I happened to notice a carpet of fallen flowers on the road and in the lawn outside the Big Bungalow of the Christian Medical College, Vellore in the Bagayam campus, during a recent visit.
The colour of flowers on the ground being different from the plants in the lawn, I looked around to see the source of the flowers. That is when I noticed that the road in front, about twenty meters away too had a spread of the yellow flowers.
When I looked around I found the two trees (photos below) with their thick foliage and interlacing branches, had covered the walkway and road, both of which had a spread of the fading and fallen flowers.
When I was in a North Indian city, I happened to hear the story of a man, who following a bone marrow transplant at CMC Vellore was living well after fifteen years. The transplant was done on account of non responsiveness to other modalities of treatment for Leukaemia. His narration of the experience at CMC Vellore, spending about two months during the treatment, was one of joyful recollection of pleasant experiences, where he received the gift of hope to live with through the interaction with the health care team and the Chaplains who visited him. He is now a member of a group who visits those with cancer and its complications to offer support. He said, 'I was cared for at CMC and it is my turn now to care for others' !
Seeing the flowers scattered farther away from the trees, reminded me of this story!
In most parts of India, we could come across some who have had some connections with CMC Vellore and stay with many happy memories.
During a conversation with a member of the faculty of CMC, I heard him say: ' What we do is little. It is God who multiplies our efforts like what Jesus of Nazareth did to multiply the five loaves and two fish given to Him by a boy, to feed the five thousand people who gathered to hear Jesus!
I was moved by this orientation.
To be able to have such an attitude to work and service is noble ! To stay mindful of God at work in the lives of people, whom we care for is an attitude of humility and gratefulness!
The scattering of the flowers even when they were fading and drying carried a message to me.
Each of us has a season of blossoming after which we too shall fade away. What we are to others during this season is what matters. We are given to give.
The flowers in the pot illustrates this even more. They flower where they are planted!
A doctor in a telephonic conversation yesterday told me that he views his work as an opportunity to plant a seed of friendship in the lives of people who visit him!
How refreshing it is to hear such stories that call us to live with a purpose while in the practice of medicine!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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