A rose bud is home for new life!

At least three generations of an insect family in the rose bud! The bud is less likely to blossom normally!

Is it a bud wastage, or giving in to be altruistic!

It is a dialogue that has commenced in my mind in the last three months since I found several buds eaten away like this by the insects!

A forcible denial of self for others! Is it like a thief who comes in the night to steal!

Or is it a way nature keeps its ecological balance for which the flora and fauna consent!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Changing style!

A photographer in training made a comment to me a few days back about digital photography. 

His suggestion was that since the digital photography was popular for the last fifteen years, the photographic skills do not matter a lot as the advanced camera properties and editing software can compensate for the photographer's lapses!

That made me think about tit! It is now thirty years since I started using camera. I have no mind for the physics of light, modifying camera settings according to the light conditions, or viewing the sight to be photographed with a technical mind. Mom too shooting is in the automatic mode. So I have had more out of focus pictures than usable ones on many occasions!

Th conversation went on to him share his self auditing process in photography! Do you dare shoot just one picture or resorting to take several to choose the best!

He told me me that his ambition was to take least number of shots, because options make him less intense on his pursuit to excel! What if there was only one shot possible, as in some cases the scene might suddenly change. 

He is training to be a bird photographer. He told me that he might have only a few seconds to sight and shoot a bird before it flew away!

So he said, take photographs thinking that just one shot alone might be possible!

Only one chance!

It came home in a moving way... we have only one lifetime in this sojourn! How we live, relate and serve are seminal questions!

Does every encounter with others leave the best in us for others to treasure!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Do Birds yawn!

I noticed this bird open its beaks wide but with no sound! Either the bird was aphonic or yawning! Seeing the bird stretch its body, I wonder whether the latter was more likely!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

A flower is for others !

I have watched the three buds for over a week now! One has blossomed and the other two would also open soon!

It is the flower which reveals the potential of the buds and what they shall become!

The flower makes a self disclosure on behalf of all the buds in the plant!

In a week from now, there would be the ceremonial washing of the feet in many churches on the Maundy Thursday, remembering Jesus of Nazareth who washed the feet of His followers during the last supper! Jesus revealed His attitude and attention in that act of ceremonial washing!

His was an attitude of service and attention of thoughtfulness!

Who we are, is being communicated through our self disclosures of attitude and behaviour! Each of our actions or reactions constitute the self disclosure. I felt that I was not kind enough to my colleagues yesterday, as I reflected over my conversation with them in the morning! 

Stay in touch with what we think, do, and communicate! It shall bring healing to ourselves and others! A flower is for others! Make the self disclosure of service and thoughtfulness in our conversations and relationships!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Togerthenss...!

What inspires me each morning when I visit the rose bushes is the arrangements of the flowers and the buds in the pants! They are often in multiples. Each is accompanied by the other!

This is the way we too are called to live- accompanying each other!

It is a journey of learning for all of us, to transcend our space to share that with others! There is a language of 'me, myself and mine' dominant in our society! 

Anna and I stood before the washing basin, while at least five others thoughtlessly came from the back and washed their hands and moved on with no regret whatsoever.! This 'pushing' oneself ahead of others is drag on the spirit of accompanying, where others matter as much as ourselves or even more!

In the profession of medicine it is a vocation to serve others! Yesterday, I heard some residents mention, how 'thinking of others' is much less practiced!

I wish, we live connected and related!

MC.Mathew(text and photo) 

Foster family, 21March, 2018

Thank you FOSTER FAMILY for your regards, friendships and encouragements. Anna and I send you this flower and buds from our garden in appreciation fo all that you mean to us. Sorry we missed some at his get together. Some who came late are missing in this photo! But all of you are in our thoughts and remain in our hearts! The joyful memories stay with us till we meet again! You make us long for more fellowship times with all of you!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Memories!

We live with our memories! The rose garden has many stalks of old flowers! After the stalk is dry we prune the stem to have fresh sprouts!

It is good to revisit our memories and refresh the memories, with a question, 'What is that I want to remember !

I struggle with this a lot!

There is a place for difficult experiences in our memory because they might have been formative and redemptive! But if we flood our thoughts with such memories alone, we are likely to keep our perspectives grey!

Make a habit of regular audit of memories of our past, relationships, events and experiences...In doing so, we can declutter our memories and arrange our interior with what is, 'good, upbuilding and gracious..'! 

The new bud in the picture springs from the stem that  bore  flowers earlier. A new life would emerge when we prune and tame our memories.

There is a new life that is longing to emerge, if only we can let go of our memories which make us prisoners of the past and restrict the fullness of life we cherish. Let us welcome the new, which  can be full of hope, cheer and insights!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

A tubular vision!

It is good to do a audit of how we view ourselves, others and our circumstances if possible at least once a week!

It is easy to get carried away by what we want to see and allow everything else to stay blurred! That is an unfortunate state of orientation!

Choose to see the details of life with an open perspective, where everything within ourselves and around us stay visible to our perception! The whole is larger than where we tend to focus!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

An Investigation!

I have noticed during the last one week some rose flowers showing signs of 'attack' from an insect- petals partly eaten.

As I looked at the flowers which had a ragged appearance of the petals, I found an eye-catching moth on one of the flowers.

That led me to inspect the buds and flowers and I found another insect of the same species in a few other flowers. 

I noticed that the insect had attacked the buds as well and eaten them away.

The flowers survive amidst all the challenges nature bring upon it. 

Jesus sof Nazareth spoke of a parable of allowing the weeds to grow along with the wheat, let while plucking out the weeds, the wheat also woeful be damaged. 

Where should our focus be ! On the difficulties, disturbances, or even evil!

I suspect he focus ought to be on the good and doing good!

I have had a recent experience of some inner disturbances, when I felt drawn by the focus on doing good! It is a difficult experience because, the good usually gets submerged in everything else. 

But the good is like a 'leaven' unnoticed often, but its yeast like function brings a change now or later! 

So the words of Jesus of Nazareth, 'Do good to those who harm you..' brings an eternal perspective to our existence. We live because of a calling to do good, not under the compulsion of existential challenges!  

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Dew and rian drops!

The first picture of the morning dew and the second following a mild drizzle give us contrasting pictures!o

The dew settled on the surface and edges of the leaves, where as the rain drops remained largely on the surface of the leaves!

Th leaves respond differently to dew and rain drops although both are water particles.

This is a lesson of significance!

Our responses to the same situation or challenge or an event do vary! Our responses are dependent on our perceptions!

How we perceive what we see, hear, or are told would depend on our inner composure! The interior stillness, discernment and reflection are the means for sound perception!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

At he opportune time..!

This is the last rose bush, 11th in its order in our garden. All the ten rose bushes blossomed from November! But this plant remained stubborn without any buds or flowers. 

However it has suddenly shown a new life in the last ten days with fresh leaves and several buds!

For me its presence in the garden is special. It is smaller than other bushes and is at the end of the row of rose bushes and did not grow as well as other plants right from the start. It was also too close to the wall and perhaps did not have good soil for its growth.

About five months back when the plants were pruned and manured, this bush received  special attention. 

I counted twenty five buds and more are expected with tender leaves still sprouting!

I have gone through a difficult season in my life in the last year or so on account of some decisions, I was part of during my involvement with an organisation. I felt accused and attacked. Friends deserted....there was anger and hate expressed...

By November, I knew I had to redeem myself and find my anchor in the larger purpose of life.

Since the rose bushes began blossoming, I took time every morning on the days I was at home, to spend time to look at the buds and flowers. I took their phots and viewed them leisurely! As I did this for the last four months, I realised that there were hundreds of flowers during this season, unlike anything like in the last five years since we started living in this cottage! It seems to me that these flowers were messengers given to me with a message!

Pay attention to LIFE, LIVNG AND LEARNING! All the other things are external. The external need to stay external and what is internal alone is life-giving! 

It was a great relief to write to over sixty friends to send a message of friendship! Although the response is yet to come, I feel inwardly awakened to move forward... it involves being patient with those who are still disharmonious in attitude!

That is the message I received from the rose bush, the photo of which is above...nurture relationship and stay patient!

The messengers and messages come to us at opportune times! 

M.C.Mathew (photo and text)

  

A garden of Lillies!

Th lilies in the agreed are in different stages of flowering. It is togetherness which makes it a rich sight to watch!

Each of the flower bunch is a delightful sight!

But together the sight is spectacular! 

I have become even more conscious in the last six months through some difficult circumstances, that every person we are called to work with, whatever might be his or her level of maturity, ability or skill, is part of the whole. It is what constitutes the whole which finally matters .

In human relationships, there is a fraternity and mutuality, which emerges out of our humanness and humane behaviour and not based on our like-mindedness!

Let eh difference do not separate us, but let them be the variety in the whole! We hear a lot about working as a team. Let us begin on this premise that in the team there are differences and different ways! 

Let us be endeavouring to make the whole a favourable environment for all!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Small creatures!

There is a surprise when we notice small creatures in unexpected places! I was fascinated to notice them in the flowers even after a drizzle !

Ther eis  aspace fr each one of us and we do not have displace anyone for our presence!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

After a drizzle!

I found an unusual brightness and freshness in the garden yesterday morning! There was a prolonged drizzle early in the morning!

The plants also need their bath! The nature has its own cycle of protecting and providing!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

The silence of the morning!

Having had to trim and prune the tall trees with large branches and thick foliage, to prevent damage to trees during the forthcoming monsoon season, there is silence around our cottage early n the morning! The bird songs are not heard for the last one week! We normally got up listening to the cacophony of the morning!

This is the third time in the last five years since we live in this cottage we noticed the disappearance of the birds from the garden following the trimming of trees!

We still have to find a balance to stay eco-freindly and bird friendly! 

How terrible we feel now, when we sense that our one act has bruised the birds, making them stay away from us!

Is there a message in this for human relationships! It is a call to do what we do, mindful of how it would impact others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Something more!

There is something more in the cluster of rose buds! It is a web! The web makes this photo even more special!

The university practical examination is currently going on. Two batches of students have gone through this!

Anna tis one of the examiners in her subject. She has had students who became tearful and found the viva difficult! But she was patient and thoughtful towards them! I heard one of the students mention that some examiners made them at ease even when they could not answer the initial questions!

There is always something more we can offer in every situation. It is that 'second mile journey' or thoughtfulness we express which bring comfort and wellness. It is in the cingular gyrus of the brain, the emotion of compassion is located! There are evidences to suggest that we can cultivate compassion or suppress it! 

Having been in a specialty of clinical service, where I come across  parents in distress, I pondered  over this matter yesterday, after meeting a family with their 15 years old son suffering from a rare disease, which has no curative treatment! 

I reflected on my seventy minutes meeting with them! How have they returned home at the end of the conversation!

Do I offere something more in my engagement with others!

MC.Mathew(text and photo)

Another season !

Yesterday we had the first summer rain! That is how the summer often sets in! I might have to wait for another winter season to watch the dew on the flowers and leaves !

The other day I kept searching for a particular brand of shampoo I was using for the last four years! That product is no more available! I got used to it and is already missing it! The new shampoo is good enough and might be even better!

All seasons have a beginning and an end! 

When we apply this to relationships between people, it is almost similar. There are good times and difficult times. The difference is that, instead of expecting the same season of cordiality all the time, welcome the difficult times and turn that into deepening of relationships. When trust dominates differences become different ways of approaching an issue for the larger benefit of each other.  

I saw this in a child of seven years yesterday. He liked a particular ice cream, which was not available in the hospital canteen. His parents offered him another flavour! He resisted tasting it initially. But when he did, he was more than glad fo this choice to taste it!

The 'sameness' is a self imposition we bring upon ourselves! Change, but uphold values and convictions!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)   

Same flower, but different colours for seeds!

There are exceptions in nature. As I walk in our garden, I discover more of these exceptions. some seeds of the same flower have different colours !

I used this picture to engage a family who have been preoccupied with the thought of 'sameness' for their three children.  They narrated the differences between them that it occurred to me as their uniqueness. 

I was associated with an organisation not so long ago, where the differences between the leaders because of their style of functioning caused disruption in purpose, responsibility and direction for the organisation! I was not able to reconcile the situation because the opinions were strong. 

The sight of these differently coloured seeds received me to a certain extent the heaviness I still carry with me on account of what happened in that organisation!  

The truth of our differences need to dawn on us, when we work others! It is good to bring the differences into the open and turn them into subjects of dialogue to find the strength in the differences  for the good of the organisation. I feel, that the exceptions call for a broad a margin of consideration for inclusiveness of all ideas, thoughts, behaviour, etc. if they are within the broad premise of he mission of the organisation.

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

A ceremonial occasion!

There are special occasions in the episcopal tradition, when the had of a church or a bishop would visibly demonstrate the calling to be a shepherd. With the cross on one hand and the staff on the other hand, the Bishop represents the mission. The Bishop is a witness to the suffering servant and caring shepherd!

I feel moved on such occasions, because the church symbolises to be a community of those who exist for others and live with the vocation of giving in service! What a honour that Church is blessed with the heritage of a suffering servant, 'who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross..'

It is a season of lent before we move on to the holy week in a few weeks from now! 

It is a season to consider how the followers of Jesus of Nazareth can be a 'leaven' to bring life in all its fullness to others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Face to face!

What do you down a bird looks at you straight!

I feel it is good to allow the bird to see you and become familiar. It calls to be still without movements! I find that even using a camera would disturb the bird!

There are times silence and stillness alone are the preferred ways.

I am learning that there is a place of silence in communication, when words are born within first before they are spoken. The birth of words or thoughts become the only legitimate reason to communicate. Till they are born or given, it is necessary to stay silent.

Conversations become hurtful, arguments or disturbances, when what we speak are impulsive statements and hurried responses. 

Instead words and conversations would bring restorative, healing and renewal experiences when we speak listening to what hear form within!  It is only in interior silence we can hear from within what is truly redemptive and upbuilding which then shall be pleasant in the listener's ears!

Words and conversations reveal ourselves! I am a beginner in this journey of learning to be still till words are born within!   

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A flower with a mouth!

It is an orchid in our veranda which Anna tends with attention. After five months, it is now with a bunch of flowers. I noticed that the central petals are arranged to look like a mouth!

It invites me to become observant while walking in the garden! The sights can create within us a sense of awe and wonder!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Jasmine !

 I sit and write this blog , smelling the fragrance of the jasmine in our garden fifteen feet away! It is a pleasant experience. The small flowers bring such rich fragrance!

It is one flower which does not show any sign of weariness in the heat! Its fragrance is its gift. 

I am fascinated by its biography of gentle presence and refreshing fragrance!

It is a rich way of living!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

No companion, no song, but moving on !

 

I have felt miserable recollecting the story of this Mag pie Robin. Two months back, it started as a pair, then it was alone still singing, now still and sitting on the same place, but on another twig!

For the last two days, I have not noticed the Robin anywhere in our garden or heard the bird song!

A grief stricken Magpie Robin does not sing!

But it has now moved away to another place still hopefully singing waiting for its companion!

That is the message. Move on in life, what ever has befallen us!

There is a tomorrow beyond today!

Staying with today or yesterday is not a human instinct... We are called into making a valley into a spring, according to the meditation of one of the Psalmists, in the book of Psalms in the Bible!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)