Thinking of 'doing' great thing!

When I was at the school I read a story about a man. In a particular village, a man had a great desire to serve his country at the time of war. He would tell everyone about his desire and was waiting for a war. Whenever people would come to him for a little help, he would always refuse them. Even at the time of great natural calamity of the country he remained at home. Thus in his life time he never helped anyone as he had an untimely death due to an unknown dieses.

Sometimes we want to do great things. We have desire to do something special. We keep ourselves so busy with ‘planning and preparing’ for the great thing that we miss the simple thing. We tend to reach out to greater audiences, but in the process we become stranger to the people who live close to us.

I had a very touching experience when I arrived in Rome. It was just before my first semester exams. I could hardly speak any Italian then. I would hardly understand anything after reading all notes and books in Italian. I was getting frightening as exams were coming closer. At this point, one day one of my community members said to me, “You seem to be lost. Why are you so sad? Can I do anything for you?”

I sincerely told him that I was frightened about exams and did not know what to do. He gave a smile and said that he would come to my room and explain to me. He kept his words and it was a great help for me.

Sometimes a smile, a gentle touch or a few words could be a great help to anyone. We really do not need any special talent to reach out to the people. A kind heart is enough to reach out to many people. Are we ready?

Faith: if I dare to say! (Part-5)

(Time and again, I was asked to share about my faith experiences. Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to share about 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…)

Faith: In the face of human experience

This time, after a long time, I felt writing is difficult! I was clear about my thoughts as was convinced of what I wanted to say. But I did not know how to put them in right expressions or in logical order. It is something like writing a mail to someone whom you love most. Often our human languages fail to express our true love.

Keeping in mind ‘the Year of Faith’, in my previous four posts I have attempted to share four concrete examples, which somewhere along way made impact in my life. These were, in fact, outcome of my ‘inner search’, what I have been deeply thinking for quite sometimes.

Faith: if I dare to say! (Part-4)

(Time and again, I was asked to share about my faith experiences. Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to share about 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…)

Faith: To be lived!

Today, rather strangely, at the lunch, we got into a conversation on the symptoms of different disease. I was sharing some funny examples and jokes. My companion sitting next to me, in order to pull my leg, whispered, “You should have been a doctor.”
“Of course I am a doctor. I am a doctor of the soul! Don’t you remember St Ignatius asked us to help the souls?” I reply with a witty smile.
He smiled at me and said jokingly, “you are great.”

Faith: if I dare to say! (Part - 3)



(Time and again, I was asked to share about my faith experiences. Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to share about 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…)

Words: Suddenly vomited but…!

I speak- (they say!) my words are kind, stupid, unnecessary, sweet, painful…! Many a times, I have hurt others by my words! I have had to digest comments like- your words are strange, your words have pierced my heart, your words have destroyed my peace…! I have also heard comments like- your words are so consoling, I cried after reading your mail as it touched my heart; you speak from your heart…!

Faith: if I dare to say! (Part - 2)

(Time and again, I was asked to share about my faith experiences. Frankly speaking, it is not easy for me to share about 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…)

I was ‘missing’ for a while!

‘Once upon a time’ (this phrase I would often used when I was learning English!), I was separated from my parents for a while. I would rather prefer to say that I was ‘missing’. I must have been a boy of 7/8 years old. I was left all alone in this world. I encountered with a situation where, I would have been taken by the police from the street and put into an orphanage. Or I would have been grown up on the street or in a slum! Perhaps my name and religion would have been changed to something else. My situation would have been like one of the characters of ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’

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…

The unnoticed beauty of life!

This Saturday afternoon would have been like another Saturday afternoon! I would have taken a long rest, then do some personal works, go for a walk or something which might give me some relaxation. In fact I thought of going to a place to spend some quiet time. But things have changed when a 74 years old community member proposed to me to go for a walk with him. I was rather surprised with the proposal. I grabbed the opportunity and went with him.

We walked almost for three hours. We have talked on different aspects of our lives. He patiently listened to me. At one point of our conversation, I asked him what was source of his happiness. He laughed and said, “Be simple and notice the unnoticed beauty of life.”

I asked him what he meant by ‘unnoticed beauty of life.’ “Very simple” his quick response. “Sorrow, hardship and darkness are always replaced by happiness, success and light in our life journey. But often we do not notice them. This is the unnoticed beauty of life.”

How true these simple words are!