The Generation Gap: In search for the optimal

In Every 20 years, a new generation happens. It always comes in a new way of look and outlook, priorities and value system . That’s why we have to try hard to ‘configure’ ourselves to the thought-patterns of the younger ones as well as the elder ones. To Strike the balance between the two is the key, along with identifying and solidifying our own identity.

There needs to be a lot of openness and readiness to be surprised, when dealing with persons of different generation bench. Most of our relations hit the dead end, neglecting this essential aspect of differences. We always speak about ‘discovering the similarities’, but ‘recognizing the differences’ should precede that. It should create the strong foundation of knowledge, understanding and adaptability that should facilitate the growth in togetherness with the other.

In his time....

"In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in His time
Lord, please show me every day, as You're teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say, in His time"


This hymn is made so beautiful with its divine sense of time.
It is important to have a Divine sense of time , that renders all our life experiences valuable 'in his time'.

All the harships we have benn through gets its real and enduring divine sense only in God's own time. It needs a lot of endurance and grace to know it.

what i am today is made of all that i had been through.
All that i am today is the formation of what i will be tomorow.
it is aninterconnected unity....
Lord, give me the wisdom to accept itin all gracefulness and hope

Our Winemaker God

Our God is a wine maker
He prepares his promises quite ahead
Prophecies are like wine,
It needs to time to ferment
It needs time to prepare the earth for it.
May be that’s why the Incarnation was proclaimed long ago,
In a more sensible situation….
And then vinify it ,over the times,
It prepared a people for it to receive,

The greatest promise ever made to humanity

Restoration and Redemption

There is a great difference between Restoration and Redemption.

It is the same difference between John the Baptist and Jesus.

John was asked only asked to restore and not the Redeem.

We call ourselves a failure when we attempt the redemption- part of the plan of God.

Redemption is the business of God.

Let God work his own part. in his own time, in his own way.

We shall not make ourselves miserable with the unnecessary.

A Book of Questions

Bible is a book of questions. It is more of a book of questions than a key of answers. The questions it posses are so fundamental that it will force you on a journey of inner discovery and a deep-rooted trust in the Divine-providence. In its very first question it asks; ‘Adam, where are you?’ It is an everlasting question reminding men of all the ages his unique place in the created universe.

When John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus to ask; “ Are you the one who is to come or are we wait for another?”, it becomes the question of the entire humanity in search of God. Even today and will ever be so also, there are many on the brink of the doubt sounding the same question to Jesus; “ Are you the One who is to come?” It is in the lives of such the true Christmas should happen.

The Many Myths Of the Magi????

i read this interesting article on Magi

The Many Myths Of the Magi
Were They Really Kings? Were There Really Three? And Did They Travel by Camel to Bethlehem?

By Benedicta Cipolla
Religion News Service
Saturday, December 8, 2007; B09

They came. They saw. They gifted.

That's about all we know of the foreign visitors who traveled to Bethlehem to see the infant Jesus.

The scene ingrained in the public imagination -- a stately procession of three kings in turbans, crowns, elaborate capes and fancy slippers, with an entourage of servants and camels trailing behind -- is a common image in books and films, but it isn't from Scripture.

In fact, there's no evidence in the Gospels that the Magi were kings, or even that there were three, much less that they sidled up to a manger on dromedaries exactly 12 days after Jesus's birth.

"Legends pop up when people begin to look closely at historical events," said Christopher Bellitto, assistant professor of history at New Jersey's Kean University. "They want to fill in the blanks."

Only the Gospel of Matthew mentions "wise men from the East" who follow a star to Bethlehem. In the original Greek, they were called magoi (in Latin, magi), from the same root that gives us the word magic. It's been posited that they were astrologers or members of a Persian priestly caste.

But what matters more than their number and status, say historians and Biblical scholars, is the fact that they were not Jews.

"For Matthew, the magic star leading the wise men to the place of Jesus's birth is his way of saying what happened in Jesus is for the Gentile world as well," said Marcus Borg, professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University and co-author of "The First Christmas."

After being warned in a dream to avoid the murderous King Herod, the Magi returned home "by another road." Metaphorically, that suggests they were transformed by their experience. While Matthew doesn't say they converted to Christianity, legend holds that they were baptized by St. Thomas and died in Armenia in 55 A.D.

The first artistic depictions of the Magi are found in second-century Roman catacombs, but it wasn't until the early third century, when Christian writer Tertullian referred to them as "almost kings," that they began to cultivate a royal air.

Their kingly designation also echoes biblical passages in Isaiah and the Psalms, keeping with the common belief that Jesus's birth was predicted in the Old Testament. Prophecies foretold gifts of gold and frankincense, two of the three gifts the Magi brought. The third, myrrh, was a burial spice, which some believe foreshadowed Jesus's death and resurrection.

Around the same time as Tertullian, Origen -- a theologian in Alexandria, Egypt -- set their number at three, likely because they carried three gifts, said Teresa Berger, a professor at Yale Divinity School.

Later, the wise men were portrayed as representatives of the three races of man as descended from Noah's sons -- Semitic, Indo-European and African.

Fast-forward to the sixth century, when a Latin document recorded their names as Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior and Balthazar, although the source is unknown. By the time their relics arrived at Cologne Cathedral in 1164, the Magi were venerated as saints, and festivals sprang up to honor them.

Today, Roman Catholics and some Protestants commemorate the Magi's visit with the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6. Orthodox Christians celebrate both Jesus's birth and the adoration of the Magi together, either on Dec. 25 or Jan. 7, depending on which calendar they follow.

The Magi might get short shrift in the United States compared with other countries, but they play an integral part in the Christmas story, cropping up in songs and often stealing the show in pageants.

William Studwell, a retired professor at Northern Illinois University and an expert on Christmas carols, chose "We Three Kings of Orient Are" as one of two "Carols of the Year" for 2007 to mark the song's 150th anniversary. He recalls his own Magi days fondly.

"It's one of the only things I remember about third grade," he said, "being one of the kings."

Neglected sheeps

The classic gospel story of the lost sheep (Mt 18:12-14) is often meditated by keeping the 99 ones in favorable light. Is it true?It is the need of the times to notice the 99 ones, even before thinking of going back in search of the lost one. It is sad the other 99 gets little care whereas all celebration is made in honour of the one brought back. The shepherd in Jesus story should have been so sensible, but sadly most of the shepherds of the day are not.

Why there are less sports in our mid ages....

Nikos kazantzakis attempts an answer:

"The civilization begins at the moment sports begin. As long as life struggles for preservation – to protect itself from its enemies, maintain itself upon the surface of the earth - civilization cannot be born. It is born the moment that life satisfies its primary needs and begins to enjoy a little leisure."

Do you see it.....

I saw an old man Kneeling over a channel and watching the water run,
his face bathed in inexpressible ecstasy.

‘What do you see there, old man?’ I asked him.

And without lifting his head, or removing his eyes from the water, replied,
“ My life, my life which is running out…”

(Nikos kazantzakis, Report to Grecco, Ch.17, Pilgrimage through Greece)

People and places

The earth is of the Lord, says the Psalmist.
But there are some, who are as intrusive as the leaven.
They sour even the heavens with their sophisticated and well-executed malice.
It is against such, Jesus warned us when he said: “ Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees….”

when God hesitate storms

Even when God hesitate storms on the earth,
Man is busy creating storms in tea-cups.

There is an inherent and primitive urge to violence in man.
Some express it in all bloodshed, while others in thought and words.
But only a few are enlightened enough to grow-up from those infantile instincts.
They are the messiahs of Peace.
Today’s world needs many of such

Would it get me anywhere?

A poor but learned Talmudist worked on his Bible commentary with great zeal.
“how Impractical!” remarked the rich man of the town.
“why don’t you stop writing, it’ll get you nowhere!”
“And if I stop writing, would it get me anywhere?” asked the scholar

Most of the time, I think like the rich man in the story.
But I am blessed at few times, to think like the scholar and ask that question to myself.
And this question keeps me going…..

“Man is like a musical clock, move him even slightly and he begins to sing a new tune”
Ludwig Börne

Why i dont write these days.....

Clever people

Clever

Main Entry:clev·er

Pronunciation:\ˈkle-vər\

Function:adjective

Etymology:Middle English cliver, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish dialect kløver alert, skillful

Date:circa 1595

1
a: skillful or adroit in using the hands or body : nimble <clever fingers>
b: mentally quick and resourceful clever young lawyer>
2: marked by wit or ingenuity clever solution> clever idea>

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There are some clever people
Who may be compared to
The small fashionable shops;
All their merchandise is displayed
In the show window.

(Berthold Auerbach)

Clever people are like fragrant roses;
When you smell one rose it’s delightful,
But smelling a whole bouquet
You may get quite a headache

(Mortiz G. Saphir)

When copper excels the gold…

The classic gospel narrative of the copper coin shows the alchemistic nature of the Kingdom of God. Who else on earth will value two copper coins more that the many golden ones? Only God who assigns the worth and value of everything can declare it to be so.

We all give ourselves to each other in different and varied ways. It may be through our acts of service, support, thoughts, or through acts of authority. We all believe in equal sharing. Each and everyone puts in equal amount of service for the well being of the other. It is even marked as a sign of good democracy; the equality of all.

Do Jesus fall for this ‘trickery of equality’? I think ‘No’ because that’s what all the lesson these two little copper coins teach us. All what you give will be valued only in the context of what you have stored back in your wallets and barns. That’s why the golden offerings did not glow better in Jesus’ eyes. Yes, we will be valued by not what we give, but by what we hold back for ourselves. The story of the death of the couple in Acts also testifies to this.

Incredible Visual Illusions (You won't believe your eyes!)

Incredible Visual Illusions (You won't believe your eyes!) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)
by Al Seckel (Author)

i read this great book of visual illusions only today.

subtle differences

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
-Scott Fitzgerald, American Author-

On Limits and Limitations:

Most of the times, we count our limits as our limitations.
Our limits are never our limitations;
They are actually the most realistic paths to the many real possibilities life offers us.

On Fences:

We should never dream about a world without fences.
History has proved that as an impossible one,
Though seemed quite enchanting and beautiful.

It is good to written as poetry,
But even when in writing it,
We are limit or words by the Margins,
For they are the boundaries of our writing pad.

We should dare to dream about a world with better fences,
Which respects the rights of all,
and gives each one his due.

On Living on the edge:

Sometimes our thinking patterns knock us out onto the edge of everything.
It happens in when there is more thinking and les living or vise versa.
Anyhow it happens to everyone.
Being on the edge is an invitation to a balance,
between the life and the thought.

Nobody can live on the edge for so long.
Either we fall back or move ahead.
It necessitates the need to be informed and prepared,
Realistically and creatively.
To accept the very many surprises the life offers us,
We should be Zen- like; well balanced.
It comes from experience, and never from learning.

Many of Life’s choicest blessings come in gloomy wrappers.
If only we are experienced in unwrapping those miseries…

The ordinary is not just the ordinary

The ordinary is not just the ordinary.
It will either kill you or create you, anew..
It all depends on the way we opt out.
Actually we can do things better than the way we do now.
It all begins when we force ourselves to think and behave different and difficult (at times)
All the journeys are hard for a lazy onlooker.
The game is to start walking, whether comfortable or not.
The journey in itself is wisdom, strength, and grace.
Get going….

The origins of the prayer ‘Hail Mary’

we see these days that many are changing the wordings of this beautiful prayer to suite their ‘private revelations’…
whatsoever may it be, I hold firm in my opinion that the wordings Must Not be changed in any way, for it is the wisdom and grace of the Holy Catholic Church, evolved through the times with due divine interventions.

The history:

The early history of the Hail Mary is not clear, as the words are taken from Scripture and it is difficult to ascertain when the greeting/prayer was distinctly used. One source attributes the distinct use of the first half to St. Idlefonsus of Toledo in the 7th century. Its use as a salutation and prayer begin to appear from frequently in the 11th and 12th centuries, though the first half only was regarded as the 'Hail Mary'.

Here are the parts of the prayer:

· Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee (Luke 1:28 with 'Mary' gradually added by the Church)

· Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus ( Luke 1:42 with 'Jesus' being added by Pope Urban IV in 1261)

· Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen (based on the declaration of the Council of Ephesus (ie. Mary the Mother of God) in 431, this part of the prayer appeared in the mid-15th century, being codified by the Council of Trent in 1568)

http://www.memorare.com/mary/marianprayershistory.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary

Pass through the Neutral

How do you beat your despair?

It is an often asked, often answered, but seldom satisfying, a question.
Well! My way should be simple, I suppose.

I believe I have a right to be desperate, just as I have a right to be hopeful.
To be desperate is not the final option but just a mid-place just as the neutral gear in the car. We have to pass through the neutral gear to reach one gear from the other.

The game is to keep on the movement.
The beginner may have some initial troubles with the neutral.
But when accustomed, we shift between higher and lower gears effortlessly
Without much bothering about the ‘Naughty Neutral’.

Despair is such a Neutral state.
It means nothing, neither the positive nor the negative.
It is an absence of hope, the force behind our wheels.
It all matters where you go from this state of decisive Neutrality.

You can’t stay long in despair (if so it becomes Melancholy, a not so normal condition)
You have to move on. It all matters to where do you move.
To up or to down?