A lone feeling!

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Some Bulbuls are pairs, who come to the feeding basin. 

The pair of Bulbuls above kept taking turn to feed from the basin. At one stage, one Bulbul who was perched at the perch next to the feeding basin flew away. 

The bird who was feeding in the basin noticed it and seemed disturbed. It stopped feeding and remained at the edge of the basin for a while and moved to the perch, looking lost and searching for its pair. I too looked around to see if it was anywhere in the vicinity!

In the early stage of courtship of birds such behaviours are common. They are yet to feel the loyalty strongly to stay together. 

The families of Bulbuls who visit us in the garden leave with us some messages about the way avian behaviour is conditioned by many factors. 

What impresses me most is their behaviour in the feeding station. Most Bulbuls who are in pairs take turns to feed and wait for each other. 

After they are fed and satisfied some pairs perch in the cable above the feeding station and call out for others to come to feed. That is how more Bulbuls come to the feeding station. 

As I watched this pair, make the bird calls and stay for a while, I wondered whether it is an instinctual behaviour! I do not know if they are intelligent enough to function consciously to feel for other birds! They are learned behaviours by habit which birds learn from each other. 

Whatever it might be, conditioned behaviour or conscious behaviour, Bulbuls left with me a message of fidelity between themselves while in courtship and consideration for other birds.  

The thousands who returned to Gaza do not have shelter or food ! The president of the USA stopped all USAID activities. Instead it is asking the Palestinians to find asylum in neighbouring countries and leave Gaza permanently. What a state to come to! 

We live in an environment when seeking self promotion is considered the way to succeed in life. 

The message of self giving which was what was considered noble and normal gets subsumed by greedy passions of self promotion. 

I wonder if oligarchy and autocracy will displace equity and democracy in the affairs of nations! The voice from the rulers of the USA, Russia, China and few other countries seems to be such a message, causing despair!

Let me present the following photo to remind us that we receive from the earth resources! Those resources are the rights of all ! The attitude to  acquire for oneself, denying a weaker person the opportunity to have his or her share for wellness of life is injustice! 

I wish justice will prevail and the nations of the world will be fraternal in giving and receiving!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

Family life and home!

The three phots taken on three different occasions are of a nest in a nutmeg tree in our garden, facing our courtyard. Ever since it appeared three week ago, I was looking for any bird movements around this nest. The zoom lens did not pick up any movements of ants which suggested that it might be a nest of a bird. 

Is it an abandoned nest! Some birds having made the nest do not return to it during the breeding season due to a threat it feels from the environment. Often, red ants which live on such tress can frighten the birds away. 

My thoughts centred on a nest yesterday, while I waited to spot any movement around the nest. 

A nest is a home!

A home represents intimacy, shared experiences and relationship between generations. 

Anna and I know a family who lives in a city in another country. On those occasions when we had an opportunity to visit them, we felt how much they practiced intimacy and communion in their relationships. Now that they are older, their children and grand children come to spend time with them to attend to their needs. The messages we receive from them tell us of the joyful transition they are making as a family. They celebrate happy memories of their home on every occasion they have. 

A home offers an ambience to think of others and grow in awareness of the comfort in relationships. 

I am fond of a passage in the Bible in Ecclesiastes 3:11-14: "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's life time. Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks see good in all his labour- it is the gift of God. I know that everything that God does will remain for ever, there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him".

We are given our family and home! We live in our homes as those who are blessed by the gift of others! We so live that a home nurtures and promotes goodwill and love language. 

We do come across instances where homes are a battleground, and relationships have turned sour. Children grow up receiving less of the bonding they need for their lives to be formed. 

A couple form a family, a family creates a home; a home fashions people to become messengers of a loving God. 

A family told me that their seven years old son waits for an opportunity to visit a children's home nearby to their home, where children from broken homes live in transit, before they find a foster home! What a formative upbringing this child would have received from his parents!

When Abraham Lincoln came home one evening, with a handful of eggs form a nest, his mother asked her son,  ' How will the mother bird  feel when it returns to the nest'?. His mother went back with Abraham Lincoln to place back the eggs in the nest. It seems that this created a deep impression of a compassionate outlook in his life to become a civil rights leader to campaign for abolishing slavery  in the USA.

A home is a place when our children become adults to live their lives with a vocation of mindfulness of others!

We celebrate, mother's Day, father's day and Valentine's day! 

I wish there will be a day in a year to celebrate 'Family life and home'!

M.C.Mathew( text and photo)

The synchrony of converging events!

Anna and I met Professor Jacob John in  a meeting at CMC Vellore, last week along with Drs Beena and  Samuel.

It was Prof John who helped us to process some experiences which were heavy on our hearts in 1982, while working at the Child Health department of  CMC Vellore as a junior consultant under Professor Malathi Jadhav. 

Our daughter Anita had moved on at three months after a brief illness. She had a stormy neonatal period from which she was recovering. At her funeral service, the Chaplain of the hospital, Rev A.C.Oommen in his condolence message mentioned, that ' This might have a purpose in the life of Anna and M.C.Mathew'. That was a baffling and open ended statement, which initiated us into a journey to discern the message beyond our loss and grief. 

Anna and kept in touch with Rev A.C.Oommen who with understanding and thoughtfulness to turn this experience to be a visitation of God. In his pastoral role, he carried us during that time of grief and confusion. He encouraged us to wait patiently, hopefully and expectantly.

When I rejoined work after one month, a child whom I had to welcome  was a chid of four years, who came from Meghalaya. His parents were seeking help, having been told that he had clinical features of Down syndrome. After receiving help for his medical needs and rehabilitation service at the psychiatry department, when they were about to go back, they mentioned that there was no special school in Shillong where they lived. The father was tearful thinking about the bleak future of his son. His question, 'Are you not able to do something more for my son"? left me disturbed and pondering upon! 

Two week later, while in the High risk new born follow up clinic, I met a mother whose preterm baby, whom we had looked after in the nursery for high level of Bilirubin, with three exchange transfusions. He at three months had developed spasticity, decreased weight and Head circumference and showed signs of cerebral hypertonia with altered developmental sequence. His mother tearfully told me, 'if after all that was done at birth, he is still left with developmental set back, what did we gain'?

I attempted to process the above two instances of meeting with parents in the light and the words of the  statement of Rev A.C.Oommen. When someone is in grief, it is with a heavy heart, cloudy eyes and wavering spirit he or she views or ponders on matters. Looking back over that season in our lives, we have refreshing memories of how Rev A.C.Oommen was a friend and companion to those who needed 'shelter and refuge'! He through his words and readings from the Scripture pointed us to Jesus of Nazareth, who was a wounded healer!

When I strolled in the garden this morning, I noticed a plant with  a fallen flower held in the embrace of its leaves. That flower symbolised how Anna and I felt at that time in our life. We came to CMC Vellore with hopes and aspirations after my post graduate training at Nagpur. We had longed for a path paved with encouragements and prospects. But we felt our energy and enthusiasm declining following the loss of our daughter for several months in 1982! However there were regular signs of God's embracing presence in our lives. 

However, I noticed this morning next to this plant two lilies. It stood still on a misty morning with no breeze to sway it, although the late morning Sundays were falling on them. This scene reminded me that even in the midst of feeling waylaid, there were at least two signs of God sheltering and leading us in that difficult season in life in 1982.

One was a visit from Rev Basis Scott from the BMMF (now INTERSERVE), who cane to meet us and bring encouragement in that gloomy situation. During a meeting with him on two occasions, what he left with us was the narrative of Jesus calming the troubled sea, when disciples were caught in a storm while crossing the sea. That brought comfort and peace and a promise of guidance for the way forward. 

The other was a chance meeting with Prof Jacob John, who was a professor in Microbiology at CMC Vellore, who pioneered to revise Polio vaccination in children to eradicate paralysis associated with Poliomyelitis.  

When Anna and I met him at CMC Vellore, during which occasion the photos below were taken, this memory of a timely and thoughtful comment he made returned to me, during that meeting with him in 1982.  

Professor John having heard the turbulence which we were going through wanted to hear about the way we faced the dark period in our life. 

I  shared with him the message spoken by Rev. A.C. Oommen and the two children I met during my clinical work since then, which made me wonder whether I was to consider developing a service for pre-school children with developmental needs. Such a service did not exist at CMC Vellore at that time. 

The conversation with the head of the department of child health, Principal and Director of CMC Vellore did not bring a favourable response. 

The conversation with Prof John brought clarity and cohesiveness. Hearing the 'Three synergic events', he narrated how three experiences helped him to move to clinical virology although he was keen to be associated with child health department. When that door did not open, he walked into the open door of opportunity which led him to be a leader in vaccine preventable diseases in children in India. 

He then went on to share the 'Three knocks' that Dr Ida Scudder experienced in one night, when men came to her father, who was a doctor, to assist their wives who were in child birth, They were searching for a female doctor. Although her father offered to help, they did not receive the offer as the cultural taboos was strong at that time in men doctors attending on women during their child birth. Dr Scudder noticed three funeral processions passing through the road in front of her house on the next day. Three women died in child birth. Dr Ida Scudder who so far refused to train to be a doctor, and was doing a course in arts in the university and had a boy friend, discontinued and joined the Cornell University, the first lady student to study medicine in that University. That is how Dr Scudder came to to start a clinic in Vellore in 1900,  which later became a the reputed Christian Medical College.   

Professor John quoted from the Bible during the conversation about three converging events that led Jesus of Nazareth to feed five thousand people- Jesus had compassion on people; Andrew and Philip   the disciples of  Jesus searched for food and a boy gave five loaves and two fish to be taken to Jesus to bless, and multiply to feed the people. 

It was this conversation with Prof John, which finally helped Anna and me to find a direction at that time, while staying perplexed for a few months.  I liked the way Prof John referred to the 'synchrony of converging events' as a means to bring a message of significance. 

It was after meeting Prof John last week, the details of this conversation which occurred fifty years ago returned  to me with the above details. There was no time to share these thoughts with him for shortage time. I do look forward to having an unhurried time with him!

While these thoughts were getting organised in my mind this morning, I saw a pair of Bulbuls perched in our courtyard having an intimate conversation, probably to decide on the flight path. For about ten minutes, they looked all around and left for a far away place flying together!

 

This above sight of Bulbuls in consultation to choose their flight path  brought back memories of how Anna and I used to spend time to listen to each other and sense how we felt comfortable about the way forward. We spent one year in a discerning exercise at the Christian Fellowship Hospital, Oddanchatram, before moving to Chennai in the latter part of 1983 to commence the activities of Child Development Centre under the auspices of ASHIRVAD. 

We enter into the fiftieth year of our marriage during this week. It is a good time to remember gratefully God of love and His ways of mercy and for sending people into our lives to help us in pathfinding. 

M.C.Mathew( text and photo)

Opinions can be factual or biases!

 

This Ixora plant in our front garden flowers for most part of the year. The few others in other parts of the garden are not so yielding, may be because they are in the shade. 

What strikes me about the Ixora flowers is its longevity. Each blossom might last about three months. There are flowers in the above bunches which are yet to open even after four weeks since the first buds opened. 

On the occasions when the Sunbird come seeking for nectar, these flowers bear the weight of the bird, although the flowers look fragile. 

The above photo is an illustration of different bunches of flowers, some about to open and some about to fall off. A plant symbolising its function of flowering all the time!

It occurred to me yesterday while walking in the garden that, while I have hundreds of photos of rose bushes and rose flowers in our garden, I had just a few photos  of the Ixora plants and flowers. Although the Ixora plant above is in a prominent location in our front garden, it escaped my attention often as it appeared less 'attractive'!

The medical value of Ixora, its resilience against pests, capacity to withstand summer heat, ease to sprout its cuttings, and its nectar supply to Bees and Sunbirds should have ordinarily made this plant noteworthy. But it got sidelined. 

I confess that I had a preference towards roses. Such biases although appear innocent represents a variant human mindset. We like and choose at the cost of ignoring some things, although they are equally valuable. 

The strong like that the president of the United States of America demonstrates towards one race and makes derogatory remarks about races of other nationalities resident in the USA is a disheartening mind set. The Israel's attitude towards the Palestinians is too painful to bear. There is antagonism towards certain religious communities in India. 

A garden is a home for all plants and flowers, with each one distinct and valuable!

Until two decades ago, men sidelined women. Some countries like Switzerland granted rights for women to vote only in the late nineteen fifties and early sixties. There were differences of pay for the same job in the professions of nurses, teachers, etc even in Britain. 

I pause and ask myself ! Are my opinions factual or biased!

I gave only peripheral attention to the Ixora plants and flowers. They too need a fair approach of appreciation!

A garden is a place to receive instruction to revise thoughts and attitudes!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Enough for us and others!

A garden brings the message of abundance. 

There is more than enough for us and others! 

The habit to develop is to share with neighbours. We benefit from the giving habit of our neighbours. Anna visits the neighbours to share the farm produce with them.

My earliest memory of sharing the farm produce with neighbours is of  carrying papaya fruits, pineapple, banana and jack fruits to our neighbours. My parents were particular to share these fruits which were plenty in our garden. 

The school where I studied in our village had several mango trees. The headmaster would warn the students not to pluck them on their own; he would have the fruits plucked and distribute to students every year to carry home.  The class rooms were distributed in the campus. Adjacent to a cluster of class rooms there were three or four mango trees which gave enough fruits to share with students in the classes located near the mango trees. I remember how this restrained students from wanting to pluck them on their own. I remember some students recalling this 'discipline' introduced to them as an experience they carry with them, while recalling the years spent at the school on the occasion of the farewell in the final year. 

The virtue of sharing is something worth treasuring. 

An auto driver brings us vegetables from his garden periodically. On one occasion he told us that, it is only when he can share the farm produce with others he feels fulfilled. 

It is true that we live in an insular world where living privately is a norm. Living mindfully of others and their needs has a dimension of enlarging our lives with thoughtfulness and openness. 

Our car needed some repair and was in the garage for two days. The service supervisor contacted me twice in a day to update me on the progress of repair. Yesterday, when I met him, I complimented him for his thoughtfulness to stay in touch, to which he replied, 'it was one way to convey that we care for your car'. For him to think beyond the business obligation was a pleasant surprise to me. 

A friend from overseas sent me a message yesterday to enquire how Anna and I are doing! It bought an encouragement because we stay in his orbit of thoughtfulness. 

Life when lived with a mindful space for neighbours, flourishes offering shelter and comfort to others!

Each of us has plenty to offer to others! We cause them to feel encouraged when we can serve them with our acts of kindness! 

We in India remembered Mahatma Gandhi yesterday, who was assassinated on 30 th January1948 when he was coming out after a multi-faith prayer meeting. He lived his life thinking of others and initiated the freedom movement in a non violent way! He paid the price for standing up for religious tolerance and social justice! 

We live in India at a time when religious fundamentalism is controlling the national polity!

There are some politicians who  remind us of equality, fraternity and liberty! They do so self givingly!

M.C.M Mathew(text and photo)

Flowers and fruits !

What occurred to me yesterday as our domestic worker brought these banana bunches from our garden, ready to be sold, is the giving nature of our garden. There will be some flowers or fruits in our garden all the time. 

Our domestic worker has a 'feeling' disposition towards plants and trees. Now that summer heat is crossing 32 degrees, he cares to irrigate the land two to three times a week. This domestic worker helped for a season, when my parents were most active with farming. He therefore has a scientific approach to taking care of the farm. 

I get a feel of the distress of the farming community. When I take the banana bunches to the market, I will be offered Rs 15 for a kilogram of bananas, where as, it will be sold in the shops as ripe banana for Rs 75 a kilo. This is what the farmers all over the country is communicating to the local governments that a minimum purchase price ought to be  fixed for farm produce so that farmers get at least fifty percent of the price. It is only then the farmers can live from the income from the farm. 

The farmers from Haryana have been on protest for three months now with a few on hunger fast pleading for Minimum Standard Price for farm produce. 

The large corporate establishments have come into buying and selling of farm produce, eliminating the regular daily markets where the farm produce used to be sold. The farmers are compelled to sell at a low price to the corporate firms who then would transport the produce to the cities to keep in cold storage and sell in the retail market controlling the price at their will. The price of Onions, Pulses, Apple and such products go high to benefit the corporate sector. The government seems to be on the side of the corporate sector favouring them to create the capitalistic economy. 

The social welfare and distributive justice which used to be the climate in the country is getting replaced by consolidation of wealth in those who are resourceful. 

Our domestic helper told me yesterday, that there are about thirty people in our village who have different forms of cancer and some are not able to access treatment as the treatment is only available in the private sector. The nexus between the corporate health sector and the insurance companies create another hurdle for genuinely needy people to receive health care as specialised health care is available in the government sector only in a limited way. 

The earth gives its produce. The farmers till the land. The beneficiaries are middle men and the corporate businesses. 

It is when I see the flowers in our garden, I get a relief from the stress of this maldistribution of resources. The flowers appear and disappear after having been present with their nectar for a few days. 

None of us can change a system when the powerful in the society controls the distribution of resources. 

The newly installed president of the USA speaks a language of arrogance, defiance and vengeance. The migrant community suffers because of his policies and the oligarchs remain protected even if they are tax evaders. The latest unsettling message is a letter that has gone out to 2 million government staff to offer resignation! I suppose the president of the USA comes with a history of a belief system that 'I have my way and there is no other way'. The president  has moved the court to free him of the conviction for the out of court settlement of his personal misconduct, for which he was found legally guilty, but punishment not rendered as he was the president elect! Now he wants the offence erased!

I feel compelled to believe that social justice will be denied in the affairs of nations. With Israel offering no assistance to help residents of Gaza who return to their homes, it is clear that humanitarian thoughtfulness has retreated from the social obligations of the powerful governments.  

I wish there will be many more advocates who practice 'loving our neighbour as ourselves' !

This year being the 125th anniversary year of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, I draw my comfort from its founder, Dr Ida Scudder who during her life time spoke the language of love, quoting from the New Testament of the Bible, (I Corinthians 13: 4-8) :

" Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous, love does not brag and is not arrogant; does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..  "

Dr Scudder seems to have used this text to speak whenever she was asked to lead the chapel services. She read this text to students and visitors who came to meet her on Friday evenings. Her prayer in circulation was this:

"Father, whose life is within me,

and whose love is ever about me,

Grant that Thy life may be maintained in my life

today and every day,

as with gladness of heart, without haste or

confusion of thought,

I go about my daily tasks, 

conscious of the ability to meet every rightful demand,

seeing the larger meaning of little things,

and finding beauty and and love everywhere

in the sense of Thy presence, may I walk

through the hours,

breathing the atmosphere of love rather than

anxious striving.."

The counter culture to the current self-promoting pursuit is self-giving love. 

On 24th May, 1960 when she entered her eternal rest, she left behind her story of how a corn of wheat fell on the soil to bring much fruits. 

That is why the call of the flowers and fruits to be giving, resonates within our hearts!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A defiant political leadership !

At the  day break our garden comes alive with the twilight bringing sights and scenes which captivate us. 

A few days bak, it was the stillness of Daphne, hearing a bird call of a Kingfisher, perched in the coconut palm that caught my attention. Every time there was a bird call from the King fisher, Daphne paused to listen to look, although she did not spot the direction from where the bird calls were emerging!

The day temperature is now reaching 32 degree celsius, which normally occurs only in March. 

With president Trump withdrawing from the Paris agreement on climate protection, I wonder if the nation of such outstanding scientific temper can ever overlook the climate change which is causing alarming changes! Even worse is its dissociation from the World Health Organisation, which directed the pathway for 'Health for all'! 

The Barbet and the two Bulbuls waiting for their turn to feed from the feeding basin, is a symbol of how we are dependent on the climate to bring favourable conditions to give us food to live on! How can the President of the United States of America overlook this and the scientific community in the USA silently consent to this unwise step of ignoring the Paris agreement on climate control!

The power of position is for leadership of a nation with wisdom, foresight and insight! Most of the actions which president of the USA initiated in the first week of his presidency seem to be punitive or revengeful!

Is the USA  also moving in the direction of oligarchy! The language of intolerance towards the immigrants is disheartening! 

The serene look at day break which the garden offers each morning, is no more a symbol of hope when we look at the affairs of nations. There is a drift towards extremism and intolerance!

Although we celebrate the 75th anniversary of India becoming a republic with a constitution, we find social and economic diversity, with the elected national government favouring the rich to have better access to their industrial growth. 

The telephone revolution in India with mobile phone access was initiated by the government owned BSNL Today, by neglect and deliberate indifference, two or three private companies have dominated the control of the network with BSNL struggling to exist as the government is nor more its guardian to protect its growth. India too is sending signals to favour the emergence of Oligarchs!

To me, each day break is an opportunity to behave in a friendly manner to our neighbours. If one third of the population in India is at the bottom of the pyramid economically and socially, they are our neighbours!

Let each day break bring this awareness to us and others! 

The food basin in our garden brings fifty or more birds to our garden for their feed each day! That tells me how much the birds are dependent on what others can offer!

Will the government and all those engaged in promoting equity turn their attention towards the one third of our population, who live marginalised!

Sometimes the Good Samaritans continue their good work silently without receiving acknowledgement for their good work. 

I met a doctor from Sivakasi, who for the last twenty five years have been involved in supporting parents to develop sounding parenting skills. Listening to him about the different ways he and his wife do this made me feel that they have a heart that feels for parents and their children. 

Such people are the 'salt and light' in a troubled world!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

People denied of justice!

The Palestinians are returning to Gaza since the cease fire was announced by Israel and Hamas.  

When hundreds are returning to Gaza from their asylums where they spent a year or more, what do they find in their home towns? 

A devastating look, most of them having no trace of their houses; and others with partially destroyed houses and many with empty shells of their homes with no household possessions !

As I walked in our garden, I found the above rose flowers in a shrivelling state, at the end of their bright and colourful presence for several days. 

What appalled me was the 'no aid policy' of the USA articulated by the president and the neighbouring countries turning the other way, when hundreds would be living in Gaza in make shift conditions with no permanency of shelter or provisions to restore their lives to normalcy. 

The victims of war continue suffering unjustly. I feel lost that the United Nations Organisation appears unable to be proactive towards the rehabilitation of victims of war!

How can the nations of the world despise human life this way! 

How can Israel be so indifferent and stubborn to deny the Palestinians their territory to continue as a nation!

The voice of those, who take sides of the Palestinians is not strong enough to influence the nations, who are in a position to offer humanitarian assistance!

When human beings loose the humane approach to life and living, we return to a 'barbarian' culture! The rich nations of the world are into conquering the moon, mars and the outer space. But they are indifferent towards their hurting neighbours in Gaza!

There is a contradiction of justice and peace in the above approach!

I hope nations of the world would arise to make it easier for the Palestinians! I hope Israel will let the Palestinians live in Gaza and make that their homeland!

In a garden, if there are only withering roses, it suggests that the garden is left unattended!

Is that what the well to do nations of the world are to be known for, when the history of this season will be written for the future generation- that the wealthy and prosperous nations allowed the Palestinians to suffer  even after the war!

I wish the nations of the world declare war as uncivil and do everything to restore wellness to people who are victims of war!

The above rose bushes in our garden with the flowers in a withering state, remind me of hundreds of bruised and hurting families, walking with their children and shoulder bags, towards Gaza in search of their home.  Who caused these families to wither! The government of Israel and mindless behaviour of Hamas!

Now we add agony and despair to these families, if nations with resources do not come forward to extent a helping hand to redeem their future!  

Will the nations of the world share their humanitarian help to people of Gaza or be prisoners of the policy of the American president of 'no aid to Palestinians' !

Let voice of reason and compassion prevail!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)