The Accident - Shaken to Shape Up!

Yesterday a big accident took place at my home! Accident of chocolates . I was placing the box of Belgian chocolates (the best of gifts that my Sister-in-Law presented me) in the topmost shelf and accidentally I tripped it over and the box fell “thud” on the ground with the chocolates falling everywhere. Here one and there one, I started collecting the chocolates and placed them in the tray which had also fallen off the box.

As I was placing the chocolates in the tray I found that there was no place for two chocolates. I took the box, which was fallen at a far off distance, and to my surprise, as I opened it, I found another tray inside! All these days I was thinking that there is only one tray of chocolates and so I was very preciously saving them and was very protective about them as well.

Only yesterday did I come to know that there is one more tray of chocolates to relish! The accident brought out the hidden sweets!

When we face struggles and storms in our life that shake us up, we become very worried. Growing up in a broken home, losing a parent at a young age, misunderstood by beloveds and everyone, death of a dear one, shouldering a dependant family with financial strain, becoming the company’s downsizing victim all of this and much more really shake us up. We tend to ask,

“Is there anything good going to happen to me?”

“What good is going to come out of this?”

But I tell you, the more we go through storms the more our hidden talents, skills, character, personality is going to show up. We would be surprised that such hidden talents were lying within us. We would have had no idea that such confidence was buried within us, until we faced that horrible and difficult situation in life.

Cheer up friend if you are in a tough spot right now. God has allowed such a stormy situation that shakes you, to SHAPE you! Keep thinking about that good thing you have learnt, that nice character that you have developed, that gifts of yours that you have discovered. You are being shaken to shape up to shine! So that your life may bring sweetness in the lives of others, like those Belgian chocolates!

Always remember one more thing, especially if you are going through a tough time because of someone; do not hurt the person who has hurt you. The chocolate that I dropped is not going to taste bitter when I would eat it! It will only be sweet! And It will give me only sweetness!!

“Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 AMP)

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

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All Indians are my brothers and sisters–Cast Off Casteism

I was deeply disturbed after watching last Sunday’s talk show in Vijay TV, “Neeya Nana”. The show was a debate between parents who support love marriage and those who do not. At one point in the show when the show host Gopinath asked one side of the participants that to who they would not give their daughters in marriage, most of them, at least 8 or 9 said, “we will not marry our daughter to a boy from a low caste”. Then it was asked to one of the show guests, a Dalit writer on what did he feel about it, he replied, “I feel it is better to die than to live in a nation like this”.

Those that have the feeling of casteism are no less than murderers. I would say that those who make others feel that they are better dead than to live, are guilty under different sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code). Such people are guilty under Section 107 for abetting, provoking, instigating to commit suicide and under Section 306 (Abetment of Suicide); also guilty under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for speeches that are likely to disturb the communal harmony in the country and the likely result of such inflammatory speeches is to create hatred in the minds of citizens against the persons belonging to minority communities and under Section 499 for Defamation (whoever by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person and to defame that person.) They are also punishable under various other sections of Slavery, of Mischief, of Insult and Annoyance.

The most evil, the most corrupting and degenerating element of a society is Casteism. So I thought that “casteism” should speak on itself.

C – I have a brother whose name too starts with “C” and ends with “E”; and we both are five lettered. Guess who is that? Curse! And I am a Curse to the society.

A – I Alienate people, one from the other

S – I am Sin embodied and personified; I also Stimulate people to commit Suicide deeming them as unfit to live in the Society

T – I do not Treat humans as humans, but as subhuman and Teach the same to those who are my ardent followers to do so to others

E – I breach Equality and fill the minds of people with Evil

I – I am one such ISM (a belief or system of beliefs accepted as authoritative by some group or school) that which is making the people of India Irrational

S - I am Sick (in the “Adjective” form) and so people who celebrate me are diseased

M – I am the Mastermind behind many Murders & Massacres in My name; I Misuse people and make people Misbehave with others based on their caste

After being a Republic country for 63 years and a Free nation for 65 years we are still holding on to this evil called “casteism” down the centuries, in this nation. But this can be totally cast off by the younger and the present generation. And can be done only by those who have the “guts” to do it and not by “cowards”. It’s not sufficient that we just talk about it or write about it; its time for some real action, if we would like to see this nation a real Republic, where the supreme power lies in the the body of citizens. Even as we celebrate the 64th Republic Day today let us pledge ourselves to not harbour any feeling of casteism and to wipe it off completely from our country.

Pledge yourself to do these –

1. DO NOT write your caste name in any form.
2. If your name has a “caste” name attached take the bold step to remove it. Read to know the legal steps to change your name in India - How to Change Your Name Legally in India
3. Do not give in to marry the boy or girl from your caste. Make it as your first claim in marriage to your parents to remove “caste” from marriage search list.

While typing this post out in my content editor I noted a red line below the word “casteism” and a suggestion to “Add to dictionary”. No, I did not add this word. Because I am dreaming of a caste-free India where there would be no need for this word, where all would be equals.

Let every time we say the National Pledge (as an oath of allegiance to the Republic of India) “India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters”, let’s mean it and live it!

Do you have any other better and meaningful ways to cast off casteism please share in the comments below. Do you have a story or incident from your life to  share on the evils of casteism? Please share below.

“So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NLT)

Here is another story that I wrote of a boy named Ravi, the scars of whose life too speak on the evils of casteism, I am Ravi.

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Feeling Special, a Post Birthday Post

Yesterday was my Birthday! And it’s a great & wonderful feeling when you celebrate your birthday. You feel like a king  

Though until yesterday I did not think or plan anything for my birthday, but on the morning of 22 Jan as soon I woke up, I could sense this strange yet awesome feeling within me. What was that feeling? I felt that I was “special”.

After I woke up, I started waking up my wife and wanted to hear her wish me, “Happy birthday, Josh”. In through the day whenever my parents, in-laws, friends called me up and wished me I felt good and special. Added to all of that the surprise Treasure Hunt that my wife prepared for me, the gifts that she gave me, the cake that she prepared for me, the celebration that my friends arranged for me, the prayers that people prayed for me, all of which made my day special!

But greater still was when I had another birth day – the day I was born again! The day I confessed my sins and invited Jesus Christ to live in me, to be my Lord and Saviour. It was not just a single day event, but many incidents followed up and culminated on that day – 24 Jan 1999. Until that day neither did I know about that feeling or had ever experienced it.

Everything felt new to me; myself, the people around me, the world around me, the air that I breathed, the environment and the very existence of my life!

“anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG)

Being born again brings great joy that which is incomparable and unsurpassable. The newness that it brings is newer than every new dress or new cake or every thing new that anyone would have ever got or enjoyed in life.

On birthday’s friends, spouse, relatives, colleagues rejoice, but when someone is born again – heaven rejoices! “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10 NIV).

We all would like to throw parties on our birthday. But do you know that heaven throws a party when you are born again? “that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God” (Luke 15:10 MSG). Yes, when someone turns to God, heaven throws a party!

Birthday is an annual event that makes someone feels special just on that day. But being born again makes you special everyday.

Yesterday was my birthday and tomorrow marks the beginning of my born again day! Today, makes the middle day between these two significant days in my life. You might be in the middle of a rising career inching towards making it successful. Or you are searching for the purpose and meaning in life. Or your uneventful smooth life has suddenly taken a stormy turn. Whatever situation or mood or phase of life you might be in, I pray and hope that you would be born again, to have the experience of not just feeling, but BEING “special everyday”. Because you become God’s child!

“For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT)

I Am special loved accepted and forgiven

I Am the apple of God’s eye

I Am special loved accepted,

Special Loved Protected

and I don’t even have to try.

 

He loved me before the world began

And He called me by name

His love will last for all the time

And will never ever never change…

I am Special…

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My Birthday Treasure Hunt

On the eve of my birthday as I returned home, my wife had prepared a Treasure Hunt for me! I love Treasure Hunts!! First she gave me food to energize me for the hunt and here I went.

She first told me to open my devotional diary and to turn to my birthdate to start with.

I turned to 22 Jan in my devotional diary to find the first clue!

And here is the first clue -

That was a very easy lead…. and here I go to find it….

What is that clue under the eggs?

Oh…. It’s the ear bud… And I go in search of the ear bud and it takes sometime, not because I don’t clean my ears But because every time my wife gives it to me. “Josh! Though you have figured out the answer, but you do not know where I keep the ear buds, isn’t it?”, said Angel. “No, I know where it is” and I found it! 1, 2, 3… here it is… in the 4th box… in the shelf….

And I find the next clue -

Is it under the pillow? I remove the pillow and it’s not there… So I lift the mattress and I find it there.

What does it say?

The Tiger! There are are two tigers at home… a big one & by its side the little one… So here I go to save the clue from the Tiger

The clue was very happy that I saved it from the tiger and readily wanted to help me find the next clue. But poor clue… though it was grateful for me saving it, it couldn’t tell me the place and I had to think.

An eye that cannot see?? Oh yes! I know what it is… The London Eye! And as I took the London Eye souvenir I found the next clue.

 

Second rescue! I need to save this clue from the Idli Powder! And I know where it is in the kitchen. Three days back while leaving the house for school Angel said, “Josh, I have made Idlis. Eat it with Idli Podi”. After getting ready I searched and searched and searched but could not find it. That evening Angel showed me where she had kept it. So I know IT!

And it had a very interesting clue…

My favourite drink! Nannari [which is a drink made out of the roots of Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii)].

So looking for the next clue under the Sarees…

As I opened the clue it was now about saving me!

What is it that saves me from rain. Umbrella, of course. But I need to find the pink one!

And what did I find inside the Umbrella?

So this is a test to know whether I know what is it that my wife treasures! And I know it!! Should be paints, colouring sketches, pencils. I open the shelf that contains my wife’s collection of painting items.

And that was a reminder to me to repair the extension box

The next clue made me think really hard. This was the only clue that took me some time to solve. What was that?

It said “Look Inside”. So I thought it was a bottle and went in search of bottles in the shelves and in the kitchen. And all of a sudden it struck me that I have seen this name “Olivey” somewhere and I came back to the living room. Here it is! Up above in the Closet.

And there the clue lie… inside the bowls…

What did the clue say?

I need to work fast, if not the clue would be crushed under the weight of the pens….

And that led me to the final clue!

I rushed to open the Trunk and removed all the clues from above it. So many clues to find my way to the Treasure!

What is that Treasure waiting for me…. I opened… There lay the Treasure…. the treasure gift wrapped… Unwrapped it to find three treasures… to my surprise…. but I guessed one, even before opening it… There must be a chocolate…

A Wallet, A Red Pen (to mark verses in my Bible) and a Dairy Milk Bar! And I forgot…. there is one more treasure… my Wife, a Treasure from Above, made and given exclusively for me. And she made my birthday memorable, in this new year 2013 too!

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.” (Proverbs 18:22 NLT)

She had also made a cake for me… and it is waiting for me to cut it… and of course eat it!!

As I opened Google there was yet another surprise waiting for me… Google customized my Google home page to wish me on my birthday!