Living purposefully !

Let me share my 3^rd reflection on the theme Life, Living and Learning. We explored, ‘Becoming ourselves’ and ‘Being ourselves’ on the theme of Life. We shall now move on to the theme of Living. Let me focus on, ‘Living Purposefully’ to invite our attention to have a closer look at our calling for Living. 

One greeting we often use, when we meet someone we know is, ‘How are you’! Historically , I understand that in some cultures, this used to be, ‘How are you living’! It got abbreviated to ‘How are you’ by repeated use and is more of a formal greeting than a genuine attempt to enquire of the wellness of the other person or  to hear anything more than a superficial response, ‘Fine’. I heard a friend recollect that when she responded by saying, ‘I do not feel great’, to ‘How are you’, it did not evoke a response of surprise or enquiry. We practice a social habit and often do not expect anything more than a conventional  response. We might not be even ready if we receive a response calling for attention.  

The president elect of the USA Mr Joe Biden was asked by a press reporter, while referring to the president Mr Donal Trump not conceding defeat, ‘How are you’ ! He responded, ‘I am optimistic’. That was a pointer to his attitude to living and a statement of inner orientation in a difficult situation. Those of us who believe that God created us and ordained us to live might often ask a question, ‘what is this life for’! Dr Paul Brand, Professor of Orthopaedic and hand Surgery at the Christian medical college, Vellore in the seventies,  was once asked by a student, ‘Sir, why are you a surgeon’! His response was: ‘To know pain, feel pain and alleviate pain of those who come to meet me’. What an answer beyond a personal ambition for himself while being a surgeon! 

I want to build on this theme of living by drawing some lessons from a parable Jesus of Nazareth spoke which is narrated in the Gospel of Matthew 25: 1-13. It is a parable of ten virgins setting out to meet the bridegroom, each of them with a lamp, five with extra oil and five without extra oil. The arrival of the bridegroom got delayed and all ten of them became drowsy and slept. At midnight the bridegroom came and the five women who had extra oil was able to light their lamps to welcome the bridegroom. The five others requested for oil from those who had a store of oil. They suggested to the five to go to the dealer to buy oil, lest all of them would not have enough. This parable brings us a message: Living Purposefully. Let me explore this message under three dimensions:

Mindfulness

Readiness

Prudence.

1 Mindfulness

This parable was spoken by Jesus in the context of His ongoing teachings about the Kingdom of God. The ten virgins were getting ready for the wedding. It was a custom for young women to wait on the bride and bridegroom at the occasion of marriage. It was a goodwill gift from the community. Often the preparation to welcome a bridegroom lasted several days and the bridegroom delayed coming to increase the level of expectancy and celebration. It was a collective activity in Palestinian village then and continues to be so even now. Such a community association with a wedding provided a good start for the bridal couple. The ten virgins in this parable represent the character of the Kingdom of God, where there is an attitude of mindfulness towards others. In fact, it is pointed out in the Mathew Henry’s commentary on the Bible that, ‘The professors of Christianity shall then be likened to these ten virgins.. who were portrayed by Jesus as those ‘waiting on others’. Just as the virgins were to go out with lamps burning, at the approach of the Bridegroom to the bride’s house to lead him into the house with ceremony and formality, the followers of Jesus too are in a mission to lead people to a place of relationship with God. For the women it was a source of happiness and a duty. 

Rev. Dr Eugene Peterson in his book, Where your treasure is, Psalms That Summon You from Self to Community, mentioned that it is for an hour ‘unself assertion’ God is calling us. In Psalm 62 vv 1 and 5 the Psalmist mentioned, ‘for God alone my soul waits in silence’. This ‘unself assertion’ is in consonance with the two commandments, ‘Love your God… and love your neighbour as yourself’. It is by turning towards God, we receive grace to move away from ourselves and offer space for others in our lives. But that alone is not enough, as we can be religiously engaged in the rituals and traditions of our ways of living that w e exclude others form the orbit.

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luk10: 30-37) is an outstanding example of such a preoccupation with self-directed aspirations, pursuits and compulsions. A look certain man while on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers and they left him ‘half dead’ (v 31). The priest who came that way, seeing him, ‘passed by on the other side’(v31). A Levite who came that way also passed by on the other side (v.32). Both these men who were in a religious responsibility avoided the man who was wounded and needed help. Even our religious experience cannot release us from our self-assertion and passionate pursuit of what concerns us alone. 

It is in this context that we meet the Good Samaritan in the parable, who on seeing the wounded man lie on the roadside ‘felt compassion’ for him. A feeling that drew him away from a strict adherence to his plan, travel, destination and personal business.  ‘He came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said: Take care of him and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you’ (v34,35). This  is ‘unself assertion’ in personal life. There is an orbit beyond ourselves, which if not brought into our sphere , we are seeking our interests alone which to me is the hight light of this story. All those who are seekers of God would sense and experience the nature of God, which is love. The expression of love springs from compassion. 

There is a loss when we explore the pathway of unself assertion.  There might even be a personal inconvenience transiently similar to what occurred to the Good Samaritan. He arrived at his destination late and might have missed an engagement. However, think of all that was affirmed as human worth and value. The Good Samaritan asserted the value and sanctity of life. He gave a full expression of doing what was needed to help a person who was helpless. He willingly shared his personal possessions, oil, wine and money to make it comfortable for the man who as wounded. He invited the inn keeper into this culture of caring and trusted him to take care of a strange man. The Good Samaritan offered to return to take more responsibility for the wounded person.  A new paradigm of human relationship was established between a Jew and Samaritan, who normally were not allies. It is only those who are humble of heart and who foresees the prospects of a similar personal vulnerability at any time in the future, who would want to reach out to others kindly and mindfully. This is empathy to say the least, a human virtue upon which we shall build societal values.  

Eugene Peterson wrote;’ There are vast tracts of underdeveloped life in most of us. We have capacities for creativity, for love, and for accomplishment….. Then from time to time, a person stands up among us and announces how marvellous it is to be simply be human’ (P.85).  

 It is a calling to live mindfully.

I recall how Drs Mabel and Raj Arole on returning from the John Hopkin’s University in 1969 decided to go to a least developed rural area in Maharashtra in Ahemmednagar district. They located themselves at Jamkhed, a rural setting where they started a small base hospital and recruited women to train them as Village Health Workers. These women included even those who could not read or write. But their motivation to make a difference in the health indices in their community was the criterion for selecting them. Following their six months formal training and continuing education on a weekly basis after that, created surprising changes in the vital statistics of Infant mortality, Maternal mortality, reducing the occurrence of water born infectious diseases in the community, promoting antenatal care, under five nutrition and immunization, etc. In another three years the World Health Organization recognised and advocated this model as the ideal for Primary Health Care service in rural setting in developing countries. It was act of mindfulness towards the least in the community, which redesigned the Primary Health Care globally!

Others matter as much or more in our outlook to life! 

2. Readiness   

All the ten virgins had lamps while setting out to meet the bridegroom. Five carried extra oil and the other five did not carry, although it would have been known to them that the bridegroom could delay in coming. ‘For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps’(v3, 4). It is the oil which makes a lamp to be a light. To me it is a metaphor of considerable significance. Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world’ (Mat5:14). These ten virgins were light bearers for the bridegroom to arrive at the bridal home. It was a significant role and for the light to shine, oil was needed. William Barclay a Biblical commentator referred to oil as the grace of God in our lives. It is the grace of God and His presence in our lives, which provides the readiness to be mindful of others and to do good even in difficult circumstance. 

The story of Woman of Zarephath comes to mind through whom, prophet Elijah was sustained during a famine about which we read in the Old Testament, I kings 17: 8-16). Elijah was fed by the ravines who brought him bread in the morning and evening. He drank form the brook at Cherith. The ravines stopped bringing food and the water at the brook got dried. Elijah was guided by God to the woman at Zarephath at that time. On arrival, Elijah met a woman who was gathering sticks to prepare a meal, to whom he asked for a jar of water and bread for himself (v 10,11). The woman replied: ‘I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl, and a little oil in the jar. I am gathering a few sticks that I may go and prepare a meal for me and my son, that we may eat and die’(v 12). Elijah on hearing this requested bread for himself first: ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth’(v14). The woman did as Elijah requested and the bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil became empty’(v16). The woman’s act was readiness to be mindful of the needs of another person superseding her own need.

It is in letting others come into the inner space of our lives, we are given enough for ourselves and for others. William Barret in his book, The illusion of technique, wrote that, ‘Perhaps the will at its deepest, does not connote self-assertion or dominance, but love and acquiescence, not the will to power, but to pray’ (p232). What is on the surface of the sea is waves and tides, whereas at ten feet depth, it is stillness and calm. It is so for humans, that we live with all the cares and worries which make us exclude others from our consciousness as our energy is consumed by ‘what we shall eat, where we shall live and what we shall put on’. If we descend to the deeper level of consciousness in our lives, where God is present, there is a state of tranquil which opens our eyes to others and to their needs. What worth is in living unless we have an awareness of the spoken and unspoken needs of our neighbours with whom we share the journey of life!

Dr Frank Garlick, a professor surgery in the nineteen sixties at the Christian Medical College, Vellore was known for his missionary heart and caring nature towards people in need. He knew of many students whom he trained, who were working in mission hospitals. Some of them needed professional and personal help to work in rural areas. On one occasion, some students who used to visit him at home made a comment: ‘We are told to go to mission hospitals to work. But who would, when we go through difficulties come to help us’! This searching question worked within Dr Garlick, which led him to resign from his job and to become an itinerant surgeon visiting mission hospitals to help young doctors to advance in their surgical skills. He did that for five years, which brought a new enthusiasm for young doctors to go to rural mission hospitals. That was readiness of mindfulness even to take a risk for the sake of others. 

All the ten virgins had a lamp with them, but only five had oil to turn their lamps to be lights and complete their mission. It is the grace and presence of God in our lives which shall make us ready to be mindful of others. It is a calling to ponder upon!

3. Prudence 

The ten virgins having waited for the bridegroom to come became drowsy and went to sleep. It was at midnight the bridegroom came (v6). The five prudent virgins trimmed their lamps and were ready to welcome the bridegroom(v7). But the five others who had no oil, turned to the other five who had oil in a flask to borrow some for their lamps(v8). The prudent virgins refused to share the oil lest they too would not have enough (v9). While the five women went to fetch oil from the dealers, the bridegroom came (v 10). The five wise virgins entered the wedding feast with the bridegroom and the door was shut(v11). When the other five virgins returned with oil, the door was not opened for them to enter the wedding feast(v12).

It was the sense of carefulness, thoughtfulness and preparation with foresight that enabled the five prudent virgins to welcome the bridegroom for the wedding festival, It is an ability to discern, see beyond the obvious, act intuitively, and see the larger picture beyond personal interests, which make all of us prudent. In the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-12), there is a turning point which reminds us of the prudence of a five years old boy. At the request of Jesus, His disciples were looking for food to feed the five thousand who had gathered to listen to Jesus. Andrew, a disciple of Jesus found a boy who had five barley loaves and two fish. Andrew came to Jesus with a question, ‘what are these for so many people’?(v9) Jesu received this ‘and having given thanks He distributed to those who were seated..’(v11) the food that was offered by the boy, which was sufficient for all the people with 12 baskets of food left over after all were fed. This is an example of prudence which speaks of the farsightedness of a boy. He foresaw the greater use of his food packet, when Jesus needed it to feed many. He received his portion and made it possible for others to receive their portions. It is another example of 'unself' behaviour!

I came across another vivid illustration of prudence during this COVID 19 pandemic at Jalna Mission Hospital. When Dr Christopher Moses realised in March 2020, that the hospital would need to be ready to welcome COVID patients along with regular patients, he planned to prepare a separate building to welcome COVID patients to dispel fear among the non-COVID patients. With the dual facilities with separate teams looking after the COVID and non-COVID patients in the designated places with all cautions to avoid mixing up the two services, the hospital was able to continue almost normally. Although there was a dip in the non-COVID patients initially, because of which the salary of the staff had to be partially differed for a month, the situation normalised thereafter. The local community seeing the initiative of the hospital to look after the COVID patients from Jalna town, donated a large sum to cover the expenses. The hospital helped the local government administration to plan and design the COVID care facility in the local government hospital. There is an immense appreciation for what the Mission hospital was able to do. It is an example of prudence by diligent and responsible action at a difficult time. The hospital administrative team kept the needs of others in focus and acted promptly. 

I remember listening to Dr K.C.Mammen when he shared his personal story of leaving his academic position from the department of Child Health at Christian Medical College, Vellore in early seventies. There was an initiative to start a mission hospital at Kolenchery, near Ernakulum. Dr Mammen on being approached to become the founding Medical director of the hospital felt initially that he had a lot to lose academically, if he left his position at CMC Vellore. Soon when he realised that few of his colleagues from other specialties were also ready to join him to start the hospital, he felt comfortable to take a plunge. The hospital, which became a Medical College later, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary during this year. In that connection, when I telephoned to greet Dr Mammen, he recalled his decision to come to the MOSC Medical Mission. He said, ‘When I thought of many people living in rural areas, who had no access to a hospital, I felt called to let go of my academic ambitions’!  Dr Mammen spent seventeen years in building the hospital to be what it is today. He was mindful of the needs of others, which guided his decision.

Let me conclude. Living purposefully involves Mindfulness, Readiness and Prudence.

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)