Flowers and fruits

This rose flower and the rose apples fruits from our garden became my object of photography today in the evening!

Both of them caught my attention because they remained hidden and were 'accidental' discoveries!

Many good things are not always obvious!

We live in an environment of consciously projecting and popularising what exists or only remotely or faintly. There is disproportionate attention to what is marginal or superficial. The glamour we create for things which have only transient value exceeds all reasonable standards. The fashion business is a an  example of this.  We live driven by the market force of success and popularity. 

The rose flower was sagging behind a tall plant and the rose apples were visible only from beneath the foliage of the tree. They exist unnoticed.  They are both are equally important as the jasmine flowers or the custard apple fruits, which are in the prominent place in the garden, therefore always visible. 

Let me therefore suggest that it is not what others who ought decide the value of our presence or service. We are called to live from within and fulfil our mission. Sometimes we get acknowledged; most of the other times, the only encouragement is the consciousness of faithfulness to our calling!  

I had a brief conversation yesterday with Dr K.C.Mammen, the founder medical director of the MOSC Medical mission at Kolenchery. Although he has limitations on account of his advancing age, he sounded clear about many things. In response to a complement for what he was able to do at the Medical Mission, Kolenchery, he said that, 'I am glad that I was able to fulfil my longing to serve people in a needy area'! What he accomplished through his life time of service is a hospital which later became a medical college. But he remains content by the opportunity he had to serve others! 

It is not in adulation or commendation we might receive we can find our fulfilment, but in the quiet witness within us of the rightness of our being and doing! 

Many good things in life remain unknown to others! That is what Jesus of Nazareth commented about: Let not the right hand know what the left hand does!

St Paul referring to himself said that, his ambition was to lead a quiet life, mind his own business and work with his hands. What he spoke or wrote, which appear as the epistles of the New Testament in the Bible, became life giving only after his life time! 

Let the new year mission for us be: Live our lives fully, finding the joy of being ourselves!

The hiddenness of  the rose flower or the rose apples did not  diminish their specialness! They have an equal place in the garden !

Between one who got the first prize and the last one, there is a difference apparently. But what is common between them is that both have been given the portion which was needed at that time!

There is more to life than what we seem to achieve! Life is radiant expression of the giver of Life. 

M.C.Mathew(text an photo)