The morning today was very special. There was Mass, but
after that we got to interact with some of the physically handicapped children
who were from the area. Their energy was vibrant, just like their spirit and
they were so wise beyond their years. They made us feel that we should be
understanding towards them - not be sympathetic, rather be encouraging. It was
a lovely experience to feed off of each other’s energy and optimism like that.
Our prayers are with them.
One really touching thing I saw was that when we were
meeting the children, one of them like Jennifer’s earrings. Without a second
thought, Jenny took them off and gave it to her. It was such a moving gesture,
so simple, so kind. The kind that stays with you long after the moment’s gone.
We were having breakfast after and Fr. Sequeira was
talking to us about the youth participation here in Jharkhand and the sorry
state it’s in. He was saying that the parents here don’t support their children
in youth activities like singing and dancing and all, even if it’s in the church. Many times priests have also
intervened, trying to convince the parents to allow them to participate in
extra curricular activities, but in such cases, parents have actually told the
priests to quit. They tell the priests – there’s no need. They tell the
children - when your time comes, you do what you want. Right now, listen to us.
Fr. Sequeira reflected. “I don’t know if their time will
come also or not.”
It is so heart breaking to get to know about this. If
anyone out there can suggest a remedy for this situation, please please do. It’s not right to suppress anyone from their
potential, especially your own
children. There has to be a solution
for this problem.
On our way out to Ranchi, we got some newspapers – We were
in them! Yay!
On a lighter note, something really funny happened today
in Ranchi. Rakesh and Joice got into a fight of sorts and Joice ended up saying
that she’s not going to speak to Rakesh for 2 days coz she’s so upset with him.
She even goes to the other bus while travelling.
Before our program in the evening in Ranchi, we get a little
time off, so some of us wash clothes or go to the market or sleep or whatever.
Joice comes back from the market and calls Rakesh and tells him that she’s got
a kurta for him and that he should wear it for the program. He agreed.
Later, she called him again, but the program had started
and Rakesh wasn’t the type to change his clothes halfway and ‘surprise’ the
audience.
At dinner, Joice is telling Rakesh about the kurta and then she realises that she wasn’t
supposed to speak to Rakesh for 2 days.
Joice’s expression of realization was soooooooo funny!!
But it got me thinking.. If only it were so easy for the rest of us to forget
that we fought with each other and unhold grudges, there would be sooooo much
more peace in the world. It’s very funny, what happened, but honestly, in the
bigger picture – wouldn’t just forgetting about conflicts make life so much
easier?
Sometimes the most silly and amusing things teach us the
most profound lessons.
No comments:
Post a Comment