Monday Morning Musings
Posted on January 30, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet
The Cross at Mantharamputhur
Most of us are creatures of habit. We establish routines and patterns and rarely deviate unless some outside force like a winter storm or a man cold (!) appears unexpectedly. You have your coffee or tea at the same time every morning, your meals are set in stone and you have your favorite television show that you wouldn’t miss. Sometimes, it can become humdrum and even monotonous. You often hear people saying that they’re in a rut.
If you would like to remove your lethargy, might I suggest a trip to India.
One of the best things about my current volunteering situation is that I get to meet people from all over the world visiting the B@B run by the Sisters. The best internet connection is on the patio outside the office so it’s a natural gathering spot. It is so interesting to hear so many stories and to hear other points of view of travelling in India and global affairs. We share many similarities with people from far flung places around the globe.
When quizzing people about their travels, three words always surface: adaptability, flexibility and patience. This is true for travel anywhere but it is much starker in India where the rhythm of life is not predictable.
A few days ago, I was having breakfast with the Fr. Jean Jose , the priest who had just said mass for the Sisters at their chapel. He asked me what my plans were for the day. Other than possibly subbing in for Ninian and Carol at the B@B while they went for their daily walk, I had nothing pressing. He invited me to spend the morning with him.
Here’s where flexibility comes in. An hour later, I was standing on a platform as a guest speaker at a private academy for a Republic Day flag raising ceremony. It was India’s “Independence Day”, a national holiday. I kept my talk short and sweet urging the students to be tolerant and understanding of people from different cultures and religions. I also spoke of lifelong learning and that travel was one of the best educational experiences a person could have.
We spent some time visiting poor people from his parish at their homes. I always enjoy these connections with people who have so little but treat me like an old friend. We also went to a construction site where Fr. Jose showed me a project near and dear to his heart. In the shadow of the mountains, he is having a place for the community to spend time as there are no parks, playgrounds or gathering places in the village. Yes, it has spiritual overtones with a large stone cross as the centerpiece but it is meant to be a welcoming place for all. Local Muslims, Hindus and Christians raised the money and provided the labor. It is a display of ecumenism at its finest.
I’m glad you liked the massage story. I am still trying to recover physically and emotionally from the slightly traumatizing experience… especially the loin cloth!!! If you missed it, you’ll find it at the bottom of my homepage. It’s called “ A Well Oiled Machine.”
We have received donations for the Sisters from four provinces so far: B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Can we make it 10 provinces and 3 territories??? The fundraising campaign is off to a great start. My web designers, Simply Ducky ( consummate professionals – I would highly recommend them ) updated my home page so all the information on the campaign is available for you or if you have a friend who might be interested in helping out.
BTW. Sorry. But we can’t provide tax receipts. I’ve checked it out and it is too complicated. Any donation will be straight charity.
Hope this finds everyone well.
Have a great week.
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