Light reveals!

I got interested in the bird call of this Magpie Robin, because there was a mild variability in each call!

In the series of photographs above, I saw its bird calls, by turning to different directions.  I noticed that the light falling into the floor of mouth, in the last photograph, illuminated the floor of the mouth.  It became translucent with the light shining outside through the skin. That photo to me, was special because it showed the illuminating property of light, which reveales all that is around. 

Jesus of Nazareth once said: 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12)

That statement came to my mind as I was editing these photographs. 

The presence of Jesus illuminates human conscience and reveals truth about oneself. On one occasion, the people were about to stone to death, a woman who was accused of marital infidelity. Jesus when asked whether it was right to stone according to the Mosaic law, He turned to the crowd who had come with stones in their hands and Sid: 'He who is without sin, among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her'! (  John 8:7)

Jesus having said this, looked down and kept writing on the ground with his fingers. One by one, all left and the woman escaped the wrath of people. Jesus sent her away, telling her to sin no more!

The presence and words of Jesus illuminated the conscience of each person present there,  and made them aware of the truth about themselves. 

How dark can be our conscience! Jesus of Nazareth speaking on this theme said: Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye and do not notice the log that is in your own eye'(John 7:3). 

I feel that the illumination of human conscience is made possible when we receive and respond to new truths we are shown by the Light that shines within us. Jesus of Nazareth had something profound to say on this: 'If therefore the flight that is in you, is darkness how great is the darkness'? Our conscience is that light. God who is the Light shines upon our conscience  and make it our light for our path 

One recent phenomenon with more job opportunities for nurses from India in Australia, New- Zealand, Canada, Ireland, U.K, etc many nurses in the last two years  were forced to leave their infants under the care of husband or grandparents and take up the job overseas. I came across instances when breast feeding got discontinued even at four months. When one family brought their one year old child with signs of fretfulness, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances, I wondered whether it was because of Separation Anxiety State. When mother came for her vacation, two months later, the child showed signs of recovery, which helped the parents to decide in favour of taking the child to be with them at the end of vacation. While listening to this story, I came across a turning point in the attitude of the parents. On the first night when mother came for her vacation, the child was willing to be consoled. This behaviour helped the mother to realise that her absence had affecter her daughter. 

That realisation was a new consciousness about the emotional and social needs of their daughter. 

The mother's conscience received enlightenment!

We do not see the whole truth sometimes !

There are times, when the truth confronts us when we are ready to act on it!

The religious consciousness in its ugly form is suspected to be behind the Manipur crisis; when God consciousness dawns on us, we live the vocation of the good Samaritan!   

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A nesting pair!

A friend noticed the movement of a red vented Bulbul in the croton plant behind the college canteen. On close inspection, there was a nest in formation with a Bulbul in the nest  We spotted another  Bulbul perched in the adjacent tree.  

A few days later the nest looked more complete and a pair of Bulbuls were perched in the adjacent tree. 

It is a busy area where cars are parked and people move frequently. Bulbuls are known to nest near human habitation. It was a pleasure to see a nest evolve into an artistic creation. 

It is when we watch such sights, we get a sense of the way in which each avian species lives expressing its uniqueness. 

No nest would look similar to another one, as each species is choosy about its design and choice of materials to make it.

Birds are planners and designers !

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)   

 

The second letter in post in 2022 !

 This letter which arrived last week was sent to us by our grandchildren. 

The school where they go to had an exercise of visiting public institutions, like the post Office, Bank, etc. as part of the environmental education in the school curriculum. The three grandchildren wrote and drew letters to us and wanted to post it in the post box. But the post box was wet with water from the rain. So the post office received the letter and sent it to us through the regular mail. Amy had sent us message to take a photo of the letter and send it to the children for them to know that that their letter had arrived. 

Children had wondered as to why a letter had to be sent, which would take a week or so to reach when message on phone was available.  We heard form them that there were only three letters which had arrived by post in the office on that day for delivery. They had a similar number to send to other places. The use of postal service for personal correspondence has declined considerably. 

This was the second personal letter we received this year, the earlier one a few months ago, from Drs Val and Frank Garlick. Anna or I have not sent any personal letter by post during this year so far. All our personal communications are through e-mail or SMS.

It is years, since I have seen a post card or an inland. They were the mostly used means of communication when I was growing up.

A changing world with more conveniences and quicker communication! The charm of writing a letter with hand is still cherished by some. I write most of the letters by hand while writing to the administration in the hospital, to keep that habit alive!

Anna and I felt enthused by the school did to our grand children. Amy made it happen. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A furious squirrel !

I heard the squawking of a squirrel outside the guest house where I was staying. I noticed a squirrel on the raw brickwork of the terrace. The squirrel looked at me with an anxious look. The two following pictures of its fierce face and heightened squawking with variable tones and loudness made me wonder whether my presence or taking photos disturbed the squirrel.

I stopped taking pictures and it settled down gradually.  The last picture is that of a settled state after the initial agitation. 

It is the first time I came face to face with such an intense agitation of a squirrel! 

Even a squirrel seeks privacy, it seems. I seem to have intruded into its space. I am on the look out to get more information about squirrel behaviour and about any known intimidating factors!

Another learning experience!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)