Santhosh's ramblings

Exchanging or Bartering in life has been part of the development cycle of humankind. It is the invention of “Money” which changed this practice. In one sense, we still are exchanging money for things we buy, though it is not a bartering of things for things. A few days back, nearing mid night, there was a commotion on the road in front of our house. A drunken man was trying to get on to his bike and in the process was hitting against the closely packed cars. And as this continued, a neighbour came out, furious at his car being dented by this man’s attempts, and in this anger, beat up this drunk. He fell on the road, bleeding from a cut on his forehead. I was part of a few who were watching these events unfolding, nearing mid night with temperatures around 4 to 7 degrees outside. A few minutes later, an elderly man, yet another neighbour, whose vehicle also was affected, came out, went out to call the security guards and with their help led the drunk away. We sighed in relief, we...

How does ones yoke and burdens become easy and light? My burden has generally been heavy, yoke been hard, other than times when I intentionally reverted to certain disciplines and perceptions. What are these disciplines and perceptions? One – whose yoke am I carrying? Many people and various contexts pass on their yokes to me, but as long as I see the yoke as people passed on vs He given or others yoke vs His yoke, I struggle! The surety we have is His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So if I am struggling with the yoke which I have – it is either because I have not seen the right way – whose yoke am I carrying or have not learnt to carry the yoke well! Or may the wrong yoke too....? So a daily check list – whose yoke am I carrying? Or how do I see the yoke I have taken up – as mine, others dumped it on me or His? Two – Who Am I learning from, to carry the yoke? The time management principles, personal planning templates, prioritizing matrixes, all are good to help, up ...

2014, has not been an easy year for most of us. Globally, the turmoil’s due to killings of women and children, accidents, ongoing wars and terrorist attacks has been quite disturbing. In our country, the recent events of communal polarization, the focus on economy and money as the driver, the changes in health care, all have been of concern. Even our own contexts have been challenged in terms of the resource constraints and other issues. As we enter, 2015, we enter with lack of clarity, what will 2015 hold! Though the context looks challenging there is another context we need to be aware of. The context given in the verses below. The Grand Narrative of our lives….. “Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing, The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lo...

Reflecting on three communities 'get-togethers' which I was part of this year end. One was a bestowed one, the one you are born or married into, (family) the other by by chance and later earned, (your alumni) and third by choice. (a mission and ministry) All three have some commonalities - you are accepted as you are in all three, though in one there might questions on whether one could have done better, other don't understand what one is upto, the third one - well understood.  But all groups generally show good acceptability and tolerance! Community always need a  common frame work as foundation. Strength of foundation is linked to how deep the bonds are. How are bonds built and strengthened? Some are bestowed, part of the strong culture of similar communities from where the senior generation has come from and that expectation leads to all aligning in. But even this needs to be worked on for a deeper bonding. Others loosely bonded, but has the opportunity to be built into ...

For unto us a child is born....The government shall be upon his shoulders.... A verse which has encouraged me every Christmas season. To recognize that, in the midst of all the governance challenges we grapple with, there is one who is charge or holding the governing, is comforting. Not only the governance of my life, my family's, but the organization i am part of, my nation and all the nations! If the government is on His shoulders and he is in charge of governing, why do leaders rage and rant, why the focus of governance on some individuals rather than the one who is ultimately responsible? And if so, what better day to celebrate as Good Governance Day than Christmas, when the one who is control of governance decided to spend some time in this poorly governed world, to show us how to govern well. Let us join the nation in celebration of Good Governance Day, reminding each other of the entry of the one and only Good governor - the son of God into this world and our lives. Not onl...

It was a few days back this happened. There was a health camp happening in a village, taking care of those affected by the flood, as part of a relief program. Young doctors from a Medical college along with some team members from the local hospital was conducting the same. Suddenly a crowd landed up. The busy clinic was interrupted by this crowd, who were creating a ruckus saying there is “forcible conversion” and forcing the team to close the clinic. At the same time another crowd, asking that the clinic should continue. The team somehow managed to finish the work and move out fast, to avoid being manhandled. They were soon called by the District authorities and Police, because a complaint had gone on “conversion”. Other than conducting a health camp, which they have been doing for the last few weeks, in various villages affected by flood, they had not engaged in any activity. Much later they came to know what the issue was. Some of the prescription slips used had the name of the loc...

Identity is a confusing issue. At least for me! There are two kinds of identity all of us carry. One is the bestowed identify and the other is the earned identity. The bestowed one – generally we don’t have a choice. Earned one, is in our control and all through life we struggle to earn various kinds of earned identity. We are living at a time “Nationalism” is being discussed in the media quite often. This is also in the background of various other identity issues which are being highlighted in the Media – the legitimate and Illegitimate Indians, the Hindwatha discussions, the secular Indian in a spiritual India and many such. I am confused. I am a Mallu, Protestant Christian by birth, evangelical by choice, Hindi speaking by practice, North Indian by domicile, South Indian by birth, Doctor by profession. And many such identities. Some bestowed and some earned. Of course I am an Indian by birth and emotion and I love my country! All my bestowed identity, have been empower...