A class in Theology

A group of kids, with some in their early childhood, came to the church on a war footing  to meet the Parish priest. “Where is the parish priest???” they enquired. “Down the corridor, in the room on the right” the sacristan replied looking at the anger on their face coupled with great dejection, without raising a question. The kids knocked on the door. “Come in” said the priest wondering who came to visit him at this hour in the morning. “Father, we're angry, very angry with God”. The priest thinking that this was not an ordinary issue folded his newspaper and kept it aside along with his cup of tea. “Why, what happened”. “Father, do you know, our cat was very sick. We prayed to God, so much, every day, every single day so he would cure him of his sickness. We showed him to the doctor, gave him medicines, took great care of him but to no avail. God has failed us. We are very angry with Him. Now we demand an answer as to why God did this. Tell us Father, tell us.”

Rounding up the kids the priest began explaining the concepts of life and death and theology. After going on and on, one of the kids; the youngest; held the arm of his sister who was standing right next to him and jerked it. With big eyes his sister chided him “Pay attention”. The boy tried paying attention again but again his patience ran out. He again gave his sister’s arm a jerk, this time he pulled it so hard that his sister’s ear was right next to his mouth. “This Father doesn't know anything!”

Sensing that the kids were not able to understand what he was saying and were getting restless by the minute he said, “You know God really loved the cat a lot and he couldn't do without it, hence he took it back. Your cat is now with God and in the best of health and happiness”. Hearing this the kids went back home happy and delighted that now their cat was with God and doing well.

Moral of the story – Always know your audience and speak to them in a language they understand. When you go fishing you don’t put a piece of pizza as a bait but a worm. Why? Because a fish doesn't know what pizza is but surely knows what a worm is.

Discomfort

Have you ever lost it completely? Where you do not remember what you said, what you wore, who all were there around you? What all you did?..I can bet most of us have been through a situation like that sometime in our lives. However, the key thought process after reading the above sentence, most of us will genuinely agree would be about a negative experience that we have had in our life, yet there will be a percentage of people who will differ otherwise.

Have you ever loved someone so much that, as if you felt you are smothering the person and yet are unable to do an iota of nothing? Or perused a dream so intensely that you can almost feel living it in reality? These are some high intensity feeling generated in ourselves that make us completely powerless of our very existence for a while or sometimes for moments. The intensity is so high that the body actually becomes a live volcano. With the word ‘Volcano’ used here, most of us will associate it with destruction and death and many negatives, yet sublimely we all know, how earth and all its various magnificent mountains above sea and below sea have formed on earth.

My reference to the word ‘Volcano’ above has a significance of an experience I have had recently. And like the high flames and volumes of molten lava coming out through it, I experienced the same episode on a very personal note. The unfathomable destruction caused, will be felt for a long time. Yet it was a beginning of something new too, dropping the FEAR of abandonment and voicing something that had been bothering inside the heart for far too long it could withhold.

Power display is actually an amazing emotion to watch, specially, men versus women and vice-versa. The music that play in the background has an utmost serenity to be observed; but ‘Only from a distance’. I have experienced recently the sharp pain of becoming the most hated person in a person’s life and have received adjectives that I will prefer never been spoken. Taking a few steps down, I realized it was simmering for a while and the warning signals were displayed several times, yet though they were not really overlooked, but both parties chose to ignore them and continue life as usual.

The experience has made a few learning’s clear to me like bright morning sunlight which I always knew but maybe did not put so much emphasis before; integrity in our acts, honestly in our thoughts and being faithful in our heart is imperative to anything that we do in life. Degrading anyone of these aspects will eventually lead to an eruption of another volcano.

The heart and soul aches to see the bloodshed, if only I had the power to heal and take away all the pain and anger..within myself and then maybe someone else too…

What matters most...

It doesn't matter if you know the capitals of the countries or not; or how to get the webcam working; or how to pronounce words correctly. What matters is that by just looking at my face you can tell how I’m feeling or if there’s something wrong; or by gazing into my eyes the things that i don’t know how to express; by holding my hand you give me the confidence to take over the world. A sweet company in the boring times, a partaker in the toughest, a partner in the happy....in short..a best friend for Life!

You are someone to somebody

You are Everything To Somebody Right now at this very minute-----------

someone is very proud of you
someone is thinking of you
someone cares about you
someone misses you
someone wants to talk to you
someone wants to be with you
someone hopes you aren't in trouble
someone is thankful for the support you have provided
someone wants to hold your hand someone hopes everything turns out all right
someone wants you to be happy
someone wants you to find them
someone is celebrating your successes
someone wants to give you a gift
someone think you ARE a gift
someone hopes you are not too cold, or too hot
someone wants to hug you someone loves you
someone wants to lavish you with small gifts
someone admires your strength
someone is thinking of you and smiling
someone wants to be your shoulder to cry on
someone wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun
someone thinks the world of you
someone wants to protect you
someone would do anything for you
someone wants to be forgiven
someone is grateful for your forgiveness
someone wants to laugh with you about old times
someone remembers you and wishes you were there
someone needs to know that your love is unconditional
somebody values your advice
someone wants to tell you how much they care
someone wants to stay up watching old movies with you
someone wants to share their dreams with you
someone wants to hold you in their arms
someone wants YOU to hold them in your arms
someone treasures your spirit
someone wishes they could STOP time because of you
someone can't wait to see you
someone wishes that things didn't have to change
someone loves you for who you are
someone loves the way you make them feel
someone wants to be with you
someone hears a song that reminds them of you
someone wants you to know they are there for you
someone is glad that you're their friend
someone wants to be your friend
someone stayed up all night thinking about you
someone is alive because of you
someone is wishing that you would notice them
someone wants to get to know you better
someone believes that you are their soul mate
someone wants to be near you
someone misses your guidance and advice
someone values your guidance and advice
someone has faith in you
someone trusts you
Someone needs you to send them this letter
someone needs your support
someone needs you to have faith in them
someone needs you to let them be your friend
someone will cry when they read this.

Angie, my star

You are a star, a star that twinkles far,

Oh u seen only at nights.
I hate this world if it's not night

You have self luminary, you need no one for existence.

You give me light, show me the way
You are stable to appear, burning within
I always tell you :-
You have a worth which you need not to prove. Sun is a star it shines for all, you are my Sun my day's start owe to you

People are mean to you, they cheer moonlight
Poor they don't know moon's behavior over fortnight .

You are stable you are calm
You can make fortunes of all
You are a star born to guide nd lead

You are the aim, I want to reach !
You rule my skies. Be there at high

The tears in my eyes while I look at you far from you., lower than you.

I will burn off this distance my time will come. I will reach till you. Your twinkles are mine

Life lessons from a glass of water!

A chemistry professor decided to teach his students a different lesson one day. Holding a glass of water in his hand, he asked the students, “How much do you think this glass of water weighs?” “500 grams!” came a voice from the back. “600,” said another student. “I don’t really know!” said the professor, holding the glass up to make sure everyone could see it. “And unless we weigh it, we won’t know.” With the glass still in his outstretched hand, the professor continued, “What will happen if I hold it like this for a few minutes?”

“Nothing!” came the reply. “Right, and if I hold it for an hour like this, what might happen?” “Your hand will begin to hurt,” said a student. “Indeed. And what would happen if I held the glass in my hand like this for 24 hours?”

“You would be in tremendous pain,” said one student. “Your hand will probably go numb,” said another. “Your arm will be paralysed and we’ll need to rush you to the hospital!” said a student on the last bench.

“True,” said the professor. “But notice that through all this, the weight of the glass did not change. What then causes the pain?”

The class went quiet. The students seemed puzzled.“What should I do to avoid the pain?” asked the professor. “Put the glass down!” said a student.

“Well said!” exclaimed the professor. “And that’s a lesson I want you to remember. The problems and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. But think about it a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralysed – incapable of doing anything. It’s important to remember to let go of your problems. Remember to put the glass down!”

We may not have been in that classroom that day, but it’s a lesson we would all do well to remember. Put the glass down! Always. It’s not just problems and worries. Sometimes, we feel hurt and betrayed by a friend. And we carry that grudge through our lives. It grows and causes us anguish and pain. Learning to forgive – and forget – is not just good for the other people, it’s great for you. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail and when he was finally freed, you can understand how angry and vengeful he must have felt. But guess what? When he became President, he invited his jailers to be present at the inauguration – in the VIP seats! If he could forgive after 27 years of suffering, surely we can too.

It is the same with our fears too. A failure or an incident in early childhood becomes a deeply entrenched fear over time. Fear of public speaking, fear of Maths, fear of rejection. You name it, and chances are, we have it. Someone gave us that glass to hold when we were little kids – ‘you are clumsy, you are no good, you can’t do it’ - and we have faithfully held on to it all our lives. ‘I can’t’ - becomes a thought that stays in our mind and grows – leading us to complete paralysis. Time to put the glass down!

The story goes that there was a hardworking man who lived a contented life with his wife and children. Every evening when he returned from work, he’d follow a ritual. Outside the door to his house were three nails. On the first one, he’d put his hat. On the second he’d hang his coat. And on the third nail, he’d unwrap an imaginary turban from his head and ‘put’ it there. A friend happened to see this and enquired what he was putting on the third nail every day.

“Those are my problems, my worries and my anger,” said the man. “I have lots of that at work, but when I come home, I remember to take it off – and leave them outside. I don’t take them home with me.” Maybe you should learn to do that too. Starting today. Put the glass down. And see the difference!

Happy Valentine's Day

As she walked in, the whole room went still

The valets at the door completely forgot their skill

The cold sounds of stiletto's as they went click click
Turned every brow wet and the air went thick

And then she turned around and gave a Mona Lisa smile
Which helped him to remember that it's been a long while

Since the time she first went completely off the rocker
Since the days he used to visit her alone in the locker

He wished they'd remembered what he'd told them before
That there is no sanity, left in her to look for

They'd asked him to be calm, and to have no fear
One can only wonder how she managed to get here

Sorry to interrupt, but I'm not sure if you noticed
I don't usually do this without a good purpose

Did you forget me? she focused on him and said
He replied no, you're supposed to be dead

You know that I adore you with all heart and soul
Even though my love for you takes a heavy toll

He could never imagine why, she should even bother
Considering he always treated her as cattle fodder

But she dreamed about him even though she'd been spurned
She felt true love never had to be returned

She believed him, even though his tales are phoney
And she always thought, of their future in matrimony

I've heard such lines before, he remarked, 'check please'
And I hope you do not plan to go down on your knees

Why should I be with you? U know beauty fades
I am in heaven! why should I choose Hades?

Because I will love you even though you are silly
My life without you is uneven and chilly

But do you bear any worth more valuable than charm?
He glanced quickly at the light pressure on his arm

Here's an envelope filled with reports within
The child holding you is the product of our sin

Keeping Stray-Dogs Away from your Society

Just wanted to share my thoughts on how life can be different if dogs are allowed inside SOCIETY premises.

There are Pros (Positives) and Cons (Negatives) of banning dog entries.

Pros (Positives) with absence of dogs:
1. Kids, most beautiful gift of nature, can play around freely.
2. Premises will be more neat and clean (No more dog-poops).
3. Chances of dog-bites will be almost negligible.
4. Hygiene issues for kids and elders can be controlled in a better way.
5. Comfortable sleeps in the nights.
6. Less effort for sweeper (especially in podium park, parking areas etc.) for cleaning dog-poops.
7. Walking alone late in the evening/night will be more luxurious in absence of dogs.  Generally, late in the night, it is one person Vs 10 dogs.
8. Sometimes dogs chase two-wheeler riders like anything and this may lead to accident/s.
9. Elders can go for early morning walk without any hesitation or fear.
10. Parents do not wish their kids to play with stray dogs.
11. Air would be more clean, pollution-free and less bacteria's and viruses in the air inside Pride-park premises.
12. Less chances of rabies.

Cons (Negatives) with absence of dogs:
1. Slight expense increase for the security guards who are at the main gates of SOCIETY. Slight expense increase means 4 or 5 rupees additional monthly maintenance.  I would say it is not a bad deal.

Recommendation:
Dogs must be barred from sneaking inside SOCIETY premises.

What do you all think?

RK

Blessing in disguise...

Aisa kabhi hua nahi

Umeed ne yun kabhi chua nahi

Baras gayi boondein phir se

Zindagi ne abhi sath choda nahi



Rango se Bhari baatein

Sitaro se bhari raatein

Gaa raga hai Mann mera

Mil Gaya ho sab jaise



Pal Jo hai ye beete na kabhi

Khawab ye tute na kabhi

Reh jaye bas hamari yaadein

Bas itni hai meri fariyaadein



Mili hai duniya

Aaj aasama hai sath mere

Chu Lu sare taare.

Kahi Kho na jaye sare



Thrilled with joy

Efforts paid off

Zillon seconds of restlesness

Settled with height of happiness



Wana hop to the top

Heart did a prod

Eyes appreciated gently

And finally Face waved a smile :)



Damn...it feels so Gud

Can easily bet my seconds for this

Ziindagi ja tu thehar

Jara ghum Lu Mai Tera shehar

Gajab tha wo lamha

Dekha jab Maine kal apna



Din dhala to hum dhale

diya raat ne aasra

Dikhya Chand ne raasta

Diya uss badal ne sath

Samjh hi nahi aaya aanshu the ya barsat



Life completes it's circle

Hasna Rona phir Rona aur phir hasna

Anupam learned the hard way

Atleast the insane is on the bay :)



celebrate the victory....KEEP ROCKING U MORON

Me ME and only me

It's a lovely morning

Sun is bright...

with a touch of chill n light

I feel so bright...

When it's night m scared

emptiness is there...

each second i fear

nobody is near...

Time pass and keeps on passing

passion grow and keeps on growing...

Every night i think

y i m still and cold?

Happy day's are gone

here comes the tough time...

Birds don't sing, Heart dosn't beat

everything is still but STILL i feel the heat...

Beautiful day's full of life

now struggling to survive...

Sky full of cloud

"Please RAIN" anupam shouting loud...

But the story dosn't end here

I have lotsa dream to dare...

Night is over

I can now glare...

When i look back, Down the memory lane

I see the smiling IDIOT, happy and insane...

Now the idiot is enveloped with even more insanity

blurred picture of life is now full of clarity...

I guess this is life...

I dont regret my moment's

YOU made me ME...

look back dear it was WE,

but now it's only ME...

Is this life??

yeah anupam this is LIFE...

keep smiling....u moron :)

Finding a balance

A Quote from Bryan Dyson, CEO Coca Cola

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life.

How?

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings!

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.

Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way...

LOST

14th January 1996

Vaiju…Vaiju… where have u vanished!!! VAIJU……………

Sanjeevani was just so excited. She held the big round pillar of Vinayagar Temple with her left arm and swirled around it in joy. The Temple was quiet and there was an afternoon lull over the place. Birds twittered happily and the large Banyan tree shaded the entire corridor making it peaceful and calm.

Sanjeevani, or Sanju, as she was fondly called by all, was a simple and Chirpy girl, who took life as it came and had a very positive outlook towards it. She too had dreams of making it Big…of studying abroad, achieving new heights and proving herself to the world, but in no way was she ready to compromise on small joys surrounding her....maybe that’s why she filled colors in everyone’s life!

However, today was really a special day for her. She read and re-read the small chit of paper that announced her welcome in the world of scholars. She was selected to pursue a PhD in Robotics in Cambridge and she wanted to share this news with Vijayan first.
What could have been a better meeting place than their very own Lord Vinayagar’s Temple yard, where Vaiju and Sanju had spent many afternoons and evenings …. Just chatting, laughing on joys and crying on sorrows together.

Vijayan was her childhood love. He was a support system for Sanju. One look of Sanju’s face was enough for Vijayan to understand her mind and heart. It was he who encouraged her to try for higher studies in Cambridge and today was a big day for him too… He had stealthily checked Sanju’s study table drawer on the day of results. He could not suppress his joy as he saw the print out of Acceptance Mail.

And now, he already knew why Sanju had called him up to temple, promising some great news!! He tiptoed to the temple backyard and waited patiently as Sanju, bubbling with enthusiasm, ran around the temple calling his name and rejoicing to herself. His Sweet Sanju… he just wanted to tease her before actually surprising her with a bear hug and showering congratulations.

Then in a flash he saw them. They all looked like vagabonds with big burly frames and dirty looks. Vijayan was dazed for a few moments. He could not think of anything. His eyes were just horrified to see three guys moving towards Sanju who was now looking at them with suspicious eyes and slowly taking backward steps. Suddenly one guy pounced ahead and covered her mouth with his big dirty palm. Vijayan quickly moved forth but something hit on his head very hard. He wanted to scream aloud but…. His mind drifted into darkness and all he could see hazily from his closing eyes was his Sanju with her large black eyes looking at him frantically….. And then there was darkness all around.

**********************************************

Later

Vaiju slowly opened his eyes and looked around. His brain took time to register his surroundings. He was completely drained and confused. As he tried to twitch his fingers, he realized that he was tied with something… then suddenly, as if with a flash Sanju’s frantic eyes appeared before his eyes. All his thoughts flooding in… Vijayan sat upright in his hospital cabin room. So angered was he that he started to pull out his drip and a conglomerate of wires from his body. He was in a hurry, his Sanju needed him and he had to get them, those cruel wild dogs who took away his love, his life. He had to avenge her….. he started to move to the door but was stopped mid way by a nurse who had come in after hearing noises.

Doctor, Doctor Anand, Please come here… the Nurse called out.

She appeared to be overtly elated and curious. She led Vijayan to his bed making him sit there and just looked at him in awe as if he was a man from another planet. Then, as if remembering something, she requested him to sleep while she could check his Blood pressure etc. Vijayan wanted to run out but he felt a little drained out and there was something special in this Nurse’s excitement which held him back from doing so. He waited patiently.

A Tall and fair guy, about 30 years of age came in. The Nurse rushed to him with her latest reports and readings. He introduced himself as Dr Anand. Vijayan smiled weakly at him thinking of asking for a quick discharge so that he can get back to his task….his Sanju needed him.

After studying reports, Dr Anand rushed out as if in some huge hurry which again Vijayan could not fathom. He was too engaged in his own thoughts…of getting out from hospital, of meeting his and Sanju’s parents, telling them what exactly happened at the Temple though they might be knowing what tragedy had happened by now. How He wished Sanju was alright and safely at home!!

Then he heard a lot of noises outside, as if a big crowd was approaching. An elderly couple barged in through the doors and hugged Vijayan.

Vaiju…vaiju…the Lady started crying uncontrollably. Wait a minute! Did Vijayan recognize this Voice? Of Course, it was his mother. Then he looked at the elderly gentleman standing stunned nearby….Dad??

Vijayan’s mouth was agape. What has happened, where is he…in which era? Why are his parents looking so old? Who are these people rushing in now? This kid, about 10 years of age….looking fondly at him… Who is he? His head began to swim. Then a middle aged lady came in. she looked at Vijayan with great fondness and Loving emotions. Her eyes were moist and she looked stunned too!! Her eyes…big beautiful eyes…oh God!!! Sanju !!

Once again Vijayan felt darkness closing upon him….he wanted to speak but his mind drifted away….in infinity….

**********************************************

Today

Vijayan was sitting upright on his bed. He was still dazed to hear what had happened to him. This was 13 years after that fateful incident when Sanjeevani was kidnapped by a gang for ransom and Vijayan was badly hit on head because of which he drifted into a long coma. Later, Sanjeevani was rescued by police but Vijayan could not be cured. Doctors had given up all their hopes. They never believed he could live for long, but he did. And this revival from coma was a miracle in itself, as if some earthly force had pulled back Vijayan here after a long battle with death.

Meanwhile, Life went on for everyone, Sanju went ahead to pursue her studies, married a fellow research scientist in Cambridge and some years later Rahul was born.

Life had changed for all except for Him. He was still there, trying to rush to save his Sanju, but now there was no one to be saved. He had the same passion and love for Sanju as he nurtured 13 years ago but she seemed to have settled in a different life with just care and fond memories left for him. Yes , she was happy that Vaiju had come back, but somehow things were not same anymore. Vaiju suddenly lost his purpose for life…he just stared out of the window. Slowly, Rahul came near him and said…”Vaiju Uncle…can we go out and play? I want to hear all childhood stories of you and mamma… “. A smile lighted up Vaiju’s face as he accompanied Rahul outside.

The Cracked Pot

Long ago, a water bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on one end of a pole, which he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it. The other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, but the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house after each trip to the stream. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

Perceiving itself to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old racked pot took notice of the beautiful flowers beside the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had again leaked half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. But the bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."