A silent chapel!

The chapel at the Christian Medical college campus is usually silent on Sunday evenings now as the chapel service is now held in another location for want of space. The corridor in front of the chapel  and steps in the back leading to the chapel were often crowded on an ordinary evening service. If it was a special service, more chairs were added inside the chapel. But even that did not create enough room inside.

The evening chapel service at the college and hospital campuses are special events for the community at the Christian Medical College,Vellore as many look forward to this community fellowship at the beginning of the week. The visitors to the chapel are from all faiths and they come to be inspired and to renew their vocation.

'Not to be served, but to serve', which is the motto of the institution is a noble calling and the chapel service is one occasion when this calling is renewed.

It is most encouraging that more people come for the worship, which is a symbol of the inward journey of faith many in the community are engaged in!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Different inspite of similar conditions.

I have been watching how these plants planted about fourteen years back outside the Big Bungalow in the  CMC campus at Bhagayam grow. The similar plants in pairs through the years maintained a different growth profile. Now the similar plants look different in height, shoots and foliage.

One of the regular comments I hear when talking to the leaders of different organisations is that people behave differently although they work and grow in similar circumstances and environment. The Biblical story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis. chapters :25, 27and 28)prop up in my mind with two different temperaments, habits, interests, attitude, self regard, work ethics, etc. when I listen to such narrations.

Often these differences  become a reason for misunderstanding, competition and conflict.

Instead, I wonder whether we can look at the elegant appearance of these plants just as they are, adorning the central part of the lawn, giving a grandiose look to the Bungalow, which is now nearing 100 years since its construction.   

Our differences in outlook or approach to issues do not matter if we have similar, values, God consciousness, serving attitude and loyalty to the mission we are engaged in. 

Let me suggest the God of our lives make us different to make the garden of His making rich and diverse just as it is the differently made pieces that constitute a puzzle. We are not meant for a solo journey of pilgrimage but together in mutuality and togetherness. The differences make the total even more rich and complete! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

A refreshing visit!

I was in for a surprise when I went to visit the Developmental Paediatrics Unit at CMC Vellore today in the morning.  They had arranged a birthday party for me much ahead of my birthday! I was touched by their kindness.

What surprised me even more is the gathering of young professionals from different disciplines to make it perhaps the largest department of its nature in any Medical School in in India. There was palpable purposeful cohesion in their team effort. 

I left this unit in 2009 on superannuation. Since its beginning in 1997, in partnership with ASHIRVAD Christian Concern for Child Care by incorporating its Child Development Centre at Chennai, to begin the Developmental paediatrics unit, this unit has moved on with distinction academically, professionally, and organisationally. I continue to be amazed by the spirit of care and mindfulness they convey to every family who visit them, although the demand for their services has quadrupled in the last six years.

I returned from this pilgrimage with hope surging in my heart about its future and that of the professionals!

What is that which brings the best out of us while performing our responsibilities. It is the trust and appreciation we communicate with an overt interest in their well being and formation! I see lot of that in the department.

When the work related demands increase, there is a need to increase the caring culture towards our colleagues. I sensed such an ambience today.


M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Summer blossoms!

Summer times bring some surprises.

Some plants thrive even when they are not watered or specially cared for. They adjust to the natural rhythm of nature and adapt themselves to live their life-cycle. They have no choice or prospects for a different existence.

Yesterday in a conversation I listened to an experience where the circumstances seemed to overwhelm a person to accept what was contrary to his need. He accepted a decision of the authorities that 

denied him an opportunity to pursue his rightful academic pursuit. He was rattled by this for a while.

Another opportunity which was offered to him after six months seemed to compensate for the loss of the earlier offer. Fifteen years later, when he looks back now, that opportunity led to a series of good academic progress in an area of his special interest in which he has acquired considerable proficiency. 

There can be a 'desert' like experience in our lives. But they are special times with a larger purpose beyond the initial trial or disappointment. 

To live with ease and confidence during a 'dry season' can have a formative impact in our lives. The difficult times would then become even more purposeful. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

Beliefs and behaviour!

It is common to find sign posts in pubic places to help people find their  direction and location.

It is not common to find elegantly crafted sign boards. So sighting this was indeed a surprise.

I asked a few people why this house alone is given a special status of a unique sign post. One of them mentioned to me that 'all the houses ought to have such visible and aesthetically prepared sign post'.

A good thought! The houses have impressive outer appearance, but the sign boards do not conform to its corresponding elegance!

This is a dichotomy in real life! There are mismatches in the way we function. A friend of mine travels in his car five kilometers to buy fish at five or ten rupees cheaper for a kilo. He would have spent almost an hour in this exercise and burned a litre of petrol! He looses a lot more while trying to save.

How can we live coherently with least paradoxes! A child helped me to understand this better. Ever since there has been the campaign for 'Swatch Bharat', this seven year boys insists on gathering the waste from the kitchen to make a compost. His sister is his helper in this. He told me in a conversation, that 'we keep the environment clean not to show others what we do, but because keeping the environment clean is our way of living'.

His focus was on integrative living by resonating in behaviour what he believes in!

Our beliefs determine our behaviour!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Father's day!

There will be Father's day celebrations globally next week!

Some of us are parents and grandparents. I wish there will be an international day set apart for  grandparents!  

As I gathered this photo for this blog post from my archives, I had mixed emotions. I was pleased with the father using a helmet in a state of India where wearing helmet is optional by law. I felt most encouraged by the safety consciousness with which he behaved.

The flip side was that there were three others in the motor bike, none with a head protective gear! 

A father is one who thinks beyond himself! He considers the needs of others in the family as his priority and attends to them with a sense of love and care!

Yesterday, I heard a three ear old child telling her father,'Daddy, you have a cycle and a car. I do not even have a tricycle'! The father turned to the mother and said, 'let us go and buy Suvita a bicycle this week end. It is the first time she is telling us about her interest in cycling '.

I was moved by this conversation. A child received attention and a response to her need!

A father's heart ought to be large and gracious. A father is also one who makes formative contributions to the life of the family members!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Hand is conditioned by the body!

As I watched this creation of an artist where a hand acquired different images, I felt fascinated by this art form.

In my conversation with some students who perform in stage  using this art form of hand movements to create designs, letters, words, shapes and patterns, I discovered something surprising. It is when they can control their body during a performance they can synchronise the movements of hands many persons to create a design or pattern. The body first then the hand!

Is it not revealing a greater truth! A body with different parts or members as they are referred to metaphorically in Biblical literature, co-ordiates and synchronises the movements of the hand.

This is a sociological phenomenon as well. It is a community  that controls or regulates an individual!

How is this community that we are part of! The road leading from our home to the main road was resurfaced couple of years back and is now in an unroadable condition. Where as, a road laid at the same time in another village has weathered two monsoons with no damage to its surface. The difference! One was poorly laid with the contractor ignoring the standard practices to save cost with the connivance of the supervisors. The other was well laid with adherence to good practices! The breach of good practices give permission to many to do similarly in their trade and profession. The adherence to good practices do not seem to have enough trickle down effect.

The 'body' governs the function of the hand. The community impacts the way an individual thinks, behaves and performs! 

We are a developing nation economically. I cannot say the same about our collective moral thermostat!

Let this collective moral consciousness and righteous attitude to life and living begin in each home!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)