Play reveals a lot!

There are many things, I watch when children are at play!

When children below three years play with the peg board in the consultation room, I watch keenly how they use both hands for the play! The position of the opposite hand and foot is also something to watch for!

Every time when I watch a toddler use the left hand by preference, I enquire if any member in the family is left handed. If there is none, I take an extra effort to find out if the child uses the left hand because of pathology on the right side of the body or whether he is naturally left handed!

Most parents insist that children ought to use the right hand for the daily living activities. A naturally left handed child is terribly disadvantage by this insistence as the child would have to struggle with the dominance of the cerebral hemispheres. In majority of the situations the dominant cerebral hemisphere is the opposite to the side of handedness. Imagine the physiological challenge the child has, if he has to change to using the right hand because of insistence of teachers and parents, when actually his dominant cerebral hemisphere has predetermined him to be a left handed!

One of the causes of some children having a poor start with writing or struggle along in writing is because of the enforced change from natural left handedness!

What the body has designed to do is the best!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Shades of Pink!

The flowers from the same plant, when photographed from two different angles with different light conditions! There is an appearance of  difference! 

This set me thinking. The same flowers appear different slightly! The flower has not changed, but its appearance to the beholding eye has changed!

As I occasionally watch the TV debates on contemporary issues, the opposing arguments which sometimes become hostile, are only different perceptions each carrying some truth!

Yesterday, one domestic helper commented that it might rain during the day; while the other felt that there is sign of sunshine in the sky! But what happened was that there were couple of showers with sunshine in between! 

Ours is becoming an argumentative society without sound reason... what w need at difficult times such as it is now, is a collaborating tone in our voice and intent!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The hidden cottage!

The view of the cottage where Anna and I live is restricted by the greenery around it. We like it this way. The palms and other plants have grown well in the last five years that it gives us a good feeling of  staying in an environment which fosters healthy ambience. 

We have at least fifteen species of birds, and squirrels, reptiles, butterflies, and sometimes migratory birds in the garden. We are still waiting for some birds to nest in the foliage!

One of the special experiences is the quietness the premise offers us. The bird songs alone are the audible sounds we hear during the day and night!

We complete five years in this cottage this month and we feel grateful for all that my parents did to make this place wha it is! We are blessed by their labour of love! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

  

A growing tree!

VP and Nirmala planted this custard apple sapling in 2013 when they visited us first time. During their recent visit the tree appeared taller than themselves. We had a few fruits from it for two years now in a row.

It has been our custom to request visitors who come to our cottage to plant saplings in the garden. So we have an opportunity of keeping their memories when we walk through the garden! In fact few have come back to greet us and watch the sapling grow!

Humans thrive on symbols and signs!

Watch a sapling grow into a tree, is a transforming experience because, it symbolises the inner growth, all of us are called to be aware of and stay attuned to!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Remembering Annam on her wedding day!

Annam, we think of you on your wedding day and send you our greetings and good wishes for a joyful wedding service and years of blessed family life! We have plenty of memories of you that we keep returning to!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The gardener's relief!

Our gardener, Sasi was waiting for a mechanised grass cutter for use in the lawn... VP and Nirmala brought the one they were using, which was a relief and delight to Sasi.

I wish, I had attended to this earlier, without making him wait for this!

A lesson about being aware of the unspoken needs of others!

Ever since he started using this, Sasi is happier and the lawn is better kept!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Nearing the fifth anniversary of Dev Paed and child Neurology!!

It is the season of looking foreword to the fifth anniversary of the department in September, 2017. Let me share some photo memories of our journey from 2012. 

Friends in batch of 2010

Dear friends, wherever you might be Anna and I remember you and want to send you our special appreciation for all that you contributed to the life of the developmental Paediatrics and child aNeurology department in 2013. You were an encouragement to us when we we were preparing for our first anniversary. Thank you and have a good experience of practice of medicine! We have many pleasant memories of you!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

In appreciation of friends and researchers of batch of 2012

Dear friends, Anna and I want to tell you that it was a pleasure getting to know you and thank you for your efforts to stay in touch. Let this year of internship be a year of learning and growing!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

In appreciation of friends and researchers of batch of 2011

Anna and I share want to express our gratitude for y9our friendship and wish you God's presence and blessings as you move on to another phase of your lives!

M.C Mathew(text and photo)

Flowering plants are bare now!

Most of our shrubs which ought to be full of flowers post monsoon are now home for scores of larvae. 

We sprayed some plants to protect them from a similar end, but of no use! 

They have adapted to cope!

Our gardener says, the plants would revive. But my concern is that it happens twice a year!

A visitor who came to visit us two weeks back, spotted some colourful butterflies which according to him are commonly seen in the western ghats. He is a nature enthusiast! 

It is difficult to view them as pests... we console ourselves by saying that they are butterflies in formation!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

An awakened group!

While Anna and I were driving out one evening last week we saw a group of students working on this stretch of land to convert this into a garden. They are active in the Social service club of the MOSC Medical College.

When we stopped to chat with them, they invited us to join them which we did for  a short while.

This enthusiasm to improve the environment is  spontaneous. They recently planted several saplings on the campus and encouraged other colleges in the town to do the same.   

One of them questioned me when we trimmed trees in the garden of the Early Learning Centre. How refreshing it was to hear such a plea to preserve the environment by respecting trees and planting new ones!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

My Mood while strolling in the garden!

Wherever I looked on that day, when I was waling in the garden, I saw yellow flowers. Not that here were no other flowers with different colours! I happened to notice the yellow ones!

It was conditioned by me perception! When I became aware of the filter of my mind at that time, I repositioned my sight. Lo and behold there were other flowers with different colours.

Tis happened at the end of a day after a difficult meeting! The meeting ended stressfully as a few insisted on others to buy in to their perception!

We are subject to our mood, attitude, and state of alertness!

When we are sure and insist on our view point to be the only truth, we are likely to be at risk of missing the whole truth!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Tree with only two fruits!

Most of the visitors who walk through our garden commented about this tree with only two fruits as 'poor yield'. Anna and I often thought of this as yield of 'thirty fold' as mentioned by Jesus of Nazareth in one of His parables. 

However, we have recently reflected on:'what makes a thirty fold yield to become hundred fold'!

Even this longing for hundred fold arises from the aspirational culture of modern times!

We live and work under the pressure of outstanding fruitfulness! 

While it is a desirable to work for a good outcome, the pressure to perform becomes a burden and denies the joy of working.  

A teacher told me yesterday that his extra time is taken up by students who need more attention. To him, he is in the profession of teaching to help such students.  He is motivated by the challenge to make learning easy for those who are academically weak!

Fruits are important, the tree is even more important! That is why Jesus accepted the proposal of the gardener to tend the tree even more and cut it down only if it does not bear fruit  the next year. 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

V.P. and Nirmala

Drs. Varghese Philip and Nirmala Philip left recently to live and work in PNG with Missionary Aviation Fellowship. They are pioneers who facilitated the starting of the Asha Kiran Hospital, which is now a place of considerable significance in rural health care. 

Since then, they were involved in other initiatives and made a difference through who they are and what they did. 

Now they move on to live and relate to communities who need aviation service for transport to help them with their daily needs!

It is a big mid-life transition for them. At a farewell meeting VP mentioned that they are going to a place where they already feel at home. Their lives have had a instinctual dimension of being pioneers!

Pioneers are those who transcend transition challenges and tell through their lives the stories of an inner calling!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Smartphone in daily life!

I still do not know whether a smartphone ought to capture its space in every arena of our lives!

Only one person seems to use a text from a paper while singing! So the acceptance of the role of smartphone is almost hundred percent!

Parents mention to me that even a six month old baby would stay quiet when given a smartphone displaying an animation. This certainly is not good for an infant who ought to have exposure to social situations and human voices  to develop the social and language milestones!

Yesterday, three families with their toddlers visited us for help to develop the language skills of their children. All three of them had begun from about six months occupying themselves with watching TV or smartphone or I-pad. 

The formation of inner lectionary in an infant is through words spoken through human voices whom a chid can see and relate socially and emotionally to the person speaking!

No animation can substitute social and emotional development!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

August, 2013

I decided to revisit the history of developmental paediatrics and child neurology department on the independence day. These two pictures taken at the time of the first anniversary meeting of the department in August 2013, bring many fulfilling memories. 

As we would celebrate the fifth anniversary shortly, what moves me is the the legacy left behind by the coming together of some professionals! 

A family told me yesterday of our department that, it is a place 'we come to find hope for our children'! He choked when he said this. 

I hope we can respond to this felt need in genuine ways,where people would feel unburdened and renewed after a visit to the department!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Preparing greeting cards!

This was the scene when personal greetings were prepared for the foster family members who were given farewell.

What fascinated me while watching this was the attention and diligence with which each item was made and put together. There was plenty of personal attention!

How encouraging it was to see careful attention and loving thoughts behind this!

What we do is important, but how we do is even more important. We can turn what we do as gift of our regardful thoughts!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Design of life!

As I watched the pieces of this puzzle being put together and made to stand on its base, my thoughts dwelt on the design it created. The pieces resting on each other and staying balanced was possible because someone carefully crafted this design patiently and purposefully. 

Our lives are an evolving design of colour and richness. God is at work in our lives and it is given to us to bring together the pieces through the choices we make.  

A five year old child told me recently that every time he is made to sit and colour, he realised that he was creating something out of his handiwork!

So we create the design of our lives through the multitude of small experiences in our daily living!

Our life is a mosaic and let us take delight in it!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Another foster family get-together!

This occasion of meeting with the foster family to say farewell to the five seated in the front was a special occasion. They having finished their internship are leaving the hospital shortly!

It is now a year since we started to meet and Anna and I feel touched by the friendships that have  developed through this. 

Our life in the college is meaningful because of such personal connections we have found ! We feel grateful that these young friends make us feel young and we feel at home in their company! They contribute to make us stay relational. Thank you friends! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Another wedding !

Another wedding time in the department! Honey took leave of the department in preparation for her wedding!

Every time we loose a member from our team in the department we feel unsettled! There is a vacuum each person creates with her departure!

I think friendships create a belonging in the department!

I look forward to going to work each day because, I have sense of belonging!I think it is true for the rest in the team!

I have now experienced that work brings us together; works makes us feel connected...!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The altar window!

Do uring the short time I was in the church, I returned to this window several times placed above the altar. I found an integration of the Biblical symbols that touched me.

Any symbol is more than a piece of art. There is a deeper meaning than what appears on the surface. The vine, light, praying hands and the cross are teternal symbols to those on a faith journey!

The symbols are both external and internal. 

When they figure in our imagination and comprehension, the symbols move to the depth of our being and create movements of gratitude, devotion, belonging , mission, etc!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

   

A surprise meeting !

It was a pleasant surprise to meet Dr. Elsie Philip and her sister recently at a wedding! I got to know her during my association with the CMAI, when she was the president. A paediatrician by profession,  is a caring and devout person who leaves behind lasting impressions about her faith and mission in life, when she shares her life experiences. I found her as a story teller from her life and journey experiences which moves our hearts. Anna and I were touched by her sense of wellness and cheerful spirit! She communicated peace and contentment. It was moment of inspiration and encouragement!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The two cars...

The bride and the groom come in separate cars to the church for the wedding service and they return in one car after the service. 

This is one of the several symbols associated with the truth that the bride and groom begin their journey to become 'One' from the very time they are married. 

Becoming 'One' is the calling in marriage and is a life long experience! However the several symbols associated with a wedding service help in highlighting this central mission in marriage!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A logo !

I have noticed this logo in a few places as the motto of some organisations. Recently when I noticed it again, I was fascinated with the symbols used in the logo. The wheel on the cross spoke to me about the journey it symbolises to share the light! 

Each of the spokes within the wheel is perhaps the stations in this journey! 

There is an inner and outer journey in this mission. The inner journey is where it all begins, when a person feels the call to be a 'light'! Where and how he or she ought to be a light is an outworking of that inner movement. 

Most of us can recall an experience or an event, which led us to this calla and consciousness of  being a 'light'!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A final word..!

Anna was delighted when the students who were granted short studentship awards from the ICMR received their certificates form the director general of ICMR Dr. Soumya Swaminathan at the graduation function. It was a special occasion for the students. We have had a refreshing experience of being in touch with students and discover their interest and enthusiasm in developing a research orientation! They have surprised us with what they have achieved and how they have grown in their critical thinking!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Five years ...

Thomas, whom Anna and I got to know from the first year we joined the MOSC Medical college, through the different projects he was involved in ,graduated the other day! Thomas reached out to us in different ways and was a link for us to get to know more students in his batch and other batches. Thomas organised the first Badminton tournament the department of Developmental Paediatrics and Child Neurology sponsored during the Christmas season. He was one among the four who spent a month in clinical residency in the department in between the final examination and internship. Thank you Thomas for welcoming us to the student community! Thomas and three other friends surprised us recently by visiting us at home unannounced one evening! They came at a time we were ready for a surprise and needed an encouragement!

As we come to the close of five years next month at MOSC, we have many memories of unhurried interactive times. They provided us a window into the thought world of students at MOSC ! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A bachelor among married couples!

Anna and I were able to attend the wedding eve function when Praveen was among his class mates most of whom were married. It was a delight to watch him being 'prepared' for the wedding day!

It was a pleasure to watch the lasting fraternal bonding that years spent together as class mates bring to such occasion! There was an emotional togetherness that was spontaneous.

What is special for the students who get trained at CMC Vellore is this feeling of 'belonging', which is unique and inviting!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)