Overflowing from fullness !

This is the fourth recollection during this week, of my association with Mr L.T.Jeyachandran during a period of three years at Nagpur in the late nineteen sixties.  It was the news of his illness which evoked within me a deep feeling of gratitude for his gift of love and regards I received when I was looking for a direction my life. 

I happened to come across a book a few months ago, In the heart of the temple-My spiritual vision for Today's word, authored by Joan Chittister, published in 2025. She belongs to the Benedictine order of spiritual tradition and has authored other books, considered to be full of treasures for those who want to deepen their personal spirituality. In this book, Joan expressed her vision by discussing sixteen themes which invites a contemplative attention to spirituality. 

The themes such as Work, Simplicity, Stewardship, Prayer, empowerment, wholeness, Equality and Vision which are the few of the sixteen themes in this book, were the themes Jeya explored in his talks and meditations during the season when he was at Nagpur in the late sixties. While reading this book, I felt taken back to the seeds Jeya planted in his talks, which at that time escaped our full attention as most of us were infants in faith. 

What occurred to me while reading the book was a sense of wonder about the prophetic sense Jeya carried in preparing us for a long journey in our pilgrim journey, by anchoring us on deeper issues of the soul from the start.  

One aspect of his instructive teaching was that the more we meditated on what we heard, the more we were surprised by the embedded truth. It became a habit for me to write notes while listening to him as much as possible, so that there was something to read and receive every day till the next Bible study. His messages appealed to our mid, moved our heart and aroused a longing for God. A speaker or writer who can do that, is the one who speaks or writes from the depth of his or her being. 

His talks and Bible studies were fresh every time like the way a new day is different from the previous day.  Where would such freshness and endearing message spring from except from a personal meditative habit! Among us students, who were young in faith, this habit we noticed in Jeya, became an inspiration to be faithful in developing the personal habits of meditation and prayer. 

What was outstanding about the content and quality of conversation with Jeya was the Christo-centricity he brought to his thought world. His reference and exposition of the sermon on the Mount illustrated how much he prepared himself to stay rooted in what would make a person wholesome and integrated. 

The book, Hunger for Reality, by George Verver was recommended for reading for beginners in their faith journey. The author introduced the theme of dichotomy in personal life- the gap between what we profess and practice. I recall the occasion when  Jeya brought this to our level of understanding, by referring to the struggle and  confession that St Paul made about himself, appearing in Romans 7: 14-25; "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish'. I have a vivid memory of how Jeya freed us from the burden of our faltering steps by referring to the experience of an infant learning to walk by falling several times. The child falls into the receiving hands of his mother or father safely, to be lifted up to make the next effort to walk. 

Although these experiences  happened about fifty five years ago, they had left impressions which had a recurring impact in my life. I was prone to wandering in my pilgrim journey. But some of these truths that we as students saw in flesh in the way Jeya lived in the market place of his work, substantiated to us the words of Jesus, "I am with you always..' !

Jeya and a missionary heart. That is why he chose to be in a transferable job. Jeya would talk to us about mission hospitals and cross cultural health care in rural areas in north India. That was the first introduction to me about thinking beyond the conventional path of following a career path in the practice of medicine. It was from him, I got introduced to think about practice of medicine as a calling ! I feel glad as I look back, because that consciousness helped me in my formative process !

The contact with Jeya for a season of three years offered me thoughts and direction to build on. 

I have had occasional contacts with Jeya after his time at Nagpur. He went on to live and work in different places initiating many into a faith journey ! 

Anna and I remember Jeya and Esther at this time when they adjust to a difficult situation their lives. They stay in our thoughts and hearts!

 M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Looking upward, forward and backward!

                              

Seeing these three Mynah birds at the feeding station in our garden yesterday, who were in three different postures brought memories of the way Mr L.T.Jeyachandran engaged in conversations with young people! He conveyed an integrated and holistic view in his conversations and talks in meetings. 

Jeya lived in the present, and yet reflecting meaningfully of the journey we are on in the earth, with our history of the past and the promise of the future! He invited young people to journey in life, "Looking unto Jesus..." who leads us to the truth beyond the transient and temporal experiences. He had a desire for us as students to experience the authentic reality of God "in whom we live, move and have our being".

Jeya presented to us in his talks at meetings the imagery of a loving and healing God. In his exposition of the parable of the Good Samaritan, he introduced the Good Samaritan as one who lived thinking of every one as his neighbour. The Priest and the Levite who passed by the wounded person, had yet to grow out of seeing unfamiliar people as strangers. To hear such insights when we were students in our formative journey, helped us to  imbibe the foundations for our thinking. 

One aspect that fascinated me about Jeya was his approach to work and responsibilities in his engineering practice. His sense of diligence and excellence at work place was an exceptional outlook to work life in a government office. I remember a colleague of him once mentioning, that Jeya viewed his work as worship. I recall what he used to quote, 'we work because God is at work'. His view of work was co-creating with God to bring fullness of God into the lives of ours. His approach was to avoid to keep any file pending to speed up the process of decision making and implementation of the project. It involved staying back at work place beyond the usual office hours, which he did with ease and comfort. For us as students, it offered us a different view to regard 'work as a calling'! 

The personal spirituality Jeya practiced was based on the Bible and was Christocentric. He arrived at this position in his life after a thorough enquiry into the world of philosophy and experiencing a personal revelation in his life of a loving God.  Jeya, during his talks would refer to Bertrand Russel or Lenin, or agnosticism  or existentialism to bring us aware of the truth that was beyond all of these in the sayings and practice of Jesus of Nazareth. His familiarity with the voices that young people would come across gave him an advantage to move them beyond reason and to embark on a faith journey with God! 

Such an approach was personally helpful to me as I was strong in view of communism as a means for social justice and equity. Jeya used the  voluntary confession of Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10) that he would give half of his riches to the poor and return four times whom he defrauded when he met Jesus, as an illustration to me as how an inward transformation is more effective and lasting than living for a philosophy. I feel that was the turning point in my journey, when I got introduced to Jesus and His teachings to embrace it as the way of life. 

I recall how patient Jeya was with all of us who meandered in our conversations. He listened with his heart patiently to make us feel heard and loved! There was no sense of hurry or judgement in his attitude and responses.  He had a space in his thoughts for those who were struggling to find the path. His friendly attitude was deeply comforting. 

Jeya had a significant influence in the lives of many others. I got to know of this from an occasional reference he would make about his nearness to some key people in the student movement that he was associated with. It was during his time at Nagpur the student movement was enlarging its presence to the states in the North and North East. Jeya was requested to be present as a speaker in the meetings which formulated plans to get in touch with college students to help them in their formative journey. 

I remember how Jeya functioned as a conciliator in difficult circumstances when senior leaders of the student movement had disagreement and experienced tension in relationships. His open ended view of difficult situations freed people from being weighed down by guilt or anger. Jeya was a peace seeker and finder in such situations. 

The mid nineteen sixties in India was different with no easy telephone access or colour TV or internet access. We grew up building relationships and finding friendships that would upbuild us. To have found Jeya as a friend and a formator was truly a timely blessing for many of us in our student days. He saw us through the optic of who we can become! It was this thought and aspiration for us which made him involve in our lives in a formative way! 

I look back at this season of my medical student days and consider this contact with Jeya for about three years as a pathfinder season in my life! His was a self giving involvement with some of us at Nagpur Medical College to lead us to faith in God and to encourage us to grow up to serve people in need.

Anna and I remember Jeya and Esther and think of them affectionately! We turn to God in prayer for their wellness !

 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

An ambassador to the Youth !

Let me continue recollecting my thoughts about Mr L. T. Jeyachandran, whose recent heath concerns prompted me to share memories and experiences of the time he spent at Nagpur in the late sixties. It was Mr T.V. Thomas a student of S.F.S College, who first spoke to me about Jeya and invited me to come for a Bible study that he conducted for students after the Sunday morning service of the All Saints Church. I was hesitant to go although I was a church goer, but not regularly. T.V. introduced me to Jeya after the church service. 

My first impression about Jeya was his spontaneity and cordiality,  with an interest to converse!  His surprise to see a native of Kerala state, studying medicine in Maharashtra led him to share about his own background. He after his engineering course went on to do his masters in structural engineering in IIT Madras, wanting to be a teacher in an engineering college. He shared about  his natural flair for teaching and befriending students. But he was equally interested to explore working in different parts of India because he was fascinated by people of different languages and culture.  In that half an hour of conversation before the Bible study, he came across to me as a charming and charismatic communicator with a versatile view of life and work. So I felt drawn to listen to his Bible study. 

His theme was the vision of Isaiah based on the 6 th chapter of the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. He engaged a group of thirty five students for forty minutes sharing insights by connecting and associating with people and events from the Old and New Testament books of the Bible. He would read out verses. He also quoted Bible verses verbatim from his memory.  His sense of humour, some of which was pointed  on him, made the listening easier and inspiring. His anecdotes and stories blended well with the theme that he was pursuing: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us. Here am I send me"? (Isaiah 6:8). For me, it was all new to hear that God calls and humans can respond! 

Following the formal meeting a few of us stayed back to have conversations with Jeya. As it was lunch time he invited us for a Dosa meal at the Liberty restaurant opposite the All Saints Church. The conversation centred on how Jeya happened to 'know God's call' in his life. I forget the details of the conversation. He deliberately chose to appear for the Indian Engineering Service selection after obtaining M  Tech in structural engineering from IIT, Madras in order to work in different places in India as the job would offer transfers once in three to five years. His reason for this was his interest in staying in touch with young people, mainly college students living in different parts of India. 

The nineteen sixties in India were a season of opportunities for students for college education. Many more professional colleges had come up after independence to offer training in Engineering, Medicine, and Business studies. It was also the time when the spill over of the hippie culture from the west, was trickling into college life. Jeya being aware of the snare of a permissive life style, was keen to be a restraint by being actively in touch with students. For him the person and the message of Jesus of Nazareth was that counterculture that he felt  he was 'called to echo' to the student community. This long conversation was all about a vision that Jeya decided to pursue in his life. 

I went back cycling to the medical college after this conversation, pondering over what I heard. The persona of Jeya was appealing and his courteous and thoughtful manners touched me deeply. It initiated me to read the Bible to become familiar with the person and teachings of Jesus. I started with the gospel of St. John. 

By the middle of the week, I felt that more conversation was needed to follow on the theme of seeking after God to know the call. That was when Jeya came to the medical college hotel to visit me one evening, which gave an unhurried time to get a sene of believing and following God. The sense of nearness that Jeya experienced in his relationship with God was evident and effusive. 

I got to know that almost every evening he had young people visiting him in his room to have personal conversations. 

During the next summer vacation when I came to my home for holidays, I was in a state of suspense about knowing God and following Him. A new building was coming up in the village opposite the school where I studied. I was told that it was for a new post office. I happened to meet two people speaking to each other about the good qualities of the executive engineer who was supervising the construction. They, the site engineer and the contractor, mentioned the name, Jeyachandran in the conversation. I wondered whether it was Jeya of Nagpur I knew. It was he they were referring to. They described this engineer as 'upright, efficient, and helpful'. That testimony about Jeya was another inspiration to  know more about the God about whom he often testified. 

I was only one among at least fifteen students who were similarly seeking to find this God what Jeya spoke about in his talks and conversations. 

Jeya was a good story teller as he was widely read. He would refer to biographies of people that had an inspirational appeal to young people. One anecdote that he mentioned once was from the life of C.T. Studd, a cricketer of repute in Britain, who later became a missionary to China. While he was in correspondence with his girl friend, whom he was considering to marry, C T Studd wrote that she ought to repeat to herself daily that 'She loved God dearer than Charlie'! Jeya was not yet married. But hearing this from him offered an insight about the expectations that he had about the person that he would marry.

There was warmth and gentleness in the way he associated with the student friends. He was clothed in humility and honesty! 

I feel grateful to have had an exposure to such a way of living in my mid twenties.

These recollections based on my experiences of him during a period of three years at Nagpur, at a time when Jeya is older with health concerns is to call the faithful journey of a person in his younger days, who had a longing for students to find their faith in God and grow up to serve others.  Anna and I fondly remember Jeya and Esther and carry them in our hearts in gratitude for who they have been as companions, to many young people in different parts of India! 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Living in the present !

I kept watching the Mynah feeding delightfully at the feeding station in our garden, looking towards the camera in between. The clouds gathered and threatened to rain, which made the bird fly away to find its shelter. 

It became a symbolic experience to recollect how events can occur at least expected times to change our circumstances and comfort level. I had such an experience recently, which was sandwiched between delightful experiences. 

That is the pattern of the mosaic of life, living and learning!

I write while watching the wind and rain that followed the cloudy sky which is in the photo above. It subsumed the sunshine and nature's dance in the gentle cool breeze of the morning. This made me think that we live each day surrounded by a mixture of experiences. 

How important it is to live remembering the joyful and fulfilling experiences of each day, remembering that they refresh us and enliven us. 

It was while watching the photos of the sequence of feeding of the Mynah above, I sensed its delight and fullness of presence to make that occasion good enough! Its delight was in being present to the present. 

When the rain receded and the sun reappeared in the sky, three Mynahs arrived at the feeding station. That brought the celebrative mood of the avians into focus! The Bulbuls too arrived to be present to each other!

Oh, yes, the Mynahs and Bulbuls remind me of living in the present, which is real and experiential!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Living the Calling-1

 

I recall the first meeting with Mr L. T. Jeyachandran of Indian Engineering service, after he led a Bible study for students on a Sunday morning at the Christa Mahila Sadan, in the All Saints Church campus, Nagpur in 1969. His warm handshake after the Bible study with a radiant smile on his face expressed a language of thoughtfulness, kindness and friendliness. It was during those Sunday Bible study, week after week and prayer meetings on Saturday evenings at the same place, I felt awakened to consider that being a medical student has a larger purpose than just training to be a doctor for a career path. I heard from him for the first time, phrases like, call of God, following Jesus, living for a purpose,  serving as a vocation and living an integrated life. 

On one occasion a few weeks after the first meeting with Jeya, I went to a pen shop to get a fountain pen, located at Sadar, only a walking distance away from the Christa Mahal Sadan. It was before the prayer meeting on a Saturday evening. I was in a hurry to get to the meeting. The shop keeper happened to share with me an experience of his brother, who was an engineer. His brother came across a senior engineer in his department, who was polite, thoughtful, caring and not corrupt. He told me that he came to All Saints Church on Sundays. He wondered if I knew him! 

The way Jeya was known and regarded, brought yet another impression about Jeya as a person with a mission in his life. 

A few weeks later, when he came to visit some of us at the Medical college hostel, cycling 10 kilometres from Dharampeth where he lived,  confirmed that he had a mission to befriend younger people in order to encourage and lead them to discover their purpose in life.   He, through sharing his personal experiences of his student life brought a new dimension of finding a purpose to life. That was how I got introduced to read the Scripture and consider the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth! 

Jeya lived a simple life, occupying a small apartment in a middle class colony. He was a bachelor at that time. He ate from a hotel close by to his flat, where he would take anyone who visited him in the evening for a meal and conversation. 

In those early days of contact with him, what inspired me was his ability to quote verses from the Bible appropriately and use the verses to bring inspiration and encouragement. He would quote verses from the Bible during prayer which made prayer time  a communion experience in God's presence. He conveyed to the students a message of a loving God in whom we can trust to feel guided and enabled. That was how he led some of us towards coming to a personal faith and to grow in the consciousness of God's abiding presence. 

I chose the photo of a rose bush in this blogpost because, the first Bible study that I attended, which he was leading was based on the gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible, chapter 15. The verse he emphasised and expounded on was: "I am the vine and you are the branches; he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing"(v 5). His message was a loving invitation to welcome God's abiding presence in our lives. Beyond his gift of language, communication skills and ability to quote from his wide reading, what was explicit was the love and concern with which he addressed his listeners. His spoken language was bathed in love resonating gracefully in the listener's ears. 

His familiarity with the Bible and Biblical languages- Greek and Hebrew, left a deep impression within me. Seeing him live the message of the Bible in his personal life and in relationships, brought an inspiration for me to want to read the Scripture. I recall that as a good start in my  early twenties, when I was indulging in communist ideology by attending their cell group meetings.  

The several conversations with Jeya, some of which initiated me to consider studying medicine for a purpose of service were life changing. I felt pushed in to studying medicine by my parents and I carried a resentment towards my parents till I completed the pre-clinical studies. I had a dream to be a teacher like my parents. I also had an inkling to be a writer, but I did not have adequate literary skills to do that. My skills in English were most elementary. 

It was through conversations with Jeya, I felt gradually introduced to consider practice of medicine as a 'calling' to care for people at their vulnerable time of need. That 'education' I received through the conversations led me from an unsettlement to studying the medical subjects with greater attention and diligence. I felt surprised how my academic grade improved when learning became a 'calling'! 

Jeya was frequently invited to speak at meetings both at Nagpur and other places. He had a special ability to connect with younger people. He used his skills in music and singing, playing piano and well informed social and political world view, to engage young people into an apologetic conversations. It was awe inspiring to listen to Jeya when he touched upon matters related to life style. The western habits of indulgent life style following the hippie cultural impact, were creeping into student lives. He lifted our thoughts to a higher level of pursuit from merely seeking after pleasure, which he often well illustrated from the wisdom literature from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.  

It was while he was at Nagpur he got married to Esther and some of us were able to attend the wedding at Sagar. To see Jeya move on in life was a delight to watch because he had a found a companion in life who shared his wave length in calling and life style. 

The second opportunity to have more close contact with Jeya was when he was located at Chennai in the mid nineteen eighties after retirement, to pursue the apologetic approach to engage young people in personal spirituality. His teaching sessions and conversations carried wisdom and depth that he became a sought after speaker nationally and overseas. Anna and I lived in Chennai at that time engaged in the activities of ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre.

Anna and I were disturbed to hear last week that Jeya needs medical attention for an illness. We carry Jeya and Esther in our thoughts.

I have many more memories of conversation with Jeya. I thought I would begin with the initial season of contact with him in this post. 

Looking back, I recall that Jeya became a pathfinder, introducing me to pursue a purpose of service in the practice of medicine. Jeya lived his calling as a reminder to many to 'abide in God' ! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

We become ourselves through others!

The flowers in our garden have a drenched look due to regular rainy days in the last two weeks. They lack the brilliance and radiance of the winter days. A 'washed out look' was what one child of eight years  described it, during his visit to the  garden! The flowers are 'drained' of their  usual colour and vigour in the rain. 

I faced such a 'low spirit' within me on account of a demanding situation last week. To be vulnerable is a normal experience. But it is possible to remain inwardly alive amidst the stress of a difficult situations. 

I got in touch with people three times more than what I normally do on a Sunday with messages and a photo of a flower from our garden. I had responses appreciating the message and flower! That brought an inward aliveness and took away the heaviness that was lingering upon my soul.  

I experienced something of Ubuntu, which Archbishop Desmond Tutu popularised through his talks and writings, which when translated from a tribal language in Africa is, "I am because we are ".

Each of us becomes more or beyond of ourselves when we meaningfully relate to others around us. 

Jesus of Nazareth calling out for Zaccheus who was on a tree to see Jesus of Nazareth, came down when called by Jesus. Moved by the kind attention Jesus offered him as against others who would not create space for him to Jesus, because of which he had to climb a tree, made confession to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay any one fourfold whom he defrauded! It was because of Jesus, Zacchaeus became a whole person, freed from his acquisitive and possessive journey to be wealthy! (Luke 19: 1-19).

We are surrounded by 'neighbours' who have the ability to upbuild our lives in gentle and affirming ways. It is when we feel vulnerable or drained within, we ought to be reaching out to turn our vulnerability  into a gainful and redeeming experience. It is others who can carry us forward when we feel fallen or disheartened! It is the alert mother with outstretched hands, who waits to receive the falling infant while attempting to walk! That reassures the infant to be wanting to walk! 

We become who we can be through others! No wonder Jesus quoted the second commandment, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'! Often it is others who become our path finders when waylaid by difficult situations! 

I feel enthused by the thought that even the drenched flowers looking dull, carry a message of enlivenment !

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

A symbol of hope!

I send this flower bunch from our garden, to all students who are affected by the recurrent question papers leak in the NEET examination, which affected the prospects of some students to be chosen for medical studies! 

Anna and I feel with you and as you congregate in New Delhi and other capital cities in India to make your grief known to those in authority. 

As there is a bud in the flower bunch above, which is a symbol of hope  we too live in hope wishing you better days ahead of  you!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)