A contrast!

Nature is a silent teacher!

While camping in a retreat centre couple of weeks back, I noticed this sight in the morning at a distance. One hill top was covered with clouds and was only partially visible. The other was brightly lit in the morning sunshine and its treasure was laid open for any one to behold!

These two sights came upon me as symbols of human nature. Some people live their lives protected by the insulation they provide for themselves. They would use their  position, acclaim, success, popularity, skills, etc. to insulate themselves from revealing their true self. 

Some others live their lives transparently inviting others to read their lives. They convey an openness even when they make an error of judgement. They live and relate to enhance communication and mutuality!

I wish, we would choose to live our lives publicly and as an open book!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Stories from medical history!

At a conference last week, I heard Sojan Iype talk about his neurosurgical training and the animal work which he did during the training years. He was the first one in India to explore if omentum can be used to re-vascularise a part of the brain which suffered ischaemia. The work was done in different animals. While referring to this experience, he mentioned how knowledge expansion was a passion for his teachers, Dr. K.V.Mathai and Dr. Jacob Abraham. The former advanced in trying newer approaches in neuro-surgery and the latter spent time for finding new treatment modalities through basic science research. Dr.Sojan at the end of his training came to central Kerala to establish the first neuroscience department with neuroimaging facility in the early nineteen eighties. 

Dr. Jeyaseelan referred to his contribution of creating a simple  statistical software to calculate the sample size of patients and controls required to be recruited for clinical research. This was in response to the requests of many students of research, who needed such a simple tool for initiating research.  

I was glad to have had an opportunity to photograph these two pioneers, when Dr. Sojan was handing over a memento to Dr. Jeyaseelan in acknowledgement of his contribution to the research methodology workshop. 

The hundreds of unspoken contributions of many women and men in the practice of medicine are too significant to be lost during the passage of time. We require to bring the professionals together to tell us stories, lest we forget the strands that weave the medical history in our country!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)       

An alarming trend!

I have a strong suspicion that the smart phones, computers, internet, video games, movies, etc would gradually displace our social and family times! The trends are in that direction. 

The marketing of this fast communication culture is cleverly done with no respect for the harm it causes to privacy, family times and personal space. 

The scientists are alert to warn us of the several health related risks and disadvantages due to the habitual use of mobile phones. But they escape the attention of the users as the advertising techniques are emotionally captivating.  

Let me suggest that we use the land phones whenever possible. Some international airports still have the same number of land line phones for common use  in spite of them being less commonly used as  people carry their own personal phones. This to me is a message that the land phones are risk free.

Human behaviour seems to be more and more controlled by conditioning influences. I wish we would counter it by restricting mobile phone use only when a land line is not accessible!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)    

A second visit after thirty years!

I recently returned to view this painting after thirty years. It was painted by a medical student portraying his friends who were surgically interested, watching an operation done in an archaic setting. This painting adorned different rooms at the Christian Medical College, Vellore in the past. Its present place is in the Director’s office. 

I was given the permission to be alone to observe this painting for most part of a morning, which gave me time to connect with some of the students in this painting, with whom I have maintained some contact over the years. 

I spent time meditating on the body language of the students which the painter captured with prophetic accuracy. Most of them have become temperamentally and behaviourally what the body language predicted about themselves. 

It is an amazing painting that reveals and instructs about human formation!

By the time we are adolescents we have already imbibed our inner orientation from the tapestry of our experiences!  

So childhood and adolescent years are formative years which need protection and promotion for integrative formation!

M.C.Mathew(texta and photo)  

Returning home!

This painting in one of the rooms of the Big Bunglow at CMC Vellore held my attention for its brilliance and theme. 

The colour of the painting suggests that it is the dusk when the clear sky is crimson with a radiant hue of lighter colour on the clouds. The Light before the darkness! The light is radiant and bright in a splendid fashion, easy for the eye to behold, in the background of darkness that is setting in  slowly. The darkness is stifling, threatening and restricting in nature in one way. Before the restraining impact of darkness can impact us, there is a glow of grace in abundance for humans to receive. This Light is the symbol of the eternal Light that Jesus of Nazareth brought to humanity through His earthly presence- the light which is hope generating amidst the darkness and gloom around. The barren trees in the painting remind us of the ‘desert’ climate which prevails. We too can have seasons of inner desert experiences sometimes in our lives! 

The theme of this painting is ,'returning home’! The two humans and a dog walking back after the day’s labour!. As it is often, the woman bears the burden of the load of firewood on her head and walks couched. It is an awakening call to humanity to recognise that women who opt to bear the burdens of the rest of the family, is the source of grace in our homes. The man with is work implement is less couched and walks freely. Men seem to opt to live their lives, less connected with the realities of the burdens of others in the family by self congratulating for for being the wage earner of the household. Much is expected from the one to whom much is given! Men can bear the burdens of others little more! The dog leads them in to their way home. The dog has become their companion tarrying with them through the day to take them back to their home ! The dog reminds of them of the home all through the demanding work load of the day and waits for them to return! The dog calls them back to their centre, the home,  lest the struggles of daily living tempt them to go on working! The dog seems to represent the mission of the Spirit God in human hearts calling us to return to God who is our home. 

In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah suggests that ‘..in return and rest you shall be saved..’(Isiah.30.15)

Let me thank the painter, who conveyed such a meditative theme in his painting. 

Sow a seed and harvest a fruit!

This is the first pine apple we gathered from our cultivation in our front lawn. Anna served it for our guests, who thought it was fresh and tasteful!

What was it like, waiting for about six months, to see the fruit grow from what it was, when it first appeared in the plant! A season of anticipation and watching over it! The squirrels and rats are fond of pine apple. It escaped their attention.

There is a metaphor to life from this experience.

When we came to live in the cottage in this property twenty months back, we had no idea of how we can make the environment eco-freindly. Anna and I had no farming experience. We could not even guess about the fertility of the land. We began with no foreknowledge or skills. 

Now since we started seeing plants and trees grow in the property, we realise that earth shall produce a yield, when it is cultivated and cared for. 

So beginnings and growth are directly linked to the efforts we make.

I come across many people who hesitate to start on an entrepreneurial journey because of fear or uncertainty of the future. We should not be like what Jesus of Nazareth spoke about- a man who having received a small portion of money decided to store it under the earth rather than invest it to get interest!

The little things we do as acts of kindness shall bear fruit. Every small good deed shall sprout to it fullness!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo) 

What lies within us!

We make external journey to discover nature, sights, scenes, monuments, etc. We discover what we set out to find!

There is  an  inner journey one ought take to discover meaning of experiences, life-events, relationships, achievements, etc!

Yesterday, while talking to someone whom I know for about twenty years, I came across a new dimension of his personal inner journey to grow in the art of being mindful of others. One of his colleagues looked distraught at work. He initially ignored it. But he felt compelled to enquire from him if all was well! That led to a disclosure which needed attention and action. He was prompt in helping him because of which his disappointment could be resolved!

While sharing the details of this event, he mentioned about the inner consciousness of the need which he felt while observing his colleague. He responded to it promptly.

It is a consciousness  all of us can cultivate by practice. All meaningful inner journey would be possible only if we cultivate a sensitive spirit to discern the inner movements that take place in response to what we see, hear, or read! That inner vigilance can guide us to revisit experiences to draw meaning and insight which can bless our lives. Our inner alertness is the flash light that reveals the truth submerged in the inner recess of our lives!

The treasures hidden within us can be more valuable than the pursuit of 'things' we desperately seek after!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)