Expecting for you and me!

It was as usual Tuesday evening. I was out for my weekly social service along with another Italian friend. We met Christian near Pantheon. Christian is a middle-aged man, with out any home or family. His drinking habits brought him to the present pathetic situation. The little money he gets from the people, he spends on drinking. We have tried many times to convince him to leave drinking habits, but our efforts seem to be abortive. He keeps on talking; hardly leaves any room for us to talk. 
But today every thing seemed to be topsy-turvey. He was rather quiet. We asked him some questions and he just replied with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We decided to leave some food for him and leave the spot. On seeing us leaving food for him, he said, “I do not need food from you. You take back.”

We were stunned. We asked him, “why not? Are you not hungry or have you eaten already?”

“I do not need your food. You people did not wish me on my birthday. Last week was my birthday. Previously I had already told you about my birthday. But you people forgot me. In this world, no one loves me. I celebrated my birthday only with my dog.”

We realized that we completely forgot about his birthday. We had already promised him that we would celebrate his birthday. We asked sorry and assured him that the following week we would celebrate his birthday. He was silent. His eyes were filled with tears.

While coming back to my home, I remembered Christian again and again. How painfully he said that no one in this earth loves him except his dog. It would have taken just a few minutes to reach out to him on his birthday. This would have given him a great joy!

There are so many people in this earth who wait for little love and care. There are many who do not want any money or gift. Probably just a little smile or few gentile words will bring lots of joy in their life. Do we see them along the way?

The light of the darkness!

It was a lovely night. I spent the entire night on walking, without any single moment of sleep. Every now and then I paused for a while, looking at the sky. The beacon of the dark night was clear- an invitation to experience the light of the day. I walked from one corner to another of Rome city, visiting churches and Holy places.

Have I visited churches to meet God? My answer is YES and NO.  It was more to meet with myself. The recent tragedies in my country made me sad, angry and frustrated. Many of the mysteries of life made me to ask, ‘why?’ Then certain ‘topsy-turvy’ created many questions.

But these ten hours of walk brought me to a new realization. It brought me to my nakedness. It whispered to me about a new world- a new world which  Henri J. M. Nouwen would say, “ It is this new world that fills our dreams, guides our actions, and makes us go on, at great risk, with the increasing conviction that one day we will finally be free- free to love” (cfr. The wounded Healer, 26). 

Ma (mother), I love you!

(a recent photo with my mother)

This morning after the breakfast I went to wish ‘happy Mother’s day’ to two of our co-workers, both women. They had forgotten that today was the mother’s day. I wished them, exchanged a few words and then returned to my room. As I was climbing up to my room, for a moment I remembered my mother. Like all other mothers, she is also very special to me. I felt she was walking with me, talking to me holding my hand…

When I was growing, the financial situation of my family was not very good. My mother had to be very cautious about spending money. With the limited salary of my father, she had to manage the entire family- our food, dress, medicine, education... Everyday she would serve food for all of us. She would eat only when we were all fed well. Often I would notice that she would take puffed-rice (a typical home made food, people would eat whenever one cannot effort to have rice) with rice. Many a times I had asked her, why she preferred to take puffed rice, in seated of taking rice? She would reply that puffed-rice increase the taste of the meal. It was much later one day I discovered that whenever there was less rice she would take puffed-rice. She would always feed us well and then she would eat very less…

When I was in the novitiate, my novice director came to visit my family. The first question, my mother asked him was: “does Ripon listen to you?” My novice director was surprised. He came and narrated to all of us only Ripon’s mother asked, “Does Ripon listen to you”, while other asked, “How is my son? How is his health?”

Some times we do not notice sacrifices our mothers make. Often they are unnoticed. Perhaps ‘mother’s day’ is a good occasion to be aware of their sacrifices and tell to them, “Ma, we love you!”

I too have a heart!

I knew him from my association with the community of San’Egido in Rome. Once a week I spend sometime with this community to reach out to most needy and poor people in Rome, who stay on the streets. We talk to them and distribute necessary material things. By now I became friendly with some of them and talk to them whenever I meet them. Georgo (named changed) is one of them.  Whenever I meet him, he narrates to me some interesting stories of his profession. He goes around Rome, often in the crowded public bus and steals things from others.

The other day I had to go to Vatican. As soon as got into the bus I saw Georgo. We saw each other and exchanged a smile. I knew he was on his mission and tried to follow his movements. But it was quite obvious that my presence was a hindrance for him. He remained at one corner of the bus and in fact was looking at me again and again. When I got down from the bus, he too followed me. I wished him ‘good luck’ for his work and asked him not to steal from the poor and old people. To my great surprise he told me, “I never steal anything from Asian or African people. They are poor people come here to earn some money. And even if I get any documents or certificates I send them to the owners. I too have a heart.”

The last sentence of Georgo touched me. I looked at face. There was sadness on his face. Perhaps for the first time, I saw something very special on his face. A face that speaks his innocence! A face that shows that he is also son of God! I discovered a new Georgo. I gave a smile and left him.

In life we often judge people based on their profession, external out-look, social statues etc. But do we really see anyone before judging. Do we see the hidden heart- a heart full of love!