From colourful life to Fruitful life!

I have fascination for autumn colours. Whenever there wan opportunity to visit places I looked out for an autumn season just because of the colourful sights the trees provide in a garden or streets or courtyards. 

I find this a s metaphor in life, worth pondering upon. 

I listened recently to a long introduction to a person before he was to speak in a meeting, which was a list of his achievements, qualifications, roles of responsibilities and decorations he received! I felt good for him. He was presented to the gathering as an inspirational example for young people to look upto to pursue their aspirations and ambitions. In his speech he elaborated on his successful career and the eminence to which he had arisen over a period of time. 

When the puzzle between two political leaders was going on as to whom would be the Chief minister, of a state which went to the assembly polls in India recently, both of them projected their achievements and capacities to score a brownie point over the other person. Yes, both of them had a colourful life, of rising to be eminent political leaders in their state. In the bargain to be considered to be the chief minister, each of them stated as to why the other person is not so suitable. Their sense of ability to be in the leadership position involved belittling the other in order to be seen as more eligible. 

While this ugly scene was emerging to be an embarrassment, a political leader made a comment that the two aspirants to the post of Chief minister,  are members of a party, which Mrs Sonia Gandhi led for more than two decades. She was chosen to be the parliamentary party leader of her party, when the congress party won the parliament election, nineteen years ago, which meant that she was to be the Prime Minister of India. Mrs Gandhi declined that right to be the prime Minister and gave way to Dr Manmohan Singh, who became the Prime Minister of India for two terms. Here was Mrs Sonia Gandhi abdicating her position to someone she thought was more suitable in response to 'the voice form within'! That was how she described the reason to give way for someone else,  much against the popular opinion in her party. 

To me, this is the trap that most of us fall into, when we have a colourful life. We can become so aspirational that we subtly keep pursuing to be more visible, influential, and popular!   

There is therefore a strong personal persuasion to seek to be regarded and resourceful, when one is overcome by the aspiration to lead a colourful life!

Jesus of Nazareth spoke a parable about a colourful man (Luke.12:16-21), who had a rich harvest and did not having space to gather and store the grains. His thought was to tear down his barns to build a larger one to store the grain, saying to himself, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come, take your ease, eat, drink and be merry'. Jesus concluded the parable, wondering what would be his state, if his life was shortened by the inevitable! The final word of Jesus was: 'So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God'!. 

The colourfulness of life that we seek after, is an earthly treasure for ourselves. It is occasional that people would leave the path of seeking more colourfulness to be self giving to prosper the wellness of others. 

As against this colourful pursuit, I saw another phenomenon in nature, which was fruit bearing. The two photos below were taken from the gardens in the courtyard of two homes. 

The tree gives the fruits for others to receive and be refreshed. Often trees have no choice who shall pluck the fruits or how they pluck them. Some, while plucking the fruits damage the branches and make them suffer. The trees bring their fruits in due season. 

This phenomenon in nature engaged me considerably in the recent days. It occurred to me that the calling in life is to be fruitful, so that others find our life and living, as a means to receive resources and strengths to live their lives !

I had a telephone call from a friend who having superannuated twice from his work in two hospitals decided to volunteer to work in another hospital which was struggling to keep it going due to shortage of doctors. When he called me to ask about treatment of a child who had turned violent, I was rather surprised that he, in his seventies was active and available. When I enquired about it he said, 'what is life unless it is shared with others'!

That was a statement of his vocation!

To so live that there is a giving and sharing heart, as much as it is possible, is a message I received from the conversation with him. He did not receive  a honourable exit from one place from where he superannuated, as his colleague, whom he nurtured to the leadership, undid in less than three months of his retirement, some  of the projects he established to benefit people in need in the rural community. I sensed a grieving tone in his voice. That did not deter him from pursuing more self giving. He told me that others have a claim on his time, experience and skills.  That is like being a tree, which gives away its fruits, surrendering its right to others to live on!

I feel moved by this way of living! I wish this to be a worthwhile pursuit in life!

I was reminded of this when a family told me yesterday at the end of the last consultation,  'Thank you for giving us all the time we needed'! Actually the father took less time than I thought that he would need. He had to call his wife twice during the consultation,  who works in the United Kingdom, to get more details about his son who is two years old, currently struggling with his language development. A sense of lostness was on his face as he is back in India, having resigned his job in the UK to attend to his son. His voice was resonant of grief and separation from his other two children and wife ! It was then, it dawned on me that the gift of time is a fruit that others long to receive from us!

To live bearing fruits for others is a vocation!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)