Art in Light !

Some of us are gifted to think and view artistically. I have only little of that ability.

A friend drew my attention to this chandler in the centre of a hall where we had gathered for a social evening. He pointed out each design which was carefully chosen to make the artistic creation according to him exquisite.

This would have ordinarily escaped my attention. 

It brought to my attention how reduced is my vision and sight. I miss a visual feast because I have not got used to observing and feeling the richness in every ambience!

Our experiences of life are diverse... we spend time thinking and planning. This incident invited me to cultivate my attention to behold, take in and stay in an attitude of wonder and admiration.

Such moments can give us inner cleansing of fear, anger, stress.... there is so much of goodness around us, how much ever violent or aggressive or deceitful is human mind and behaviour!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

'Music in my soul'

This musician entertained the guests at a wedding reception in an unusual way with his love songs and folk songs aptly chosen for the occasion. He sang to bring cheer and love in our midst.

During a brief conversation, when I asked him about his inspiration for being a singer, he said,'music is in my soul'.

This was evident because he did not just sing to entertain or exhibit his musical skills, but he sang to touch others with the melody and message!

His musical performance in that sense was a mission to bring home to the guests the purpose  and blessedness of marriage.

He did not perform because he was paid to do so, but to connect with guests with soulful of music

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Ant searching for honey!

It is common during the monsoon for the ants to turn to honey for their food. They adapt to their needs!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Lotus in sunken garden!

During my recent visit to CMC Vellore, I was delighted to see lotus flowers in the sunken garden. These flowers add a refreshing look to the garden.

The college chapel faces the garden. This garden was a place of considerable significance in the past where important events were held. The procession of the jasmine chain started here in the past preceding the graduation ceremony. 

The gardener told me that this particular flower is special because of its unusual colour!

Every time I return from a visit to CMC Vellore, I have something more to treasure!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Hands are not good enough!

I have a habit of watching professionals photographers use different gadgets!

One of the recent sights which surprises me is the different forms of hand support the photographers use to reduce the handshake while shooting.

The standard in photography now a days is so high that most photographers prefer shooting by making camera steady! 

Most photographers are young. Even then they do not trust their hands to steady the camera.

While talking to a senior photographer, he told me that he would not drink even coffee to reduce tremors in his hands. He talked about photography as an art... but he thinks that the younger photographers are trained to look at it as a profession and career with success as the motive!

I shoot much less than I used to five years back. When I take photographs, I too face the challenge of handshake. However, it is a skill to take still photographs with steady hands. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The beginnings

It is a delight to watch a child learn to walk!

What gives confidence to the child is the outstretched hands of the father.

This took steps slowly but steadily while the father kept walking backward.

This is the usual way most children start their walking expedition !

This is symbolic of what happens through out life. We walk with our faltering steps through different experiences of life. What is real and constant is the outstretched hands of God waiting to guide and lead us.

It is into His hands we shall safely fall when we falter and loose trust! Where we fix the gaze matters! It was when Peter got distracted from his gaze on Jesus and turned to the turbulent waters around him, Peter could no longer walk water!

We walk towards God from the time we are born in to this world! He watches over us! Our falls are the means for our learning to trust even more!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Flowers and Honey Bee!

This morning sight in our garden makes tells us of the rhythm in nature.

The butter cups are open for about three hours in the morning. It is during that short time the honey bees come.

The Honey bees know the flowers! They find their source for their daily needs. They are provided for!

I keep thinking about the prayer of Jesus, that He taught the disciples to pray, 'Give us this day our daily bred..'

As I get up every day, I am privileged to enter into experiencing the fullness of this provision! There is abundance of this provision!

There are many who still do not live in the consciousness and reality of this provision! So daily living is an opportunity to bring this awareness into the lives of others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)






  

Staying strength!

I watched this water drop move from the tip of a bamboo leaf to where it is now on one mromngi when it was drizzling!

During this movement, there was a risk of losing its hold and falling away!

But as long as it stayed on the leaf, it did so against the influence of the force go gravity!

The water drop reminded me the fragile circumstances in which some of us live!

There are several forces which disrupt and threaten us in our daily living. They can destabilise and unsettle us.

However, there is a inner staying strength we are blessed with!

Yesterday in a meeting I heard one person say, I make my work a joyful experience for me to be able to attend to all the other demands at home!

It is what I want to refer as 'staying strength'!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Sense of Presence!

On a cloudy morning,  when the sun was in hiding except for short in between times, I watched this Magpie Robin sitting on the roof of our cottage. Every time there was a bird call or when our dogs barked, it responded bodily and alertly! 

This happened on a day after I returned after an intense engagement in  a situation which consumed my energy and attention! There was physical and emotional weariness!

So this sight was refreshing!

The way to live is by being connected with ones own situation but by being inwardly alert and quiet!

Our situations would stay outside of us only as much as we create an inner ambience of the call of life. The call of life is to 'live fully'!

I resisted the photographs after a telephone call when I felt dragged by what I heard! I felt enthused  by the sight of the bird being responsive but not being carried away into a preoccupation!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Mirrorless camera telephoto lenses!

I have been experimenting with mirrorless camera lenses recently. I feel good with the outcome of the regular lenses particularly for indoor and portrait photographs. 

I am not sure whether the quality is anywhere near to what we can find with regular SLR telephoto lenses, when we shoot outdoor. With a 200 mm lens, this is the best I could produce without a tripod!

I sense from what I hear that mirrorless SLR cameras would replace the regular SLR in the next few years for amateur photography because the cameras and lenses are lighter and smaller.

What is fascinating to me is that the mirrorless cameras are the fifth generation innovation in camera and its outfits in the last thirty years since I got interested in photography! 

Each innovation is replaced by another upgrade of technology. 

Most things remain transient and our culture is entered around the philosophy of short time experiences.  

In a discussion with some students yesterday, one of them told me that there are more people with broken marriages, who come to hospital with psychosomatic illnesses!

That mad eye thinking....!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The young and and the youngest!

The occasion of this photograph is a birthday party.

The young people in this photograph look  cheerful and radiant. The two children do not look the same!

This stayed with me as a contrast. What appears cheerful or delightful might not be the same for others. 

For most part of the party, there was an effort to involve the children for something they can remember from that evening.

This is a challenge for all of us! How do we transcend our horizon of need, pleasure or expectation!

Yesterday, while waiting at the self service coffee bar, I noticed that an elderly person  was asked to sit at the table by the cashier and he was served at the table!

I wish we would get used to creating a space and mindfulness for others whenever possible!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Learning during two months !

I return to sharing my reflections after a gap of two months! Some have telephoned me to enquire of my wellness during this time!

Yes, it was a time of some unsettlement, from which I am just recovering!

Every time I watch the fruits of different types in our garden, I am reminded how there is a rhythm in the plant life! 

What anchors our lives amidst adverse circumstances is the rhythm of life that we are called to celebrate. 

Even the disturbing experiences are truly life-experiences. 

I was able to re-read the book during this period, Monastery without walls by John Main a Benedictine Monk, who introduces the theme- Experientia magistra. For him, 'experience is the teacher'.

There were three first time experiences during the last two months. When one is in the sixth decade of life and there are first time major life events, what one can do is to wait beholding the mystery, for it to unfold their meaning!

I am glad that I was enabled to wait patiently.... I find a renewal of mission in my calling from what has happened!

Life is an experience in transition and formation!

M.C.Mathew

(text and photo)