The Testimony of Paul

 Before the last trial of Paul who he wanted to appeal to. He had the privilege as being a Roman citizen 

He chose Ceasar. He knew he had better chances if he had appealed for Kings friendly to him. 

And during the travel there was a instance where the climate looked favorable for travelling. Paul warned the sailors against it. But they chose to travel and they met with huge losses

Rational thought may not be always what God wants us and God's ways are not easy and will raise doubts for you and people around you and the end of it may not be prosperity

But hang on

Movie Review - Chinna Chinna Aasai

 

If you ask me to surmise the movie in a sentence- A beautiful movie which is out of fashion in these times. In a phase where popular movies are a collage of 'reels' and preferred by a generation swayed by Instagram, this movie is slow paced and tells relationship between two elderly people. 

The female lead is a mysterious character played by Madhubala. She strays off her group visiting Varanasi and is befriended by character played by Indrans. In a day's journey we see the various insecurities of life they go through, as they explore Varanasi. The movie does not get overtly preachy or awkward.

The ending was very unexpected and kudos goes to the makers who avoided the usual formula. Huge applauds are reserved for the lead characters who came up with powerful performances.  

The ruler is helpless in front of his own rukes

 In this story from the Bible, the competitors of Daniel decided to trap him.

They ask their king to come up with a rule that in next three days only he is to be worshipped. The King saw it as a chance to consolidate his power and people's loyalty

Only when he learnt that Daniel disobeyed the rule, did he understand the motive  of his advisers. And now he couldn't change the rule he made

I am not discussing what happened next, but we often fall in the trap of our own rules and ideas and even the most powerful can;t break theirs own

The first miracle by the Apostles

 There is an incident mentioned in the Acts chapter 3. Probably the first miracle  by the apostles, after the resurrection of Jesus

A man asks Peter for alms. He was handicapped and that was what he used to do for living

Peter replies : I don't have gold or silver, but I can heal you. And that man miraculously is cured of his handicap. He rose and danced and jumped for joy. This might be first such miracle where the receptor was given something that he didn't; ask for

Imagine, he after all the joy, discovers he can no longer beg for alms

All miracles need not be the ones you ask for. They might be the redemption you needed rather than the arms you wanted

Futile Dreams

 I saw myself arguing with my friends. I recognized them from my school days

And I found a guy who wanted to calm down the argument. He was always like this. Half laid back

Suddenly I realized that I was arguing for something pointless. And at that movement I realized I was in a dream. For May be a second I was in a dream and I realized it was dream.

I woke up and realized these friends have been from a life 25 years ago. I don't know where they are and haven't seen them for decades

A few minutes after waking up I realized I spent a good part of my life achieving nothing. My parents shifted from rural backgrounds built themselves a career and home. I don't have even decent savings

Obituary to Life

 Today, I received a message about a friend whose mother passed away. He was no close friend of mine and it might have been decades since I met him.

But he is my age and then I realized, I might be entering a period when we have to lose our dear friends and then it dawned on me that I took might not have much time left

I might too go away without seeing the spring

This Mother's Day fell on a Sunday

 This Sunday I had this urge to go to Church. It is not a easy thing as I have to drive 80 kms and back. But I decided to honour this urge and drive on. On the way while listening to the stereo and in the Church, I don't know why the prayers to Mother Mary kept touching a chord. 

I am not a person who worships Mary, but belong to the denomination that respects her. Later in the day I learnt that it was the Mother's Day. Day where mothers and their role are celebrated

There is no better icon for a Mother's Day than Mary. Deeply misunderstood in her times, got pregnant before she was married and that too in a patriarchal society. She was nearly abandoned and then had to flee her country, gave birth , alone and in a  cattle shed. Had to see her son drawing ire of the establishment and then get killed at 33. She is still despised by her own sect, the Jews

Can we see a better example