Santhosh's ramblings

Who touched my clothes – in the midst of a crowd, rushing towards an important appointment – Code Red (used to indicate that a difficult or dangerous situation has deteriorated drastically so as to constitute an emergency) – my daughter is dying, please come fast, and He rushing towards the same, came this question. Rationally thinking friends were quick to respond – what in the world are you thinking – you are being pushed by a crowd, so many are touching you, how can you ask – who touched you….Rationally thinking….. But this touch was different – she who had suffered in the hands of many like me (physicians), rejected by the rules and regulations of the religion, ostracized by community due to the religious rejection, economically in the margins being squeezed out my friends, this touch was one with great anticipation and hope. She had heard that this physician was different, had faith that definitely something will come out of this touch. It was not the size of her faith, but...

The doors are normally crowded out. Crowded out either by the abled pushing their way in, not giving way to the slow of gait and unable to walk, urgent pushing out the important, the reactive responses giving way to reflective ones, and many competing priorities. Doors are kept for entry, roofs are kept for protection. Doors are kept to open and close at will, prevent when you do not want one to enter, or provide a welcome entry when you want to. But roofs are kept to protect at all times – you cannot open or close. You have no control over the roof, whereas doors one have. But what do you do when doors are crowded out for the ones who should be allowed in as priority, for whatever reason it may be. That is when you un-roof the roof. To come through the door, you do not need help, only ability or support to push the crowd away. Pushing and shoving is not a good way to enter into where you are coming or bringing people who are in need of healing and restoration. Un-roofing...

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...