Starting and Finishing

I have watched with interests several events of the Olympics at London. As the participants went through several rounds of preliminaries to the finals, I noticed a refrain from commentators about the importance of starting and finishing well. 

I was reminded of a childhood experience that reminds me of this calling to start well and finish well. Out of about 15 class mates from my village, three of us went on to study at college to pursue our interests. The rest stayed back and got carried away by the hippie culture that was invading the youth in the mid sixties. I meet three of them in my village now, who tell me of the terrible mistake they committed for not using the opportunities that were before them. They barely make both ends meet now. They spoke similarly of the others from the village who lost their direction.

This is a struggle for many young people even today. They get carried away by the culture of pleasure and gratification.

The retired headmaster from my primary school was an outstanding example of how we can influence young people to find direction in their lives. Late Mr.Thomas would have young people going astray, visit him once in a week in small groups. He listened, cared and encouraged. Five of the seven, who pursued being in touch with him were helped to free themselves from habits that crippled their progress in life. 

Late Dr and Mrs. A.K.Tharien of Christian Fellowship Hospital Oddanchatram had a group of street boys, sometimes up to 15 spending the Sunday afternoons with them at their home, sharing a meal and having games and conversations. They did this for 25 years. One of them, who is well employed now told me recently that at least 45 children were rescued from streets during those years, where they made their living by stealing and cheating. 

To enable people to start and finish well, they need the accompaniment of those who care. Each of us can accompany a few to lead them on to better prospects in life.