The flowers symbolise to me the children who visit for consultations. The candles remind me of children who are ready to be lit, if only we can find the spark that is likely to glow! The vase of water that sustains the flowers is the ambience we create for children to grow and develop at home and wherever children are normally such as at schools. The table on which the flower vase rests is the facility that we create for children from which they receive all the enablement to become what they are bestowed to be! The sunshine that falls on the flowers through the window from behind represents the Grace we receive from God of our lives. Jesus of Nazareth admonished His companions to let children come to Him.
The table on which the vase is placed is in a space with tables, chairs, shelf, and decorations and posters all around. In fact this open space is at one end of a large hall, which was designed as an autopsy room for the pathology department. As it was not used, we were given the space where we have the common meeting place and a therapy section.
The first thing that I attend to, after arrival and few minutes of quietness each morning, is to change the water in the vase, sprinkle water on the flowers and add new flowers by replacing the ones that are drooping or shedding the petals.
I light the candles occasionally. Sometimes some one in the professional group might light it!
I feel the struggle within in not having been thoughtful and considerate enough towards children and families! I sometimes feel inadequate to be able to awaken the spark in children!
Yet that longing and invitation would make me light the candles now and then.
Each day is an opportunity to bring cheer into children's lives. I wish I would feel well and enabled to be in this journey of being companions to families!
The flower vase is at the centre of my daily experience as a symbol of a mission which I want to see as a fulfilled vocation!
I have had the practice of having a flower vase in the consultation room for forty years now!
At Chennai, the flowers came from the vendor outside the Child Development Centre; at CMC Vellore, Shekar brought flowers from the market; at Pondicherry, the flowers came from our garden. Now for the least eleven years, there were enough flowers in our garden at our cottage to gather each day to have a fresh looking vase.
The symbol of a flower vase is hope giving. The flowers were given! The grace of givenness and the the joy of Receiving!
Life is a journey to grow in this consciousness of the mystery of having been given! If so, loosing and gaining cannot not dominate. Just as the earth receives its share of sunshine, rain, and snow, we too receive all that we need for each day. When these provisions diminish, it is a desert experience, which too is needed to learn to live contently and steadfastly knowing that the Giver of all good gifts 'does not slumber or sleep'!
This awareness helps me to return to live the calling as a pilgrim, moving when moved and waiting when the doors are shut!
Th journey itself is the destiny! Becoming the whole person is a calling worth pursuing, because life is for living vicariously!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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