Sights that surprise you!

A web on a leaf and a tiny visitor to a flower!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

A new arrival!

Anna and I talked between ourselves several times about the missing birds for the last one month, since the tall trees were trimmed in preparation for the monsoon! 

The return of a Drongo brought some cheer and hope !

Sometimes, we do many things without considering the impact it can have on others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Five years and moving on...!

This photograph taken just before we presented to the management of MOSC Medical college the journey and way marks, of the department of developmental paediatrics and child Neurology!

A poster presentation of the activities,  and the way forward!

It was a joyful and fulfilling occasion for me because the five years were significant years!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Papaya in the first year!

Sasi plucked this papaya fruit from the plant which he tended for the last one year. It is not so common that the fruits come in the first year!

Sasi has been the gardener for five years since we came to live in this cottage! His diligence and faithfulness have made life easier for us!

On this Easter day, Anna and I spend sometime recollecting all those who make our living easier. Shymala is one other person who looks after all the household responsibilities. Sasi and Shyamala are remarkable care providers!

M.C.Mathew(text and poto)

The dew of the night!

Dew is the gift of the night!

There is grace abundant given to plants in darkness! 

Darkness is essential to the rhythm of nature!

Most of us go through 'dark' periods in our lives sometime or other!

The dark period therefore is a necessary season in our lives! There are some special experiences of life which can occur only during dark seasons.  

The pain or loneliness or rejection or anger we experience make us consider that as a dark season in our lives...that is how we would feel...but they can become dew to our soul because such 'difficult' experiences have a nourishing, healing, upbuilding or transforming effect in our lives, once the initial shock and grief are behind us! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Calm and still on a windy mid day!

I watched this butterfly in our garden on a rose bush staying still even when the wind was blowing!

I have been through a turbulent season on account of having had to be associated with some organisational matters for about 18 months!

What helped me to go through the turbulent period was periods of stillness and calmness! What can one do during short periods of quietness to experience interior stillness. There are three or four transitional experiences. 

When we stay quiet thoughts crowd our minds. As we pay attention to them they seem to fade away. Then there is an in between period of interior stillness disturbed by thoughts, following which if we can converge on a word or phrase when other thoughts invade our consciousness, the in between periods of stillness would expand into longer periods of stillness. It is this experience which will draw us into solitary stillness where we are free of thoughts or wanderings of mind. This is the outcome of stillness-Rest! 

When our mind is in a state of rest, it is a preparation for communion with God of our lives! Those who practice this way of experiencing communion with God would find the process becoming easier and effortless over a period of time!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

All is not well in our attitude!

Few days before Easter, 2018 on the Salem- Coimbatore highway!  The chickens have a prolonged dying experience the way they are transported! Anna and I watched five such sights during our nine hour journey on the road !

We talk and advocate against cruelty to animals... many animals suffer silently and all those acts of unmindful behaviour escape public attention!

Humans are created with the prospect of being  kind!

I no more see this during the national Television discussions. There is harshness, cynicism, anger, accusations and verbal attacks! I see politicians , TV anchors, guest speakers, etc consider other as 'opponents' and not as collaborators for human wellness!

This needs attention! A dialogue or debate for me is to listen to revise my thinking or enhancing my understanding and for sharing my side of the story for the benefit of others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)