell each other to depart in peace, in Christ’s name, we have a responsibility,
and we hold each other accountable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hebrews 3:12-13 says, “See to it,
brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that
turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it
is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">May our Lord be with each one of
you.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-56428482635354460342022-12-22T18:55:00.003+05:302022-12-22T18:55:53.938+05:30Something to Think about <p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQDyFdW4UQEGWCRdiMQYITnyojwejHpU02kDzuck1kOcZyK8UTVdWm9JgmdCKX0nw7S1hy-9hsu4JgTa95aNeXNBnJPhOQS0wktikxyEBUAZU459430Yfde0bHcYSHTgxrBxOhQU950kcbcdO28UzVAilvDkEJYSxBnsX94ZzTTNRcSitEcimmdPpbA/s1200/past%20future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQDyFdW4UQEGWCRdiMQYITnyojwejHpU02kDzuck1kOcZyK8UTVdWm9JgmdCKX0nw7S1hy-9hsu4JgTa95aNeXNBnJPhOQS0wktikxyEBUAZU459430Yfde0bHcYSHTgxrBxOhQU950kcbcdO28UzVAilvDkEJYSxBnsX94ZzTTNRcSitEcimmdPpbA/s320/past%20future.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-9305598423134411522022-11-28T16:10:00.001+05:302022-11-29T13:50:17.261+05:30The Bigger Picture<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was pleasantly surprised when
our friends dropped in. We made an impromptu decision to go to a close by restaurant.
It was 1:30, our driver Srinivas was
having his lunch. Not wanting to interrupt our driver’s lunch we hopped into
our friend’s vehicle as we headed for lunch. However, we instructed Srinivas to
pick us up from the restaurant.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The usually reliable Srinivas was
not to be seen and on top of it he was not picking the phone. On reaching home,
we saw Srinivas fast asleep on the porch.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had the right to be harsh with
him even though he apologized profusely. But then we overlooked this incident
saying “its fine Srinivas don’t worry” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We went about our routines and
Nazarene went upstairs and to her shock she found we left the balcony door
open. Now things fell into place. Locks could not protect our house, which had
been burgled twice over the last two years. “Unless the LORD watches over the
city, the guards stand watch in vain”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It took some time and then we realized Srinivas reneging on his duty to pick us up and sleep on the porch was
perhaps a protection plan of God. We felt good for not being harsh on Srinivas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Later in the evening, I narrated
this lapse on our part to Srinivas and how grateful we are to God for His
Protection. I asked him how he felt when he saw us walk home. He said he felt
very bad and guilty. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then I asked him how does he feel after
I had narrated about this part and his role in protecting our house. He said
that definitely he has seen God’s protection and care and he feels better now
and resolved to do his duty even better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">26<sup>th</sup> November 2022</span></span>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-1084733880296397942022-01-02T00:55:00.000+05:302022-01-02T00:55:42.504+05:30Trust an unknown future to a Known God<p><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">Many years ago, I was called to the office
of the CEO of the company I worked at. He informed me that he would not like
for me to continue working with them, after which he asked me to resign.
Conversations such as this aren’t typically pleasant and neither are their
outcomes. As someone in HR, I had been on the other side of this conversation
many times. Having been at the receiving end this time, I had to take it with
equanimity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">I went home and told Nazarene, my wife,
about this conversation and its outcome. Naturally, we felt disappointed and
forlorn thinking about the future. We happened to be in the midst of shifting
houses at that time and needed to clear some items from the old house. We
therefore went to the old house later that evening to clean it up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0044ff;">Lying on the floor in the living room
amidst all the dust was half of a poster that I purchased when I started
working in the early eighties. Here it is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xziU4L2P42eQDvhhXX8U8V5uMn6BpABm3NCRJFDAwHdVS3REZefnLUhRW5s5kNSmAfN7NRihyfmCivjb4zwad75htMdTqfd-iekGnf2vNTEMvFh5w3k0TicVxs_ZjG3D7vjLeGt2HVvcf5f--4lVUsZLNmJrRheETKB_hN7JATbovth3Xlhc6dOY4g=s804" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="804" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xziU4L2P42eQDvhhXX8U8V5uMn6BpABm3NCRJFDAwHdVS3REZefnLUhRW5s5kNSmAfN7NRihyfmCivjb4zwad75htMdTqfd-iekGnf2vNTEMvFh5w3k0TicVxs_ZjG3D7vjLeGt2HVvcf5f--4lVUsZLNmJrRheETKB_hN7JATbovth3Xlhc6dOY4g=w401-h281" width="401" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">Nazarene noticed it and pointed it out to
me. We both stood still for a few moments and felt the Lord Himself speak to
us. We felt a reassuring calmness and we reaffirmed our Faith in God. Over the
years, we’ve grown in our spiritual life. God has been faithful to us despite
various troughs and valleys thereafter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">Now, as I reminisce about what happened so
long ago, I am awestruck by God’s blessings on me. I superannuated as Director
of TMTC a few months ago. When many in the world were laid off, I was asked to
continue beyond my retirement age, which was an added blessing. We have all
enjoyed good health, the love and affection of family and friends and the
opportunity to work, contribute and make a difference. I am living a future
that was unknown to me so many years ago and it is all because of God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">As we close 2021, my family and I express
gratitude for the year gone by and look forward in hope to 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;">We wish you good health, peace and
happiness for 2022 and leave this assurance <b><i>“ Never be afraid to trust an
unknown future to a Known God.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #0044ff; font-family: arial;"> Wish you a blessed 2022</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-50227101001594789662021-12-27T00:03:00.003+05:302021-12-27T00:03:54.185+05:30Ask Seek Knock at Christmas<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“So I say to
you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a
verse from the Bible where Jesus tells us to perform three actions: to ask, to
seek, and to knock. Jesus goes on to explain the outcome of these actions in
the next verse:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For everyone
who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door
will be opened.” (Luke 11:10)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My parents
were deeply involved in Christian Literature work during their lives. For
<b>Edward David</b>, my dad, writing, translating, and editing Christian literature
was his vocation and profession. However, my mom, <b>Queena Celestina Komali
David</b>, got involved primarily to support my dad with editing the Telugu
Christian Hymnal, Bible Concordance as well the revision of the Telugu Bible.
As they sat and worked together, they would naturally discuss and disagree on
certain things in each session.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">During one
such session, my mom asked my father what his understanding of the verses above
was. My dad responded in a manner similar to how most of us would: he said that
these verses were about asking God for something for one’s own self. Many of us
would interpret these verses from our own perspectives as well, viewing these
as promises to fulfill personal wishes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mom listened
to his explanation carefully. She then spoke, providing her own understanding
of these verses as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<b><i>Ask for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit on you;<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>Seek God’s
Kingdom and His righteousness first in your life<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>Seek for the
lost souls;<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>Knock at the
closed hearts of the people</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What a
beautiful interpretation! I unfortunately did not witness this incident, but
dad narrated this to us a few months after Mom passed on to eternal life in
1994.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Therefore,
this Christmas do remember the words of the Lord and may the prayer of <b>Queena
Celestina David</b> inspire you to ask for God’s blessing, seek beyond yourself and
knock on greater challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy
Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Emmanuel
David<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Christmas 2021<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-74663616564400065352020-09-20T14:29:00.002+05:302020-09-20T15:29:14.384+05:30Gratitude through Generations : Thoughts on Psalm105<p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">One morning, as part of my own meditation, I
read all of Psalm105. I didn’t plan to read it; I just happened to read it.
This Psalm essentially asks people to worship and trust in the Lord, because of
what He has done for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">This Psalm has 45 verses, wherein almost about
600 years of history is captured, from Abraham to Joshua. Isn’t it amazing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Let’s think a little bit about King David, who
writes this Psalm. <b>Can you imagine almost a thousand years separate him from
when Abraham lived.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also almost <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>350 years after the Israelites went into
Canaan. Now consider this, At the time when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>King David<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was writing this Psalm,
he did not have access to the internet, nor to libraries in the same way that
we do today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">There are a couple of things we can conclude
about King David and his context. The first and the most obvious one is this:
King David was a well-read man who had access to all the literature of that
time. Second, there was some sort of thorough way in which history was
recorded. Either it was meticulously passed on through oral tradition or it was
carefully recorded in writing. Third, King David was a poet. His poetry was
deeply reflective. He was able to connect the history of that time to his
context and relate it to God’s faithfulness to His People.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Isn’t it amazing? Despite a 1000 years
separating Abraham and King David, the king was able to connect various
elements of Israel’s history right from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then the
travails of Joseph. Here, he speaks of Joseph’s role in prison and then as a
helper to Pharaoh and it goes on. We then come to the birth of Moses, the
captivity of Israelites in Egypt and how they lived for several years. Then
arrive the plagues, miraculous signs in the plagues and then the journey of the
Israelites across the Red Sea and giving them food through manna. He also
opened the water from the rock, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
these aspects are captured by David in one single Psalm!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">What struck me through all of this is the fact
that we have a living word. At different levels and at different times, you
will see that the mercies of the past and the promises God made to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob were all fulfilled. Thus, when we look at our current context,
the Psalm 105 can inspire us to recount the faithfulness of our Lord over the past
generations. We have an opportunity to connect God's Faithfulness from our ancestors to our present times and Praise our Lord. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><img alt="The Creation of Adam- Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel" border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="3164" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk86n1GZKUBju19UrgdBjtx6CS0wWc9Joi70i7vmqg8v4Jrcn6n3V697LnUfSTeMdgsEgo65lWLiSc0aifwboo_GeZeNDQ4bxgkDZ4M-kgohgPfH_boHR5bFAWCI2Btl6s8gupbkAFW3Ud/w320-h128/DSC_7506.jpg" style="text-align: left;" title="I had the opportunity to take this picture 2018" width="320" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The Creation of Adam- Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I had the opportunity to take this picture 2018</span></p>Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-37998080600998376822020-01-26T00:06:00.000+05:302020-01-26T00:12:10.890+05:30Collaboration and Foresight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Nazarene, my wife, asked me the difference between Independence Day and Republic Day I thought it would be good to revisit the meaning of Republic, even as we celebrate our 71st Republic Day tomorrow. </span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Oxford Dictionary gives this definition : <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A quick search into history tells us that India became an independent nation on the 15th of August 1947 when the British Rule ended. They appointed a Governor General Mr. C Rajagopalachari who was the representative of the British Sovereign and head of State of India. India formed its constituent assembly who created our constitution and on November 26th 1949 this constituent assembly gave us our constitution and declared ourselves a Republic on the 26th January 1950.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most critical aspect of being Republic is that there is no Monarch to rule over us and we take responsibility for our governance. Of the 220 plus countries in the world, thankfully 120 are Republic, we have about 29 Monarchs ruling over 43 countries and 7 are Theocratic states while regrettably over 50 that are dictatorships and Authoritarian regimes. Since the power is held by the people being a Republic makes us <b>accountable</b> to ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought this aspect was beautifully illustrated through two small creatures from nature which are the Ants and Locusts. The Proverbs say it succinctly “ The Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” where as the “locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks”.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Powerful lessons can be drawn from the ants and locusts. Both are in a manner ‘Republic’ especially as the ants display foresight, planning and assiduous working towards their goal while the locusts are a fantastic example of collaboration and working towards common purpose. Pristine equality of status and opportunity.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let us look at the preamble to our constitution which is admirable and is worth reviewing on occasions such as these.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WE, The PEOPLE of INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic</em></span> and to secure to all its citizens:</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Justice</em></span> , social, economic and political;</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Liberty</em></span> of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Equality</em></span> of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fraternity </em></span>assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, Do Hereby Adopt, Enact and give to <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ourselves </em>this Constitution.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As Indian citizens we have chosen to be self governed and self regulated. Since it is our choice we are accountable to ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe being truly Republic comes alive when we are able to <b>collaborate</b> for a common cause with <b>wisdom</b> and <b>foresight</b> while executing with diligence.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 3.2rem; margin-bottom: 3.2rem; margin-top: 3.2rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wish you a meaningful Republic Day.</span></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-14956056240441056612019-12-31T00:08:00.002+05:302019-12-31T00:08:56.472+05:30The Three Wise Ones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="Introduction">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>I am grateful for the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gifts we
enjoy and take for granted that of Health,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Family, livelihood, friends amongst<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a long list.</i></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Introduction">
<br /></div>
<div class="Introduction">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>year<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>matter of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a few weeks<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>between August and October 2019, I met<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>three persons and each of them made me reflect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and think about the blessings I have.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a respect to
their<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>privacy I shall not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>disclose their<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>names<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but perhaps since you may know<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>common friends<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and could<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>figure them out, in which<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>case do
say a prayer for them.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Edith<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>turned 91 recently and had expressed a desire
to meet me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>special as I am of her many acquaintances and
yet she chose me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Edith, a
spinster,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has been home bound since the
last<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>few years due to various
health<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>issues including the big C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>experiences severe<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pain in her
arms almost every day. Even her food intake is restricted due to age. I managed
to meet her the next<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>day after her
birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one room apartment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had many beautiful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flowers from the previous day. We just<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sat and spoke to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was aware of Donald Trump and the state
of our nation. Her mental agility was remarkable. Edith was a regular at the
large cathedral<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we used to attend as
well. What struck me was however that even though she is unable to attend
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>church services she keeps a portion
of her offerings for each<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>week,
including the special services she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>misses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Edith<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is in great pain,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her view was since she is alive, her life
must be purposive. Her knowledge of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
Bible was amazing as Edith could<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>connect
various promises of Jesus to her context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was also grateful she trusted me enough to disclose plans after her
passing away.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prior to any important
event or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>travel I rush to my barber<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karim, to trim my hair and beard. Karim who
is about in his early forties has always been polite and professional and would
not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>speak unless spoken to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got speaking<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this time<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>as I asked Karim how things were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He narrated that it was only<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4
months since he lost his wife to an illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has two children and he has to balance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>between taking care of his children and
managing his earnings. There was a tinge of grief in Karim</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>voice but yet,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">“ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">here and now </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">“ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps he would not have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told me
had I not asked him. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I met my
classmate from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>college Sahil after
almost 4 decades<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after we graduated. We
are of the same age. Some one<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told me
that he was he had a physical ailment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
I did not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>think there could be any but
that thought lingered and I did not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wish
to believe it. I was visiting Mumbai as Sahil lives there<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and told him<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>where I would be staying. Sahil immediately<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said lets catch up and said he would come to
meet me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was secretly happy as I
thought<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard wrongly about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his physical condition and when we met that
evening nothing seemed apparent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
classmates do,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we caught up about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>old times and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>what we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>did after college we also
discovered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>common friends in each of our
life</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s journey. Sahil was the eldest of
two sons in his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while
the dialogue was about the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family and I
learnt that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he lost his wife about 20
years ago and did not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>remarry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we spoke he also told me that he lost his
parents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and younger brother<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over the last<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then taking courage I
asked him about his health, when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he
said<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">“ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes Emmy, I have had minor health issue, due to Diabetes one of my foot
has been amputated from the ankle</span>” <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I did not know where to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>look. Sahil
had a resolute<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>smile and for him this
was no setback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fact he is a CEO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in a niche Logistics MNC and despite all his
personal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>setbacks he has been able
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>turnaround<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a loss making<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>India operations to become profitable and reliable, so much so that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his principals have asked him to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>continue in this role and he does
international travel as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I treasure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the meetings with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Edith, Karim and Sahil and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>claim my Christmas Gifts from those
interactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gifts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gratitude, resilience, and purpose. I suppose
each of us<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>may<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>take away much from these narratives. In
fact<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful for the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gifts we enjoy and take for granted that of
Health,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family, livelihood, friends
amongst<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a long list. Wish you a very
happy Christmas and a Blessed 2020.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
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<div align="right" class="Body" style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-68616663465930313932018-03-18T18:56:00.002+05:302018-03-18T19:07:10.536+05:30Grace and Gratitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last
week I had an event in the evening at office and a Bible study to attend. Both
the events were followed by dinner. Nazarene, my wife, asked me, “Where will
you have dinner today?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">While
it took me a while to decide I also pondered over what Nazarene asked, and it
suddenly hit me that question was in itself very profound. I had a choice of
three places to have my dinner, the third being my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought of how blessed we were to be able
to pick and choose where to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
thought of two more questions on the subject during dinner that evening. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
second that came to my mind was, “What will you have for dinner today?” Many of
us<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have ample<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>choice of what can be put on our plates <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>things like choice of ingredients and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cuisine as well. There is a lot of food to
eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
third question that floated in my mind was, “Is there dinner today?” In many
homes this is a question that is more of a rule than an exception. People
struggling to put two square meals together, or breadwinners<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trying very hard to provide for their
families.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many
years ago<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one evening Nazarene and I
drove around to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>give away some leftover
food. We found an elderly lady near a railway gate and gave her the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>packet. Her spontaneous response on
receiving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the packet was “ Thank you
very much sir, God Bless you.” She<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had
not even seen the cold food yet she was brimming over with gratitude unconditionally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
realise that each of these questions come from a different orbit<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we are in our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>lives. We may not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have answers as
well however our attitude could be one of Grace, Responsibility or Gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-18432692173324428502017-12-31T00:37:00.003+05:302017-12-31T00:40:50.337+05:30Marching into 2018 with Delight and Gratitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot has been said
about airlines this past year
with decibels and trolls taking centre
stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we close the year I
wish to recall to incidents one which delighted me and the other warmed my
heart with gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was on a late evening
flight from Trivandrum to Pune
to accommodate business meetings at Trivandrum. It was scheduled
to leave at 2150 hrs and I had a comfortable aisle seat somewhere in the middle
of the aircraft. I was concerned about missing my connecting flight with the same airline when the staff assured me that the same aircraft would take me to
Pune.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Bangalore, I was one amongst the few through travellers
and in a short while the aircraft was almost filled up. Much to my
satisfaction, we had an on-time departure for Pune. Once we were airborne and the food service was in full
swing, the passenger seated on the aisle next to me suddenly belched loudly. I
sensed what was about to come and took out the air sickness bag but alas! I wasn’t
quick enough. He showered his seat and floor with the food he had eaten
earlier, One of the flight attendants ushered
him away to the closet to assist him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a few minutes the senior-most flight attendant
arrived, surveyed the scene, and enquired
after me as well. She quickly went back
and returned with gear to handle such situations. She put
some granules which she explained to me that would absorb all the wetness quickly. The area was covered
with tissue thereafter. She also sprayed some
perfume around the area to
prevent smells from interfering with our
journey. Since I was closest to
this scene of action, she offered me a
seat middle seat in one of the front rows and escorted me there. What touched
me was the ease this Senior took charge and went about her task seemingly nonchalantly. She could have offered some ‘on the job
training‘ to one of her junior
crewmates, but chose to lead by serving.
I am delighted by the
leading lady and on-board staff of 6E 445 of Indigo on the flight of 10/12/2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that isn’t all. Here’s another pleasant experience, even
more recent than what I just described.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went to Bhubaneswar earlier this
week. I have to take some medicines to counter some of the lifestyle
issues I face. I took a pill on the
flight. I failed to immediately put back
my medicine pouch into the bag. We checked the seat pockets before deplaning and found everything in order. On
reaching our place of stay I discovered the loss of my pouch. While I located a
chemist and purchased what was needed, I felt bad for my loss. A few days later, before
leaving Bhubaneswar, I went to the airline reservation counter and asked about my medicine pouch. The staff was alert and asked me to describe
my possession which I did. In a minute
he found it in the cupboard of the office and gave it to me. I showed him my boarding pass and
he mentioned that they found
it 3 rows ahead and actually contacted
the passengers seated over there. They
do have a process to help forgetful
passengers unite with their
things. This is a ‘thank you’ to the crew of Go Air G8 244 of 27<sup>th</sup>
December and Ground Staff of Go Air at Bhubaneswar Airport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think these silent workers are building the brand equity
of these airlines. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is lovely to enter 2018 with a feeling of Delight and gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emmanuel David
December 31<sup>st</sup> 2017</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-7668461732215515132017-04-16T00:19:00.001+05:302017-04-16T00:48:19.573+05:30Good Friday Meditations at Christ Church<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had the Blessed opportunity to lead on the meditations on the words of Jesus from from the Cross at the Christ Church on Good Friday ( 14th April 2017) along with Rev. John Silas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spoke on the First Word- Father Forgive them that they know what they are doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Fourth Word - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Fifth Word - I Thirst and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Seventh Word - Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rev Silas spoke on the Second Word - Today you will be with me in paradise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Third Word - Behold your son: behold your mother and the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sixth Word - It is Finished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Preparing for my meditations was over the last few weeks helped me internalize the passion of Christ and the words He spoke and to reaffirm my own Faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to the service, Rev. Silas also placed 12 symbols of Good Friday in the Church for the congregation to to look at and experience during the service, Eg there were palm leaves, dice, a crown of thorns, really long nails and a heavy hammer, betrayal money and a rooster ( this was prepared by <a class="_2u0z" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1077565239" href="https://www.facebook.com/nazarene.david" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Nazarene David</a> as he could not source any in toy shops and getting a real one would have had it crowing during the service). All members walked through the church looked at the symbols, held them, felt them and got a glimpse of what went through 2000 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to the above symbols there was a large cross in the vestry ( side room of the church). Along side the cross was some paper, small nails and a hammer. Here the members symbolically wrote down on a paper what their short comings and sins they wished to overcome and hammered this paper in to this wooden cross. It was a solemn act of penitence and nailing it on the cross. Soon the bare cross was dotted with several pieces of paper nailed on to it. Personally for me the act of nailing my sin and shortcoming was not easy. The very act of driving the nail in to the cross sent shivers into me and hopefully would be my conscience keeper. </span></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-30187210014505792222017-04-02T19:20:00.000+05:302017-04-02T19:20:17.473+05:30Liberty Rests On The Foundation Of Responsibility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days that led up to my first day at college were filled
with a lot of preparation and anticipation.
I had gotten two new trousers and
shirts tailored. Stationery options were reviewed too. I had taken extra photos
for my concessional bus and train
passes, which needed to be purchased. My
college was in the suburbs of Chennai, which meant a 30-kilometre train journey
just one way. The institution itself was
legendary and honour rolls boasted of some of the alumni who featured as the
who's-who in the country. The 350-acre wooded
campus with co-educational residential facilities was a delight to be
in, though I was to be a day boarder. I wondered about all these things and anticipated how college would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The night before my first day, my parents sat me down in our
three-roomed house and told me they
were happy that I was going to college.
As my mother looked at me lovingly, my father said, “Son, tomorrow you leave
home for college and we wish for you to study well. We are aware of the temptations present there
on the campus, like smoking, drinking or
drugs but we trust you. You are our son and you will choose wisely and
be responsible. However, you are also free to do what you like and if things
don’t work out well, remember that we as
your parents will always love you”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was told to me that evening was not just a few words of
wisdom but also a promise of trust and unconditional love. Even after four
decades, that little heart-to-heart chat is still vivid in my mind. Those same
words came alive recently when my daughter Esther chatted with me on Whatsapp one late evening
when she was in Amsterdam. This is how it went:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Esther</i></b><i>:</i> <i>Dad, today my friends and I went to pub in Rotterdam and most of my classmates
ordered alcohol. It was the first time
they tried it out. They insisted that I should have some too. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Me:</i></b><i> Okay </i>(At this point I was curious about what was to come next)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Esther: </i></b><i>I said no, but they told me that no one
would find out.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Me:</i></b><i> Go on, Es.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Esther: </i></b><i>Well, I stood my
ground and didn't have any.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Me:</i></b><i> I am proud of you, my
darling.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu7c8Gem4_qCkaDmyOINMPXr2HG1HXwEkb4D6YUDgDGcY43L6wiUamGJIsqdafoZRjwfdpkdc7IZd3EGBHdUVDsLjkG2V6x7rEnD9Y722y6GtO34lkCiiWLEOea23biNU3tARPYrvHB-d/s1600/liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu7c8Gem4_qCkaDmyOINMPXr2HG1HXwEkb4D6YUDgDGcY43L6wiUamGJIsqdafoZRjwfdpkdc7IZd3EGBHdUVDsLjkG2V6x7rEnD9Y722y6GtO34lkCiiWLEOea23biNU3tARPYrvHB-d/s320/liberty.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2016 USA Pic Emmanuel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was imparted to me by my parents has been passed on. In
our youth, we have several avenues to make choices; some good and some bad.
Some are life-threatening, while </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">others are not so. My father’s words once
again echoed in my mind when I visited the U.S.A a few months ago. I saw the
Statue of Liberty in New York City, and what a sight it was! Seeing the Statue
of Liberty in real life is something different. It’s a massive structure that
is so big, it had to be transported in several pieces before it could be
erected as one. We </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">always look at
the Statue of Liberty and crave for
freedom to do things in the ways we wish to. Gazing up, I noticed that Lady
Liberty stretches out towards the sky while remaining grounded on a strong
foundation. It has weathered many a storm and wind because of its foundation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That evening Esther and I concluded that the Statue of
Liberty is what it is because it is built on the Foundation of Responsibility.
In that same manner, the freedom that we humans crave for must be rooted in
responsibility for our actions and their effects.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-53542688974182770002016-07-24T01:14:00.000+05:302016-07-28T17:42:21.933+05:30How do your eyes Look?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="PadderBetweenControlandBody">
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">"When eyes talk to eyes</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">The entire world stands still."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">So wrote a young poet named Ajey Pai K last year.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">In fact, many poets and singers have eulogised eyes as being captivating and mesmerising.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">My world stood still for a while when I was asked “Tell us how do your eyes look?” by a young gent.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">Pretty simple question, is it not? It depends on who asks you and the challenge it poses in framing your response.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">I was thanking the group of visually impaired persons at the Salvation Army Hostel for Blind after they sang and greeted me for my birthday today.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">Probably curiosity got the better of this young person to ask me what he did and I realised my response was nothing but clumsy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">As a family we decided to visit this Salvation Army Hostel for Blind to observe my birthday. A call to our grocer ensured essentials be packed in a jiffy and placed in our car. We reached the venue effortlessly thanks to Google Maps.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">We thought, perhaps we will give the items and leave. Capt. Nirmala, the lady-in-charge, asked Nazarene what the purpose of our visit was earlier in the day, so when we reached, we were told all the inmates were waiting to interact with us.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">We found them all sitting quietly in the foyer. Capt. Suhas, the chaplain, introduced us and the group sang a song of Blessings after which Capt. Suhas prayed for all of us. We found that Capt. Nirmala and her team were very sincere in their efforts to keep the inmates comfortable. However, they have limited resources and will be happy to receive spontaneous unconditional support which can be in the form of food stuff, linen, clothes or beds.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">As we left the place Nazarene, my wife, remarked that it is so easy to reach out and touch the lives of those who are less privileged than us. Esther and Rakshan, our children, were ideating on how to sustain such initiatives.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">I am grateful to God for the gift of sight and immense possibilities of that gift for those who are endowed with it. In fact the question has made me reflect over the evening on the many blessings I have since my birth.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: purple;">I was not inclined to take pictures or the proverbial selfies as I knew I could never show the picture these gents. I am using my words to share my insights I received from those who are visually impaired.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">July 23, 2016</span></span></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-50468963286161832112016-02-11T01:23:00.000+05:302016-02-11T17:13:00.674+05:30The Unseen are Important<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A couple of years ago, I was visiting Rio Di Janeiro with a friend, a few
days after Easter and I happened to visit the empty Sambadrome. I was able to soak
in the atmosphere, standing in the centre of the runway with galleries on either
side, imagining how it would have been when the carnival was on.</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will appreciate that a few days before Ash Wednesday, Brazil hosts
one of the most spectacular carnivals in the world, the Samba Parade. To imagine
that a few weeks earlier, this same place was chock-a-block with about a 100,000
people, was a kind of unbelievable. The carnival is the culmination of a year-long
preparation of various samba schools who display their skills and abilities in
dance, choreography and music. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Samba schools concept is an interesting method of harnessing the
energy of youth in a creative pursuit. I was told that these Samba schools can
have anywhere upwards of 3000 – 4000 young persons. They prepare their act
carefully every year and have several rehearsals. Finally, they are on show at the carnival in
all their splendour. Usually, their whole performance is on a colourful float
which moves along the 700 meter runway on the Sambadrome, and on each day of
the carnival, approximately four samba schools display their performance one
after another in sequence. It’s one of the most colourful performances
anywhere, and most of you might have seen it live on television over the past
few days as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The parades are judged on various aspects like creativity, dance, choreography
as well as their timing. The timing is of utmost importance for if
they do not maintain time, each school loses marks… and ultimately the top
honours. So who ensures that all these dancers, drummers, trumpeters and others
adhere to the time? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One would assume that it could be anyone among the artistes, the creative
director, or even the musicians, but the fact could not be farther from the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Consider that the colourful floats have to cover the distance of 700
meters and be out of the Sambadrome within 75 minutes. The floats are
beautifully but heavily decorated and have to be physically put in motion. It’s
not as simple as it sounds, as the floats have to be pulled by men inside it –
trouble is, they cannot see outside due to the heavy decorations. They work in
unison with the music, maintaining time and leave the Sambadrome within the
stipulated time. The success of the whole school depends on the efforts of these
people who do not know what is happening outside, and who are just not visible
to the outside world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amidst all the pomp and gaiety, it’s so easy to forget or even ignore the
immense contribution these unseen heroes contribute to the success of this
pageant, but in the middle of all the din, tens of thousands of revellers
cheering, colourful costumes, loud music, singing, dancing… these unseen people
do what they are allocated to do, and ultimately in the success of the Samba
school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the carnival comes to a close this year too, we should perhaps pause
and say thank you to those who are unseeen yet important in
making our performances and life better..</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-58325083760793872122015-11-24T23:28:00.001+05:302015-11-24T23:32:28.838+05:30Persistence and Accountability are Siblings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My children
practice on the electronic keyboard we
have at home, but when it malfunctioned, we took it to a service center to get
it repaired. The technician said that the problem was a minor one and would
return the instrument at the end of the day. We went in the evening to take
delivery of the repaired keyboard, but since I did not find an empty parking
space, I gave Esther and Rakshan the money so that they could pay the Service center
and bring back the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They took longer than expected to return with the keyboard,
so I asked them the reason for the delay.
Esther explained that </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rakshan asked for a receipt but the technician refused
and the delay was because she insisted
on having it. She went to narrate
that as they were about to leave when Esther stopped and asked him why
he wouldn't give them a receipt. He said it was just a repair job and the norm was not to give a customer a
receipt for repairs. Esther asked if he could give them a receipt and he said
yes. She asked him for once again and he replied it was not the norm to give a receipt
for repairs jobs. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She said that she wanted a receipt
and persisted with her persuasive skills till he gave one to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thinking
‘commercially’, I explained to them that he was probably trying to save on tax.
I reasoned that if he did not wish to give us the receipt, they could have asked
a discount, to which Rakshan all of fourteen responded that it was better to <b><i>fix
accountability than to get a discount</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-40768063806394933542015-11-24T00:12:00.000+05:302015-11-25T00:16:02.095+05:30Intent to Action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our family needed some medicines at about 10.30 pm,
and since we had just finished a hearty meal, my son Rakshan and I decided to
walk to the nearby medical hall, than use the car. Half way into our errand, Rakshan
noticed a poorly dressed man sleeping in a dark corner of the footpath and
said, “Dad, maybe we should put a 100 Rupee note in his hand.” After some
thought on whether this was prudent, he decided against it, but as we walked on,
he kept wondering what we could do to help the man. I suggested that we could buy
some biscuits for him at the medicine shop, but once there, we got busy with the
purchase of the medicines and forgot all about the biscuits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked back, we came to the spot the man was
sleeping in the darkness, and suddenly remembered the biscuits. My son looked
around for a shop to buy the forgotten item, but an idea struck him when he
noticed a restaurant a few yards away. He took me there, ordered an <i>Aloo Paratha</i> (Spiced mashed potatoes in
flat bread), took the packet to the man, knelt down and said, “Brother please
get up and eat”. The man with a nod of his
head and a grateful look
acknowledged the offering. Rakshan got up to his feet and continued
walking towards home as if nothing had happened... it came so naturally to him.
Having witnessed this, I realized how little it does it take for us to walk the talk.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-59868666758108033862015-04-02T20:42:00.004+05:302015-04-02T20:42:58.074+05:30The Towel of Humility fills a Basin of Gratitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is observed as Maundy Thursday - the day before Good
Friday - which is observed by all
Christians worldwide. Jesus did
two acts on Maundy Thursday, one
of which is instituting the Holy Communion
which all Churches follow and for
the second act he used two humble
articles to demonstrate the power of humility. Using the basin and the towel, Jesus
washed the feet of his disciples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an idea, washing any
one's feet makes good reading, however to actually wash another person’s feet is another issue. At a church service the
pastor asked for volunteers to use the basin and the towel. I remember asking
my colleagues to do something new with this question, “When was the last time
you did something for the first time?” Perhaps this question prompted me as
well, and I resolved to go ahead. I removed my shoes and walked down the aisle
to be amongst a small group of faithfuls who volunteered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rolled up my sleeves, knelt down, took the person's foot
into my hand, poured water and washed one
foot at a time. My fingers washed the dust away from the heel, sole and
toes. Having done that, I took a towel and wiped the feet dry. As I poured the
water and used the towels, I whispered a silent prayer that this person be happy.
It took only a few minutes. I then washed my hands and sat down. Then another person
knelt down, washed my feet and dried them, during which time my eyes tried
their best to communicate my gratefulness to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a year, and I do not recollect anyone telling me,
“oh you washed some one's feet” nor have I lost out due to that act. However let
me share what I gained in the process. The very act of kneeling down to wash another’s feet has made
me realise that there is no such thing as ‘ego’. I did not depersonalise myself
through this service. It did not take too long, nor was there anything
mysterious about this act of washing another’s feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We tend to attach too many emotions and sentiments to little
acts of service, when in reality what matters is that these acts are much more
than peoples' sentiments or social perception. Perhaps emotions and fear of
social perceptions inhibit us from being productive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also felt a deep sense of gratitude at being served, that
someone should deign to wash my feet. It also made me realise that there are
several who are doing more than wash my feet on a day to day basis whom I take for granted. The unnamed person who keeps
the washrooms clean, lifts the garbage and
those ‘who only stand and wait’ to make our daily lives easier and cleaner.
They do more than wash our feet. I am not sure we are able to show our
gratitude to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we find that it is not just the feet that need
cleaning, but also our hearts. When we start with the feet using the towel of
humility, in doing what is needed to be done, we would certainly touch the
hearts of others. My heart sure was touched while being served. Let's therefore
help each other fill our basins with gratitude when receiving acts of service
done in humility.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-23359385018177899042015-02-23T01:34:00.000+05:302015-02-23T23:36:41.190+05:30Achieving Excellence – Completing the Last Mile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
a long journey, the last mile becomes critical in actually reaching your
destination and achieving your goals. Long journeys can be arduous
and boring, when short supply of resources like time, food and water can cloud
our judgement... even the best are bound to make errors. This
can also happen when you are executing mission critical projects or
assignments, where all deadlines are being met and yet, at the last
5% of the project, there could be issues which impede you from achieving
your goals. This actually prevents you achieving
excellence in your chosen field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interestingly,
there is a narrative in the Bible of three wise men who made an
error of judgement in the last mile of their journey. The wise men of that
time, similar to the Subject Matter Expert ( SME) of today, did their
research and deep study on their field of expertise. They understood that
a King was born, by reading the literature of that time and matching it
with the symbols and events. Their study revealed that the prophecy
was being fulfilled through a bright star being seen in the East, so
they decided to follow this bright star to lead them to their destination.
Their purpose was to worship the King who was born at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
had a journey of about 1300 kilometres from Babylon to
Bethlehem, had they taken the main trade route. In those days the
average speed was 32 kilometres per day by a camel caravan. Therefore the
journey would have taken at least about 40 days. They would have taken a
small entourage to provide for their needs and the needs of the camels. In
essence, there was planning, detailing and providing for resources. They
were clear on what was needed and they followed the star in their
journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
they came close to their destination, perhaps about the last 10
kilometres, they let their instinct decide, instead of following the
star. In their judgement they assumed that the king had to
be in a palace. They took their sight away from their source of
guidance and instead, relied on their assumption. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
meet the ruling king at that time and ask him, "Where is he who
was born king of the Jews?", which sent alarm
bells ringing in the kings mind. An alarm in the kings mind was panic
in the hearts of his subjects. This falter turned fatal for scores of children
who were below two years, as the king did not want any rival to his
throne. I am not sure if these wise men ever learnt of the consequences of
their falter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
are a few learnings for Project Leaders and Business Heads from this
little episode. Most professionals believe they are on the path to
excellence. Having clarity of purpose is not enough, it is important
to set the right goal and stay focussed on it. A review of the
goal is important as we reach important milestones. Overconfidence, common
assumptions, hearsay could make you falter and deviate from reaching
your goal. Completing the last mile is important to achieve
excellence in your chosen field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
is important to also remember that when one deviates from the goal, there is a
price to pay. Unfortunately in this incident a few scores of innocents paid for
this falter. Therefore Leadership is a responsibility and as Leaders,
we are called to lead wisely. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-62193993875296150922014-11-21T06:59:00.002+05:302014-11-21T06:59:53.768+05:30Barred Gates of a Citadel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" />
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A newspaper item read thus: <i>A business partner of the iconic store in south Mumbai
killed himself on Tuesday allegedly over a property dispute with his
brother.</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines
brother as </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a boy or man
who has one or both of the same parents as you. A brother is one of the closest
relatives a person can have and a person he has grown up with since birth.
Best friends refer each other as brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
It is really a tragedy where one brother holds the other accountable
for the extreme action he has taken in his suicide note. One has
lost his life, but several lives are impacted, there is a grieving widow, a
young girl does not have a father, perhaps a confused mother and the
surviving brother and his family the cynosure of legal and police
investigations. It would take a long time to get healing in this case, perhaps
even a lifetime may not be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
The newspapers reported that this was a culmination of years of disputes
and irritations on some property matters. Perhaps no member of the
family guessed what was happening in the mind of the late brother. Suicides have
that element of suspense. Our own self-centredness prevents us from
perceiving how fragile the emotions of a loved one are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Were all those fights really worth it after all? A verse in
the book of Proverbs reads... <i>A brother wronged is more
unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a
citadel. Proverbs 18:19. </i>In these kind of disputes between
family members, one does not know who is wronged more, but all
parties feel equally wronged and their positions become very adamant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A family is expected to be a place where there is love and
affection. Disputes only lead to rigid stances and these are manifest at
work, school, play and leisure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In my view the essentials are quite simple for a happy family
life... they are Values, Respect and Dialogue. The values we
cherish are the foundation of our lives. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Having
shared values as a family makes for a very strong family. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lack of respect is easily perceived,
and respect to each other in a family does help in understanding our
differences and find ways to blend. Fathers are responsible to ensure that
there is dialogue between members. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Respect and Dialogue would help open many a barred
gate and make even sworn enemies march towards friendship, why should it be any
different amongst families?</span></div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-21400466411779019142014-10-15T01:05:00.001+05:302014-10-15T01:05:55.445+05:30Rights and Responsibilities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have assembly elections in our state tomorrow. All establishments have been to informed to
allow their employees to vote. In order to allow employees to vote, they should be given a day off from work. The
Election Commission takes a very
serious view if any establishment does
not give a paid off to its employees on
the day of the election by punishing with a fine. There is
also a lot of adverse publicity due to
this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the last election six months ago we also ran a campaign called “Power of 49” to
help female voters to turnout in large numbers. Despite
all campaigning the voter turnout in my constituency was a mere 54%. Most
organisations have very few
options but only comply.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking a clean pair of hands I asked my colleagues why did
they not vote as the company was closed and they had an opportunity to do
so. The sheepish grins left our
imaginations to guess the reasons. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the whole value chain of
voting I find there are many a slip,
first and foremost the intent of the person to register himself as a
voter, next to follow is the efficiency
of the government machinery to register
the voter followed by technical glitches and
locating the booth etc. The
Government does plug one
loophole by declaring a holiday to
facilitate voting. However many have already been excluded since they have never been enrolled
as voters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The question is do employees and citizens
have an opportunity to vote? Yes
they do by and large.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do they have the
right to Vote? Yes they do have
however do they have the responsibility to
vote? Perhaps they have never really
asked this question. Perhaps they
never will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we make it a responsibility to vote, we could
also make them accountable for
discharging this responsibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The citizen and
employee could be made accountable for registering himself as a
voter, followed by voting on the
scheduled date. The employer’s role is merely to give a paid off, and it does not give him
the opportunity to ask the employees to ask “why did they
not vote?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Article 326 of our constitutions gives us the right to vote, however it does not speak about the responsibility to Vote. Every
right also has a responsibility. It
would mean all concerned in the chain to make the vote happen will discharge their
responsibility and be held accountable if it is not done.
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
John D Rockefeller
aptly summed it up that <span style="color: black;">Every right implies a responsibility; Every
opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.</span> Perhaps we start viewing our rights in this
manner. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-21505342605203398362014-06-16T01:46:00.000+05:302014-06-16T01:47:54.574+05:30 A Lasting Gesture of Responsibility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Seventeen days
in the ICU, my dad was happy to move in to a room where the family could be
with him all the time. The ICU was a actually a cold and lonely place
where he was a number who responded to the stimuli of a specialist. The
single room was definitely a better place where family could touch him and gesture to him
and be with him all the time and just to
a few minutes at a scheduled hour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The doctors had put him on a ventilator, they had tubes
running from his nose and an insertion at his throat which left him “
speechless” literally. A person who
loved to speak was unable to counsel and guide.
This was a great impediment to
communication.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had to make do with gestures and smiles, but yet the yearning to
communicate was intense. We made a chart of the alphabet in bold
letters and held it up to him, he would
point his fingers to the various alphabets and we would decipher the words and
meanings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dad spent a happy hour with my children when they were finally allowed to visit him in the room as
children visiting the ICU was not
permitted. After the children had
left now dad’s attention moved to something else.
He wanted to know the expenses for the hospital stay. Robin my brother and I told him not to worry about the expenses
and it is taken care off. He tried to understand the cost, being a careful person however we did not
give any hint about it ( may be so we thought) .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another half hour or
so passed when Dad had a bit more energy he
gestured for the alphabet chart,
we took it out and showed it to him.
He pointed out to some alphabets but we could not grasp what he meant to communicate. He tried several times,
Robin and I said you mean “
FDC” he nodded yes? I wondered is it “ First Day Cover”? dad being an ardent stamp collector. He was positively
disappointed at the grasp of his
sons. We tried various combos and
could not decipher. Exhausted he fell asleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robin stayed the
night with Dad and the next morning
after the doctor visits and check ups we
got together again. I looked at the
alphabet chart and then it dawned on me that he meant “ Fixed Deposit Certificate” I asked
Dad do you mean it is a fixed deposit
certificate? His face lit up and
said gestured yes, further more he
communicated to us to encash the fixed deposit which he held to pay for the hospital bills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robin and I took his hands in ours and kissed him and wiped
the tears from all our eyes. Dad was positively relieved that he got his message across to us. That was about 11 am after that he relaxed and went into a
sleep and by early afternoon he peacefully walked through the Threshold of Eternity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The care, concern and
responsibility which my father
communicated through his gestures is a fitting gift and example for a Fathers Day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tribute to all Father's as they show care and concern to their family. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-66873565935857842152014-05-29T02:01:00.001+05:302014-05-29T02:01:42.907+05:30 Concentric Circles and Social Circles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">When you throw a pebble into a pond, you might notice concentric circles rippling out from the locus point, where the pebble hit the water. Each circle has a larger coverage area and the ripples become subtle as they move away from the locus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">The adoption of organizational change needs this ripple effect and yet be subtle with larger coverage. If done the right way, disruption from the change can be lessened and it can be acceptable to large segments, change has a ripple effect on others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Similarly if the core has received success, confidence grows and has similar effects in execution of other tasks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">One small win can cascade its effects and bring larger wins since its leads to positive reinforcement among people and they influence others who come into contact with them, similarly the entire organization can be influenced in this manner which is like the ripple effect. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Thus the throwing of pebbles can symbolize a model for social or organization change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Just like a small pebble creates those large circles of ripples subtly, the adoption of change should be in a manner that influences a larger segment and get accepted seamlessly. </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">We could use this model to get quick wins like following traffic rules in one busy road. All traffic rules will be followed in that road. This would be a quick win which could be extended to the arterial roads feeding into this road. Well having </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> tasted success in this as well, we have an opportunity to speak about it and extending the norm becomes easy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Similarly acts like conserving resources like water, electricity and paper or doing an act of kindness could be good starting points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">When a big stone is dropped, water splashes around disturbing the entire stability and making the water muddy, likewise a change which is not implemented in a steady manner creates that disturbance discord. The energy is now focused in managing that disruption rather than on the implementation of the ‘Change’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">The Principle of Concentric Circles is an observation from the environment which inspires us to influence and drive change in Social Business Circles.</span></div>
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Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-64656128134826505882014-04-19T00:09:00.000+05:302014-04-19T00:14:21.192+05:30Restoration and Responsibility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Near the cross</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of
Jesus stood his mother,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">26 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Jesus saw his mother</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there,
and the disciple whom he loved</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">standing nearby, he said to her,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Woman,</span></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26852b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">b</span></a>]</span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here is
your son,”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and to the disciple,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Here
is your mother.”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19: 25-27</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third word of Jesus from the cross is all
about Restoration, Relationships and Responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I asked a young mother how did
she feel when her son had a deep
cut on his head, she told me she was
concerned and felt a deep pain to see her son suffer. She then went into action
in getting him medical aid. This is natural and all mothers who are at this
worship service may have experienced
this emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now if a mother were told that a “ Sword will pierce through your
own soul also” what would she expect? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the cross a mother is seeing the sword pierce through her heart and soul and she is
holding back tears, and is unable to
take action to support her son. She would want to tend that nail pierced hands,
and clean the striped back or perhaps remove the blood the head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her focus
is on the immediate and now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The unexpected happens at this context. The
person who is being hurt the most is the one who takes the initiative. While
at the cross, we are looking at
the Cross, on the other hand, Jesus on
the cross is viewing our tomorrow and the day after. Jesus demonstrates his responsibility through
the Third word. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus foresaw the pain of a widow who will be without her son
and responded to that pain. Dear
Friends Mary did not express her
pain. The message for all Mothers is
that Jesus knows your inner fears and pains. You do not have to express them or
talk about them. Jesus understands your loneliness. You just have to lay them at
the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third
word also fulfils the commandment “</span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Honor
your father and your mother,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>so
that you may live long<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in the
land<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>your God is giving you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus entered the Life of Mary and spent 33 years with
her. At Calvary, she feels a loneliness
at having lost her husband and now an impending loss of a
son. <b>Jesus</b> <b>does not leave you
incomplete when he enters your life.</b> In fact Jesus restores everything. When we see the tragedy of Judas, we get to
see the character of Satan, <b>who enters with our consent and leaves at
his will</b>. Jesus will not leave us nor forsake us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus restored a Relationship which in that society was very
important to give Status to a woman. Jesus
gave a son to Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shall we focus now on the son to whom Jesus gave a mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John was the disciple
whom Jesus loved. Jesus had confidence
in him. The disciple also loved Jesus.
This means that they both shared a good relationship and
exchanged ideas. They would have discussed
strategy, they would have planned and worked together. When you love some one do you share a
special relationship with that person? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love is just not a static feeling, Love implies Sharing, it implies dialogue and
action. It also means taking a risk and standing for the person you who loves you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John followed Jesus to the
cross. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus loved John so he trusts him with the care of his
mother. To put this in perspective whom
can anyone entrust our mother’s, or
daughters when there is a fear for the safety of women in our city. Jesus could trust John to take care of his mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus said Here is
your mother to John.
John took immediate action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He behaved like a son to Mary immediately. The reading says from that hour that disciple took her to
his own home. By behaving like a son,
the scene at the cross became a home immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why did Jesus ask John to take care of his Mother? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since John loved Jesus,
he was waiting at the cross. He has not waiting at
the cross because Jesus will ask him to
take care of His mother. Since John was waiting at the cross he was given this
responsibility. Today if we truly love Jesus are we waiting at the Cross? Do we dare to be at the cross despite popular culture says and
public opinion? John was at the Cross, Therefore Jesus gave him a responsibility of Trust.
Friends where are we today? Have we run
away scared or Are we waiting at the cross to accept responsibility. The
harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why did Jesus call
Mary “ woman “ In the
Gospel of Mathew Jesus said<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">48 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He replied to him,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Who is
my mother, and who are my brothers?”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">49 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pointing
to his disciples, he said,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Here are my mother and my brothers.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">50 </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
whoever does the will of my Father in heaven</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is my
brother and sister and mother.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There fore Jesus addressed
Mary as woman, He clearly differentiated His Divinity from His
Humanness. As far as Jesus was concerned
who ever does the will of my Father is my brother, sister and mother. Since we all have a Heavenly Father, that relationship is not spoken off.
Jesus has given the universal definition of relationship, today there are parents who need care and attention
and children who need guidance and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Friends as We wait at the Cross to do the Father’s will,
allow Jesus to Restore our Relationships and give us Responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May we like Mary
pray “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246518237437809203.post-32460911350262394632014-04-17T23:52:00.000+05:302020-06-04T08:34:26.088+05:30What will be your first words from your Cross<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Here a few verses <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> Bible
which are <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> of Jesus.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do not Judge<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span>and
you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span>Forgive and you will be
forgiven<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> - </span>Luke 6:37<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I tell you<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">,</span>
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> - </span>Mathew 5:44<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father
will also forgive you. But if you do<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span>not forgive them your father will not forgive you<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> - </span>Mathew 6:14<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you hold anything against anyone<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">,</span> forgive him so that your Father in heaven may
forgive you<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> - </span>Mark 11:25<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My command is this<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">,</span>
“Love one another as I have loved you.” <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">- </span>John 15:12<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">What do these familiar verses
mean to us? These are teachings of Jesus and we can say they are ideas and
concepts. We often say “people say many things but they behave differently”. We
also use <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> expression “actions
speak louder than <span style="color: #222222;">words</span>” and agree with
that expression.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let us move to Calvary
and picture Jesus Christ. <span style="color: #222222;">The</span> same
Jesus who fed over 5000 men, who touched lepers, or walked on <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> water, is now on the <span style="color: #222222;">Cross</span>. He is crucified; his hands are nailed and
he cannot touch a child or a sick person. His feet are nailed and he cannot
walk to Lazarus’ or Jairus’ house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">What actions can he perform? He
uses his lips – to pray for us. In doing so, see the congruence with his <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> we heard earlier and this prayer, “Father
forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This prayer
is in harmony with his teaching in Mathew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">We have two things to learn <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> this prayer for us.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus forgave sins of people. He has the power to do so, yet in this
case he asks God to forgive our sins. Why does he do that? What is <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> example Jesus is giving us? He is saying,
“Even though I am violated and am about to be killed, I will pray for
those who persecute me. Those who persecute me may or may not repent of their
sins.” In forgiving others we create a forgiving spirit in ourselves. Having a
forgiving spirit drives away hatred and malice. It gives healing to our body
and spirit. If we nurture hatred, a part of us dies with <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> hatred.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is a powerful testimony of being different. In also saying, “I
thirst” and “My God, my God why have you forsaken me”, Jesus gives us a picture
of his humanness. This is a testimony to others that we are different and
dare to be pleasantly different.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Jesus said, “If any man would come after
me, he must deny himself, take up his </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">cross</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> daily
and follow me.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">My dear friends, are we
willing to take up <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">cross</span> daily to follow him? It seems
practically different, yet we must strive for it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Here’s a point to ponder: We
just heard Jesus’ <span style="color: #222222;">first</span> <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">cross</span>. When
we take up the cross to follow Jesus, what will our f<span style="color: #222222;">irst</span> <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">cross be</span>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">We have three examples
of <span style="color: #222222;">first</span> <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">cross</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a word of Ridicule: <span style="color: #222222;">The</span> thief
on left was angry and irritated. He deplored his plight. May be there was
injustice in his case, or perhaps his punishment was greater than his sin. We
may never know what his emotion was, but what we know is that his first
words were w<span style="color: #222222;">ords</span> of ridicule <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> c<span style="color: #222222;">ross</span>. In so doing, he failed to see <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> Saviour.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We next have an example of repentance. <span style="color: #222222;">The</span> thief
on <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> right, correctly identified
Christ. When he looked at Jesus on <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> <span style="color: #222222;">Cross</span> and his own <span style="color: #222222;">cross,</span> it was too difficult for him to
bear. He rebuked <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> other
thief’s ridicule and asked for forgiveness. We have an example here, as
the repenting thief on <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> right
set himself apart <span style="color: #222222;">from</span> <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> world. He was courageous to take a stand.
<span style="color: #222222;">The</span> <span style="color: #222222;">words</span> of
repentance draw us near to Jesus.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 47.25pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. <!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next we have an eloquent example of reconciliation. In forgiving
others Jesus brings about reconciliation. It means that you become friends with
those who persecute you. Jesus made <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> prayer
of <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> angels at his birth
“peace on earth and goodwill towards men” a reality with forgiveness and love</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we are hurting, there are three ways to
respond, either by</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ridicule, </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> repentance or</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> reconciliation. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are given a
choice... may we choose <span style="color: #222222;">the</span> right response to glorify God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s a small prayer to set us on track: O
Lord because we often sin, and have to ask for pardon, help us to forgive as we
would be forgiven. Neither mentioning old offences committed against us,
nor dwelling upon in thought; but loving our brother freely as you freely love
us. In Jesus name. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Emmanuel David's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721038860660091694noreply@blogger.com4