An astonishing colossal surprise : Straight from Heaven

When the almighty wants to show his Prowess, he will.  And he would plan it so meticulously and spring a surprise that you would be caught unawares.  That’s what happened to me today. I cried in ecstasy and wondered if I really deserved this special treatment. 

So, I get a call from my Parish church, where I used to teach Catechism in Sunday school.  I had to discontinue the classes due to my surgery and I moved out of the Parish Council too, for the same reasons.  The request was to do a reading during mass, as it was our church feast day.  Why me, amongst all the parishners who total around 2000 families? Ours by the way is one of the largest parishes in Chennai.  J and I are celebrating our 25^th anniversary this January and incidentally our Parish church was built 25 years ago and it was the silver jubilee feast. our anniversary is on 30^th January to be precise, and church has these records.

(In a Catholic church, that I belong, a holy mass is an act of worship, usually conducted by a priest, and includes readings from the bible read by the laity, members of the church congregation among other forms of worship and adoration)

Now "reading" during mass, especially something like a feast mass means practice and I have no time, since I am travelling tomorrow.  Yes, a travelogue on its way.  I refuse diplomatically, but the church insists.  Finally, people in the Parish council decide that I do not need practice, so all I had to do was reach church 30 minutes early.  I had no options, but to agree.

At church, J strategically picks one of the middle pews, to inconspicuously merge with the crowd.  The plan was to join him after my reading.  The council members look surprised seeing me alone and they want J, as we have special chairs to sit in the front, close to the altar and seen by the entire congregation.  We also have special responsibilities, like accompanying the priests for lighting the lamp, being the first ones to do the offertory, and finally as a couple give away gifts to the visiting priests. The offertory itself was quite symbolic, we had to offer two saplings.

I had to start the feast mass with the Introduction reading and I see there is an entire presbyterate coming in procession to the church and finally followed by the Archbishop himself. Midway during the service, with more than 1000 people participating in the mass, I begin to feel overwhelmed.  

There, slowly it was unfolding in front of J and me.  None other than the Lord himself, had planned it out for us and humbled us more than any words.  It looked as if, the entire congregation had gathered there just to celebrate our Silver Jubilee.  Even our wedding wasn’t this elaborate and grand - A Bishop's mass is exceptional and there we were amidst all the action, and feeling special. I had no clue about all this till I walked into the church. Many wishing us and many asking us if we really are married for 25 years, or just seeking some attention.

When the Almighty himself gets into action, the planning is precise and the surprise is colossal and I realise humbly it astonishes you no end.

Magic of Hand written stuff

Here is a meme that I came across today and it matched the high standards of pun set by my blog friend Gilsu.  

"I am a woman.  I have ovaries. And that’s why I ovary act."

After I got the joke, I realized, even this damn meme is not true for me.  That’s how easy it is for me to get negative these days, given my circumstances in life.  

The last one year I have realized the need to refocus my attention on positive things and make it a mindful practice.  Its important to look at the little wonderful things in life that elicit gratitude, to lift up the spirits and also to keep me grounded.

This new year one of the days,  happened to step into a craft store itsy-bitsy, (didn’t you like that name?, I did too ) and spotted a glitzy notebook which I picked up  instantly. itsy-bitsy-glitsy Did you notice it rhymed too?  ha ha. This little notebook has become my gratitude journal. Always in  love with handwritten stuff, so excited when i write stuff in this everyday. I also hunted down my hero pen which needs some minor repairs, until then i will have to do with a ball pen. I somehow think the mind works better when you write using pen and paper.  Writing by hand, touching and feeling the writing surface, holding the pen in your hand kind of directs the thoughts and lets it flow.  Doesn’t it?

While conducting webinars, even today I take down notes extensively to record the inputs and comments my participants would share and use those notes to play back to hold on to their attention in a virtual session, which is otherwise a daunting task. I think I belong to old school – every single day I have a handwritten "Things to do today list" that I put together and use at work, a habit that I have kept up right from the initial days of my career.

One person who comes to mind when I think of Handwritten notes is Petula, we must have written a ton of letters to each other.  This gratitude journal is keeping me upbeat for the last 15 days. I also do read the entrees in the journal, when there is time and its amazing to count the blessings. 

New year, New habit towards a better me.

Ushering in the new decade

This morning, a quote from Paulo Coelho caught my attention and it is something that I have been thinking about too.

“The first step to getting what you want is having the courage to get rid of what you don’t” – Paulo Coelho

What a lovely way to kick start a decade.  Purge all that does not spark Joy.  And that’s what I am going to do.

This year started differently for me with an entire day of rain.  Climate change is real folks, I have never had a rainy new year day at Chennai as far as I can remember. As always I was at Church when the old year ended and the new year commenced, thanking the Lord for the year gone by and to be safe in his arms during the coming year.  

Ramesh, my blog friend and ever faithful commentator and motivator is on a trip in my state, Tamilnadu, we are still waiting for his destination and the best is, he is doing it on a Montra Trance Pro. A BICYCLE. Can you believe that?  I couldn't. His travelogues are an education by themselves and I am getting a high just  reading them every single evening.  

My closing note for 2019, was on my therapy that you folks were to me, the process is still going on and I am going to need your support, this coming year too. 

Here is my wish for all of you,

May you have

Days when your coffee tastes like magic,

Sky so bright that it touches the soul in you,

Love so strong, that gives you the strength to accomplish

Courage to purge stuff that doesn’t spark joy

And Family and friends, who surround you with unconditional love

Happy New Decade folks.