The Good Life

"...What images come to mind when you ponder the good life? Perhaps during these trying economic times, it is difficult not to equate material items with the good life, more money, more security, or more opportunity. While it has always been said of every generation that these are times of great crisis and upheaval, we feel this search for meaning anew and afresh today, and perhaps wonder at the practicality or wisdom of looking to the past for insight or understanding into the good life.

And yet, the ancients remind us that “not even when one has an abundance does one’s life consist of possessions” (Luke 12:15). In this view, the good life involves what we do with our things, abundant or meager as they may be, and necessarily involves right living in community. Perhaps the ancient wisdom is particularly instructive in a time in which we would equate goodness with what we possess. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) Do justice, love kindness, and live out both of those virtues in light of humility before God; this is the good life. ..."

Margaret Manning.

RZIM

Selling Hope

Selling hope is a big business these days. Look around. What do you see? There are shops in every nook and cranny. Even where you are sitting, there is a shop set-up, selling hope. It doesn't matter if all these shops sell the right thing. What matters is that they sell hope.

Hope makes all things better, just as 'love' overlooks mistakes. Hope clarifies cynicism and curtails despair. Moments of happiness depend on hope, moments of sadness depend on hope. Chances of you surviving your 'age crisis' dangle securely on hope. But for me to post this up and hope you all read this post, depends on the net connection and your willingness to sit through this. Jokes apart, it's hope that makes me want to keep writing. Clearly, Hope wins. Uncannily, seldom. Because hope comes to those who linger on, persevere, if you will. And when hope comes, it brings love and it brings faith.

In times of economic meltdown, political rundown, military charge down what else do we need than a driblet of Hope...and Hope alone! Hope is what this world needs now. And the 'now' is not tomorrow or after the day - it's NOW!

Bless you
TM.

One size NEVER fits all!

Care to go through? It will do you good.

Whoever has not wanted to be a success in life is a story you always miss to spot. The rat race and the cut-throat competition, and standing up to the "expectations" dries you up so much, that after your streak with "success" is over, you are no better than a gnarled and withered branch bearing as much as no fruit.

Do you need a hero to emulate? Your search for that-One-outstanding-role-model stands you disillusioned and disarrayed, in a state of need? Check. Look within. Have there been times when your hero let you down? Have there been times when you felt betrayed by what he did? You looked up to this one as your ideal idol, all along you thought he was right, until this time? Have you been hiding under the cloak that doesn't belong to you? "What do I mean?", You ask.
Answer this, what would you do with somebody else's cloak, would you use it as your second skin if you knew he wore it everyday, never washed it up, so to say? No?? Well good!! then why would you want to be what others are? Don't you love yourself enough to put to the guillotine what is 'YOU'?

Do you like what you see, everytime you look into the mirror? NO? What would make you like it...a fairer skin? a tighter body? a smile as sweet as you-know-whose? a little more money? a swanky car? the American dream? a friend who loved you inspite of...? What?!

What is it that makes you feel insecure, insignificant, unwanted, accidental, a bag of flesh strewn over some bones? Why is it that you have stopped dreaming your own dreams? Why are you living-off the dreams of others? What makes you feel you can't do it?
Have you ever thought ,"It is too big a dream I'm not rightly equipped to sustain." YES!?!! Then I must quickly assure you that this is your dream. Yes! You heard me rightly. THIS IS YOUR DREAM. Only YOU can chase it. So GO! Drop the skin you are not supposed to put-on, after all you got one of your own! Wear it Rightly, Wear it Proudly. Let the world know that you ARE comfortable in your skin.

After all, one size never fits all!

Bless You.
TM.

Father

And oh! For the Father's love.
I cannot wrap my brain around his endless love and the sacrifices he has made over the years for me. How can I ever give back what I have not deserved, yet have been given freely. The support, trust and many 'second chances' I have been graciously given are undeserved privileges I couldn't have done without.

Every step of my life there has been this man...trusting...encouraging...motivating me to dream biggest...dreaming for me when I gave up...protecting me when I needed help...'bowing' down before others for my 'mistakes'...losing his prestige to save mine...praying for me when all else failed...showing me what 'giving' is...planting the seed of Faith in my heart I would reap the fruits of...teaching me to love excellence and its' pursuit thereof...letting me catch a glimpse of contentment...lending his intelligent and compassionate genes...causing me to practise patience and long suffering...teaching me the power of prayer...showing me what commitment is by staying with one woman (my mother) all his life...

I could fill up many pages but whoever could write down every single thing a Father could do for his child!
All I can do is to sing this song which best sums up, for now, the love of my Dad for Me. A song which is laden with my respect and love for him.

Welcome home You

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"
But I laid it all down, gave everything
In my head rang the words that my father said
You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

When I look at you holding my heart
I will give to you all that I have
Son I know there'll be times
You will feel all alone, I will share with you the words my father said
You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
You can bet I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

Now, all I can say is: Thank you Dad for giving me a small but magnificently consequential picture of The Father-in-Heaven.

With Love.
Your Son.
The only "Mon"

The Slot Machine

I went to a certain mall a few days ago. It was one of those plush malls you’d either find in New Delhi or in Gurgaon and, if you were that eager, in New York too! This time it was in another city, the name of which begs anonymity, and so I shall leave it and be accommodating to the plea. Nonetheless, I shall elaborate upon a small experience in our mall which left an indelible impact on my life. Gave me a perspective, few things have ever given; an analogy to use when I’d need to explain my stand…rather our stand!

Well, I’d never seen a slot machine for beverages and chocolates, much less used one, before this time! Anyway, thrilled at the opportunity of using such a tech., my tech savvy lunged at it! The machine panel read “Insert four Rs.5 coins and press the button for your choice of beverage”. I obliged. I drew out the coins and thrust them into the slot, pressed the button against the ‘coke’ option and out popped a coke! Boy thrilled was I!
I had money, I loved the thrill (comparatively smaller though) and another coke would have done me no wrong till the time I had it! so out came another 20 bucks and this time, pop! came the Mirinda!

I was flushing with excitement – I could care any less about the people watching me, looking at the machine like a cave man! I winked at them and continued checking out the machine closely. Guess I had my “Eureka!” momen when I found a chocolate bar slot too…Whoa! Whoever said only girls could love a mars bar! Anyway, I brought out another ten bucks and thrust it in (to the machine) for the double thrill of a mars bar and the already waning experience of the slot machine – out came the bar and I gobbled it up without wasting no time, lest I’d have to share it with my friends who had no idea, whatsoever, of where I was. I moved away realizing I’d sent my wallet spinning and wasted more than much time fiddling around for the ‘thrill’!

While walking back to the curb and to my home something ticked-off a thought in me…“over the years I have become so self obsessed, narcissistic in the way I treat myself. Everything I do, is about three people only 'I, Me and their sister, Myself'. Every thing that I say is so much more about me. Every thought I think is so much soaked in hedonism. Over the years I have turned God into an object, a cosmic bell-boy who comes down at every ring-of-the-bell, A dog who’s chained out in the cozy doghouse of my heart only to be released when I want to play with him! A SLOT MACHINE , I throw in the coins of my ‘praise’, ‘ worship’, ‘sacrifice’ to get the mars bar or the coke can of success, fame, girls (for ladies: do I need to tell you replace this with Boys?), money and other fleeting stuff that is seemingly enjoyable!"

But this God is no Slot Machine – He’s like the Father who’d give E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G He has/had for His child, to protect, care, nurture and love him/her. One who longs to form a relationship with you, to spend time with you, to hear from you – your pain, the longing, struggles and share in your happy times too!
But we have turned Him into a machine – we’ve called Him Dead, if nothing else!
If we long for Him, He will draw near to us;
"His friendship is a thousand days better than every brand’s, mom & dad’s and every friend we've ever had!"
God is not dead.
Bless You.
TM

P.S. "When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together." ~ Amethyst Snow-Rivers