Flowers and Fruits!

The two above, one a plant and another a tree stand next to each other in our garden. At this time of the year when both of them look complete with flowers and fruits, it is a sight that catches the eye. This sight is visible from beyond the compound wall of the property. People passing by talk about it! 

The flowers and fruits are for others. They are the gifts from nature, given to us freely.

I stopped to think of the gifts we as humans can bring to people around us. 

One instance came to my mind. When Anna and I visited the Jalna Christian Hospital when Aswathy and Anandit were working there a few years ago, we were invited to join for breakfast. Dr C.D.Moses, the medical superintendent used to take the junior doctors for breakfast on Sunday morning to a local restaurant. We were invited to join them. What an occasion of conversation and laughter it was!  Moses was doing it for years on Sundays when he was in town. I remember asking Moses about the reason whey he does it even though one would think that he needed a restful day on a Sunday, after long hours of work each day, being a surgeon always on call. His response, 'being with junior doctors is one way of sharing, listening and knowing'! He gifted his time, attention and thoughtfulness to his younger colleagues. 

Giving is a way of living. Dr Jeyabalan, a doctor who spent his life time in caring for patients of leprosy in Tamil Nadu is another person whom I found to be in this giving mode all the time. He is older and limited in some ways. After his retirement, he used to send well-chosen articles, quotes and human stories of inspiration to his friends by mail. Later because of some limitations, he turned that into writing personal letters to those whom he knew. Anna and I get regular letters from him. Even when he had a fracture of his wrist recently, he continued writing. We felt touched by his giving instinct. 

Dr Val Garlick from Brisbane sends letters when her husband Dr Frank Garlick needs all the attention because of his failing health. Dr Val herself has had some health related limitations. Her recent letter to us recalling years of association with them, was a gift we treasure. She remembers others when it might be an effort to do so due to the demanding situation around her. For her giving is an expression of neighbourliness.

Anna and I feel even more encouraged to keep this vocation of giving as a way of being present to others. 

We have had our seasons of constraints when we felt trapped by some circumstances. When we received messages of the inauguration of the Ranipet campus of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, some of those memories of intensely difficult times returned! During my term in the council, there were difficult situations while the construction of the campus was in progress. I felt alienated and accused for my role to find a middle path in a difficult situation. It was since that time four years ago, having voluntarily relinquished my responsibilities from the governing council, Anna and I have felt distanced from friends who used to be co-travellers. Four  years later, we look back at our giving habit. It had reduced considerably. I felt overcome by the fear of nearness with people! 

Whether it is summer or winter, the plant and the tree that I have presented in this text, give  their flowers and fruits. 

Giving is a way of living a fulfilling life! It is a call that comes to me once again in the seventy fifth year!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)