Living in grace

There are times when our internal fire runs low... very low... It seems that tomorrow has to bring in something better and more blessed because it cannot get any worse than today! And there may be several such days in succession.

Then, along comes some soul- friend, mentor, guide- who holds your hand and touches your soul. This friend, mentor, guide shows new light, new sources of fire and even helps light up fire that appears to be dying out!

Fortunate are those who find such help along the path life is taking them. However, more fortunate are those who are able to recognise this help God Himself offers. He cannot be everywhere (?) so He decides to send guardian angels who reignite our faith and our belief. They make us believe again that Life has a lot to offer. That we CAN do what we THINK we can!

These people drop in for a while or stay a while longer, but they are always around us. We not only need our eyes to see them- which we do, everyday; but hearts to really feel their presence- which we more often miss.

The noise and the distractions in the modern day world take our feelings and senses on a roller-coaster ride. It makes us dizzy with thrill, and sometimes nauseous with the assault on our senses. This only serves to blunt our perception of the blessings in our lives.

If we are to accept more in our lives, we have to BE more- quiet, receptive, accepting, and be ready to live in grace. We have to pass it on, too. Only in passing it on can we open up the path to receive more.

A cup that is already full cannot accept any more tea- as the Zen master says.

So... have courage, especially when the fire appears to be low. If you seek, you will find. Help is always around. You only have to reach for it.

When old friends meet...

It has been nearly twenty years! Last I saw this friend of mine, it was in 1992!!

Long forgotten memories and long lost roads. We walked them again. Together. After nearly two decades.

Supriya is a teacher in the UK. I am a doctor in New Delhi. We have our families and our children and our work. We both feel passionately about our lives. And we were both together for most of our schooling.

So tender and so engrossing was our meeting that we did not even think of taking any pictures!!

We talked. We talked about our lives then and our lives since. We talked of all that we do now. And we talked about what our families do. With children nearly the same age, we identify with the conflicts and struggles of parenting and raising our childen to be what they can be.

It is not much different for her or for me. Our lives are defined by the several roles we play in the world we inhabit... and by the aspirations we hold for the world we want to build.

And we do want to build a world where our children are not only safe but also nurtured and nurturing.

We both are working in our small capacities and I do hope, there are several more 'mothering' their children to make a difference each day...