Faith: If I dare to say! (Part - I)

(Times and again, I was asked to share about my faith experiences. Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to share about my faith experiences. I often hesitate to share, thinking my experiences might sound silly and stupid to others. But there are certain experiences, persons and moments that gave me ‘DEEP’ experiences along the way. While thinking about ‘the year of Faith’, I tried to articulate these experiences here. Perhaps these are too stupid, too silly, too childish…but they are priceless to me! They keep me going…)

Returning from the door of death!

That must have been in 1994/95. I must have been 13/14 years old. That was the time when I knocked at the door of death. I was almost gone. I could even say, if I were lucky, I must have found myself in a cemetery. But most likely, I was supposed to be eaten by fishes or other animals in the river. ‘Ripon’ of today with different identities like: human being, Jesuit, brother, son, friend, companion, enemy, student…would not be sitting at his desk and typing this post. He would not have even touched a computer in his life time. There would have remained hardly anyone who would remember him till today. But things took a dramatic turn. I am almost tempted to say, God had different plan!Thus ‘Ripon’ is still alive and able to share his experiences…