An evening sight!

The egrets stay around the cow. This is a common sight!They swallow the fleas and flies from the body of he cow!

Every time the cow chases away one of them, it returns to position in another proximate site! 

I am not sure if the cow finds them as a nuisance!

But as I watched this sight for about half an hour, I found the spirit of co-existence by compromising!

When we feel that our private space is forcefully occupied, we need another approach rather than aggression, intimidation or intolerance! 

Sometimes, it takes a while for us to grasp the benefits of being tolerant and accommodative of circumstances which appear threatening or uncomfortable!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A rare migratory bird!

A blue hen near our home! (This is the best photo I could manage with a 200 mm lens of a mirrorless camera! Lenses of the mirrorless camera are primitive)

The migratory birds are a delight to watch! 

The story of these birds are worth recollecting. Often they make three trips to different places during a year! They have no permanent home! They have to fend for themselves!

The migratory birds remind us of the temporariness of  our  state! All things are transient and short lived! However each day is a gift we can turn into a joyful experience!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Remembering Friends!

Anna and I remember these friends who have meant a lot to us during our time at the MOSC medical college! They belonged to the same batch of students who have now moved on and are preparing for their post graduate admissions. 

Our introduction to the student community at MOSC during the last five years have been through these friends who in various ways kept engaging us to draw closer to the students. 

It is they who encourage dus to begin foster family system at MOSC. Although other faculty are only slowing entering into such a relationship, we feel good that it is beginning to be a meaningful relationship within our foster family .

It is others who can show us the way forward!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Flowers and Fruits !

Another season in nature in our garden!

The season of flowers and fruits! Some fruits would ripen only by early summer! 

However it is as though the garden is celebrating the season of Christmas and new year!

It is a season of plenty! However, it is also a season of some of the un-anticapted difficulties and challenges in relationships!

It is an occasion to turn all these experiences into prayer and waiting! It is akin to waiting for the ripening of fruits till summer!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Cards and Stars

The exhibition of Christmas cards made by the staff and students and the different designs of stars  hanging in the corridor made a visual feast at the time of the MOSC Christmas function two days back!

The festivity of Christmas was evident on that occasion!

What inspired me was that the college has organised a visit to a children's home to Christmas cheer with them!

Christmas is a message 'peace and goodwill for all people' and not just a time for family festivity alone!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Foster Christmas get-together

  

We came together as a foster family of students and interns yesterday- this is the second Christmas season since we have got a foster family to be involved with! We welcomed three new students into our group yesterday! 

Th highlight of the time was recollecting the experiences of 2017, recollecting the meaning of Christmas and wishing  Kirthana who is preparing to get engaged shortly!

Every time we meet as an extended family in the college campus, Anna and ai feel encouraged by this privilege of being surrounded by student friends who care and and encourage...

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

An intruder or a guest!

Anna nad I have a discussion whether this cat who waits at the gate for us to leave for work to get into the garden and the backyard of the house is an intruder or a guest! In fact there are three of them, the two recently born kittens. Sometimes she sneaks into the house when the windows or doors are open. Dulcey chases her out when she does this! A cat protects us from rodents who sneaks into the house form the roof! The interesting thing is that the cat has a guilty look when we stare at her! This makes us feel considerate towards her. Our domestic helpers are even more kind.. they feed her during the day! So we have dogs, cats, birds, fish, tortoises...in our home now! They are co-celbrants with us at this season of Christmas! 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

New and old!

In the mango sapling in our garden, this is a regular sight. There are tow generations of leaves- the new and old! by the time the new returns to be fully green another new set of leaves woeful appear. This is a sign of growth.

The young and the older people form a family. The older ones carry experience and insights. The younger ones carry enthusiasm and creativity! Together they contribute to the fullness in the family!  

During a discussion, I sensed that the teenage boy is keen to pursue humanities for his advanced learning, while parents were hoping to study engineering! during a conversation, I realised that this boy is socially conscious and was actively involved in many advocacy issue in his school and is a good organiser, communicator, thinker and is artistically oriented. He is already explicit in his abilities and skills. He stands apart in is interests and orientation form those of his parents who are technical professionals. 

We need to create a meeting point between the young and the older people! I an not sure whether it happens in our families, institutions, and even in our society. 

I recently watched a TV conversation between Mr Amrinder Singh, the chief minister of Punjab who is in his seventies and Mr Sachin Pilot who is in his late thirties. They covered a range of topics in their conversation. I was amazed how they viewed matters convergantly! It was a good lesson of togetherness for a mission- both dreamt of a better India for the disadvantaged who live in the margins of society! Our vision and mission unite us!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

The struggle to score!

During a recent football match, this struggle at the goal post was rather intense. The goal keeper had jumped for the ball, but it was too high for him to catch. The ball rolled by itself to the goal post in the scramble.  The defenders did their best to stop this goal! The game became even more competitive after this! 

There are times, when things slip out of our hands inspite of best efforts. Yesterday, a family who narrated their story confessed that they are no more able to help their son pay attention to his learning in the class. He recently hit another child in the class without any provocation, steals money from home to buy chocolates, watches sports in the TV at night when others are asleep, abstains from class on and off...he is into sports, athletics and plays some games well!

As far as parents were concerned they created the optimum environment at home!

There is a chance occurrence of some events in our lives that we cannot avoid! 

How do we face such events and move on in life is the decisive issue!

We might not be able to undo some things... so the family decided to enrol him into coaching for his favourite games... 

There is another way forward when we do not receive what we long for!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Three days apart!

During A morning walk, I noticed this grafted mango sapling drooping! The soil was wet, yet I poured some water and it came back to its normal appearance on the third day! It is still not thriving!

There are times, we can feel emotionally low, dry, or depleted...I know it form my own experience! Such times are critical times in life, when we ought to pay attention to our needs and upbuild ourselves!

There is a tendency to ignore the need for restoration and continue as if all is well in the strength of our resilience. We might not be able to go on for too long!

I find it useful to take time to attend to grow in wellness. Our inner strength is our resource. Reading, reflecting, sharing with someone of the personal experiences, writing the thoughts down, etc are good starters to renew strength!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Breaking the suspense!

Almost every photographer checks the photo soon after clicking. It is a habit fo the photographers. 

I remember chatting with this photographer about it. His response was that ' one is never sure of the picture quality because many things interfere with the quality of the photo'! He is a photographer for over fifteen years and appeared highly skilled. And yet he keeps a close watch on his skill!

There are too many variables that affect relationships with others. Most of us do not get everything right when we real to people. Friendships are subject to stresses and stains. 

A friend with whom I am in touch with on phone shared with me an experience. He takes time to reflect on his relationships with others regularly. He believes in keeping short accounts with others. He is in the habit of being the first one to apologise, congratulate, appreciate....He mentioned that it helped him to stay open with friends and developing some close friendships!

Those of us who have opinions and thoughts ought to be even more careful how we share them with others lest we unsettle others with our imposing opinions! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)    

Quiet presence and communicating presence!

The mango tree in the ELC compound has flowered! This is a welcome sight!

In fact we notice the mango tree when it flowers. Otherwise it goes unnoticed along with other trees. It is  flowers or fruits which make us take note of a tree or a plant!

When I saw a few students clean the corridor after a party, I paused to watch them do with attention!

There is a place for quiet presence and communicating presence! Both are needed!

The communicating presence brings us closer to others!

I sent greetings last week to some  friends with whom I was not in touch for a while! It brought immediate response of appreciation! 

What we do to stay connected with others is the soul of neighbour friendly attitude!  When we communicate we send of a message of mindfulness and awaken others to grow in mindfulness!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Still and silent !

I stayed to join in, in  this stillness and silence! Such occasions take us into special experience of going beyond our usual perception of ourselves!  There is a mystery- a flower receives a moth and offers its petals as a resting place!

We are humans with the potential to make others feel restful in our presence! To stay open for others is a calling!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Little being!

I almost missed this beautiful sight in the garden during my walk, till I came close to the plants, which gave me something to think about during the rest of my walk!

So much happens within us and around us, which can normally go unnoticed. 

The little things matter!

Yesterday, a family who came with their twins, had a story of distress written on their face. As my colleague spent time with them, their biography burnt our hearts with regret and sadness! Out of which came a resolve by the whole team to confess that we want to be even more sensitive to see, hear, and discern.

People come and go and we can be casual! 

It is when we bring our attention to our presence, we we see, hear and feel which we would have missed otherwise!

To be present with attention would mean that we live transcending our preoccupations and personal pursuits!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Truce and peace!

Following two months of intense canvassing for the elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, with the elections results announced yesterday, I hope there would be some semblance of cordiality between opposing parties. 

I sometimes wonder whether the desperation to dominate the election politics creates hostility that becomes intolerance and hatred!

The political leaders advocate it and the visual media play upto it. The soberness required in discourse and dialogue is being lost! 

I watched these two rose flowers in our portico gently swaying in the breeze and telling me, 'this is Christmas time and it is a season of peace'. When the carol singers in North India were physically assaulted and their car burnt, one of them hurt in the assault said, 'we bring peace.. even when we are hurt'! 

There is no substitute for peace, mutual regard, compassion, kindness, service...! It is the only calling worth pursuing, no matter what is the context or setting!

To me it is a challenge because I too am impulsive ! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A Vigilant solitary bird!

I watched this bird, for about twenty minutes in a field! It was the only bird in the area! It responded to various sounds by the different body postures or movement in its body language. The egret is coping with the external threat and the fear it creates.

Lonely birds are under greater stress from what I hear from bird watchers! They are often left behind by their flock because it is not being able to cope with the flight pace of others!

Is it not true also of some people ! Some of us can land up being lonely without trustful friendships! 

If any one of us is in such  situation, the hope is that, 'He who watches over us neither sleeps  or slumbers..' according to the confession of the psalmist in the book of psalms in the Bible! 

When we feel lonely, it is important to turn inward to feel affirmed by God's presence in our lives!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The Manger Scenes !

A student invited me to watch the the manger scene they created as part of their class activity. Each class did this. What was common to all the four manger scenes was the snowy flavour to the scene! I liked the way the sky was captured artistically! The lights using cups as shades added to the aesthetic sense! 

As I later visited the other three manger scenes, I felt that it symbolises the inner manger in human hearts for the incarnation of Jesus during this season!

I go through this Christmas season amidst some challenges of  broken relationships on account of the different  way I view certain matters  from those of others!

So I have a journey to make for bringing peace in to relationships! Friendships are too precious to be lost in a fog of misunderstanding! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Christmas with children!

The season of Christmas has arrived at the MOSC Medical College. The children who come to the Early Learning Centre too had their share of joyful celebrations on last Thursday!

It is a small group of seven children, but it is a group of friends. As I sat through the celebrations, I sensed the fellowship between mothers who were present on the occasion.

I feel overwhelmed by the efforts my colleagues take to create an ambience of joy and fellowship each day!

I felt privileged to have had this opportunity to welcome children and make a difference for them in their developmental journey!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

The season of Lillies!

As we watched the first Lilly to bloom towards the evening today, I was surprised by a special hue of colour the dusk brings to the flowers different from how it appeared in the morning !

The flowers bring different experiences to to different people. For me the flowers are fresh, fragile and fragrant!

The flowers with their different meanings bring hope, to say the least!

During the summer the surface of the ground has no semblance of any lily plant. The bulbs remain submerged under the earth. With the first monsoon rain, the shoots and leaves sprout and stay like that almost till winter time when the flowers appear. 

We wait for nine months to have some flowers for three months! 

This to me is symbolic for humans! We are called to bear fruits to use a Biblical metaphor! Jesus of Nazareth during one of his pilgrim walks looked for fruits in a tree and he did not find any! But there is a  message here- we bear fruits only at the appointed time! We grow during the rest of the time to become ready to bear fruits!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Foggy 8 am on 15 December 2017

This is the road Anna and I normally take for going to the hospital where we work. On the morning of 15th December, I noticed that fog had descended on to our village and all along the way till the main road! It is unusual to have such a fog at 8 am in the morning! 

Nature reflects human behaviour! The particulate matter in the air is result of different events humans are responsible for in nature! 

When Delhi suffered one of its worst foggy scenes where the particulate matter in the air had reached alarming proportion, one comment I saw in a national daily, which  held my attention was: 'human behaviour has changed, and nature reacts to it in its own ways..'

There is a lot of active advocacy to 'save the planet earth' by the environmentalists! I wish there is a wider participation to reduce the burden we impose on our environment'. 

A school  gathers the organic waste from the  homes of children  to make it into a compost for the school garden!  

There is something each of us can do to take care of our environment!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Immanuel Cathedral, Ernakulum

It was a delight to be at the church service this morning for various reasons. Anna and i were going for the service after a break of several weeks.

The church was aesthetically and appropriately decorated for the  Christmas season! The non-imposing decorations, mostly of coloured lights and stars stand out! Everything seemed to fit in well with the 'minimal' decorations with which alone, we can reasonably recall the birth of Jesus in a lowly manger !

The decorations represent the worshipful spirit, and therefore are not significant by themselves! The decorations can become a distraction. 

So we were pleased to see this decoration adding to the spirit of the festive season, yet subdued to keep the focus on Jesus, who was born in the Bethlehem manger!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Listening gestures!

One listening gesture that I noticed in this conversation is  the gentle, smiling, open and interested facial gesture, focussing on the face of the speaking person! The body gesture too was complementing the facial gesture. I watched this over five minutes through the lens of my camera. This gentleman was present fully to the speaking person from what I can make out!

This capturing sight stayed with me for a while and made me consider the different gestures I communicate while listening. Although listening is part of my clinical work I became aware of the disapprovals, disinterest or drifting attention I convey while listening. 

A speaking person is seeking for a listener who can enter in to his or her world of thoughts and needs!

In that sense listening is a gift we can offer to others!

This exercise of listening includes, hearing, understanding, discerning and accompanying! At the end of  listening to a person, what we can offer is to accompany that person in our thoughts and prayer!

 M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Flowers too have their time!

I have been watching these flowers grow for the last six weeks and it is still a long time to go before they bloom fully!

I used these picture and few others of the same bunch of flowers to console a family who wondered why their tree year old son is still not taking responsibilities to get ready to school on time! The parents are getting distraught by the rush and pressure each day they face to get him ready for the school bus. 

There was a sobering silence and quietened tone in their conversation after watching these flowers.

There is an appointed time for everything. The writer to the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament  of the Bible, (3:2-8) mentions of this in a vivid way.

It is during watching these flowers, I too have become more aware fo the spirit of impatience that capsizes me sometimes!  

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

The fellowship before and after a match!

I like watching the meeting between the teams before the and after a match. They greet and wish each other. It is a tradition which sometimes is down casually, but couple of players helped me to that is is more than just a ritual. It is a way of bonding before and after a match.

In the field they can play a match only if there is another team. So it is an invitation to play to honour the game of football. Amidst the competition to win, they still need each other to play. They therefore affirm each other before the match and thank each other after the match for being partners to play!

There can be stressful situations between individual players of the opposite teams, but at the end when they greet each other, there is a message that 'we are footballers, for the game of the football'.

I was glad to have had occasions to talk to the referee, coaches and players during these matches which gave me an insight about the philosophy of the game and and how it is played with gestures of fellowship! Those who play and those who watch share  a common interest- sports is an activity towards human formation by by companions! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The huddle !

Both teams have had their huddle before the match! 

An huddle is a process of feeling connected and affirmed just before a match. There is a pep talk and a final update on the strategy. Often there is a period of silence and bowing together to pray to keep the spirit of sportsmanship during the game! The coach who explained  this process to me helped me a lot to understand how such an exercise is valuable during a stressful period just before a game. The desire is to win the match. But he said, the commitment to the spirit of sportsmanship is supreme. Every match is  a demonstration of the good things of a game that spectators would love to watch and more would feel inspired to learn the game to play. 

Every match is therefore is glorifying the game!

Humans lean a lot form each other when they play in stressful situations and yet with utmost regards to each other. While the teams play to win, they play primarily because they like the game!

So a game is a slow to strengthen ties and relationships. We grow from the help and encouragement we receive from each other!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Warming up!

During the recently concluded inter-zonal football matches of the Kerala Health University, I found two teams warming up for the matches in an earnest way.

I was chatting with the coach of the one of the teams enquiring about the warm up. He said it is a physical and emotional preparation which conditions the players for the field. Although they practice a lot this warm up is important for the final play. It is a short time of priming for the play as a team. 

What I observed is that the caption or the designated person leads the exercises. 

It is an impressive occasion when they practice in tandem and co-ordination! 

For all team efforts this collaboration is foundational. Yesterday, a colleague mentioned to me that 'we are a small group but we do a lot because we can function well as a team'! 

A student mentioned to me yesterday that the majority in the class decides about the class activities! The team spirit is collaboration and not the majority superseding others!

M.C.Mathew