Echoes in Joy and in Ashes

Words and its meaning have evolved over the course of time and the process still continues. For instance, "gay" is not "exactly" what it usually used to be; "excited" could drag the conversation into an entirely "forbidden" direction; "hot" is no longer about the weather only. Conversations move around innuendos and subtle suggestions of an "unintended" meaning. Words while understood perfectly in a conversation, can also be twisted and a "hidden but perfectly understood" dialogue run parallel to it. Unfortunately, sometimes, this "hidden conversation" seems to be more "exciting" than the normal one. Do words have an inherent meaning or are they infused with meaning? Just a lay thought, it seems to work both ways. However, we seem to "infuse" it with meaning so much so that a word that perfectly stood for something before can now stand for quite the other. If words could once be use...

Someone said "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Over the years we have all made friendships. Some are going on strong, some are out there somewhere, hardly in touch, some are probably forgotten (hopefully by both parties!!). How do you define a friend? I struggle to categorize people in my phone especially when I have a group called friends? Who gets to fit into that category in my phone list? Are those casual acquaintances (probably met them on one or two occasions, chit chatted a bit) friends or are they still strangers? Who are friends? I think that's one question we could answer based on how we define the term "friend." Irrespective of how we define who "friends" are, the maintaining of that special bond requires mutual efforts. Friendship begins when "likeness" in the other is recognized - C.S Lewis said “Friendship is born at that moment when one person...

          So the other day these people came to carry out some "medical" tests. Small tests to ensure that everyone's safe. It involved a small prick and a small sample of blood taken. Not the end of the world considering that it did not require anything major or even a small incision. Just a quick prick and it was done. But for some that prick meant their "whole world" had come down.            Some put up a brave face with a thumping heart, others went through it with grace as if it were a daily affair. The "interesting lot" however neither had the brave faces to put up, much less the grace. They were the ones that got the all attention from the others.            This lot came and sat down, looked about nervously, a little unsure of the ordeal they would have to go through. Imagination at its best they dreaded that small prick that would be delivered. As they watched the preparation, they probabl...

            The other day I walked into a store to get me a pair of thermal wears. Nothing fancy, just looking for a decent a pair to keep warm in the cold. The storekeeper struck up a conversation and laid out all the available options. I politely declined the choices because you see I already had something in mind. “Aren’t you buying it for yourself?” he asked. “No, it’s for a friend,” I lied.           Without missing a beat, “We have something cheaper” he hinted. “Thank you, it’s alright,” I said and took leave.          As I walked along the street I wondered “Now why would he comment ‘we have something cheaper’ at my lie?” It did not really imply that I was being cheap, not really directly. But it did reflect a hint of that popular perception –“the best for me, the next for my friend.” No wonder maybe that’s why when gifts are given and received, the joy is missing. This not to chide all, ...

I recently walked along a path that had "glowing" lights running along the side. The light they gave off just enough to catch the trail but not enough to light the whole path. So while there was another glow in the distance, I had to go through the dark path to get to it.  Now isn't life and its journey sometimes like that? We would wish for a "floodlight" that would illuminate the whole path and yet sometimes we are left in the dark with just a soft glow ahead. We make it there through the darkness and then in the distance there is another one, glowing softly.  Perhaps we will not all "shine" with the same intensity, some of us may just glow along the trail. That is not to say that we cannot one day shine, but that is altogether a different story for another time. The point here is, may we continue to glow and mark the path for even the smallest of light can dispel the darkness around it. 

Broken. Crushed. Shattered. Smashed. Not the very best words to add value, in fact they will "devalue" anything that is associated with it. Something broken, crushed, shattered or smashed is thrown away, no longer valued or treasured. What more can we expect from broken things? Why waste our efforts on them? Get a new one. My broken cup has done its service, it's now time to move on. But then, in every "brokenness" is also an opportunity for restoration (a not-easy process). Yes, the flawless perfection will not be achieved again. The cracks can be healed but the lines will probably show, the scars may not altogether go away.  It will probably be a little harder to appreciate the "restored" look in comparison to the "perfect ones."  It's very sight will remind of the broken state that it was in. It will be a little more harder, a little more trying to keep things together, a little more effort to overlook the scars and to consider it ...

There is a “level” kind of thinking where we prioritize, which in its own right gives guidance and has its significance. A list is made, one is held higher than the other—more important, less important. However, it is quite possible that when prioritized on a scale of importance there is an implied corresponding degree (higher or lower) on the emphasis for excellence with the levels.  For instance, a task on a higher level seems to demands “better” efforts than one on a lower level. In other words, the effort may range from “just” get it done to pay “special” attention.  The proposal is that, a difference in the degree of importance among the variety of tasks, does not necessarily imply a difference in the “nature” of effort (or for that matter attitude) in carrying out a particular task. No “sloppy jobs” just because the task was deemed low on the priority scale. This thought arises from an attempt to see things in relationship with each other – a centre around which ev...